Americans are heading into 2026 with a more cautious approach to international travel, according to a new YouGov report.

YouGov’s US International Traveler Outlook 2026 finds that 60% of Americans never travel overseas. Among those who do, more than two in five (43%) say they traveled abroad less this year. Within this group, three in ten (28%) say economic uncertainty was the reason they cut back, and another 18% attribute their reduced travel to rising costs.

The result is a travel landscape where value for money increasingly outweighs wanderlust, shaping where Americans go, how far ahead they book, and what they cut first when budgets tighten.

Key findings

Domestic travel still dominates

• 60% of Americans never travel abroad for leisure.
• Among higher-income Americans, that figure drops to 24%, underscoring income-based differences in global mobility.

International travel frequency is declining

• 40% of international travelers say they went abroad less this year.
• The pullback is even sharper for Gen X and Boomers (50%).
• Main reasons: personal factors (32%), economic uncertainty (28%), and rising travel costs (18%).

Cost pressures reshape decisions

• 43% of international travelers say rising travel costs affected their plans 
• Travelers most often report cost increases in transport (46%), dining (46%), and accommodations (41%).

Americans increasingly weigh value over volume

• If prices rise in 2026, 41% of international travelers say they will take fewer trips or pivot to domestic destinations.
• Higher-income travelers remain more resilient: 25% will keep traveling internationally at the same pace (vs. 8% for lower-income travelers).

Travelers are cutting costs strategically

• Off-peak travel is the most common savings tactic.
• Many are booking further in advance to secure better prices.

Lodging and booking behaviors differ sharply by income

• 52% of international travelers choose hotels for trips of five days or more; others opt for staying with friends/family (26%) or short-term rentals (23%).
• 65% book lodging and flights separately — rising to 78% among higher-income travelers.
• Lower-income travelers are more likely to choose package vacations (31%).

Value perceptions are declining

• Most major international destinations are now viewed as worse value for money than last year.
• European destinations show the sharpest negative perceptions among US travelers:
   • UK: 29% say worse value vs. only 5% better
   • France: 28% worse vs. 5% better
   • Italy: 23% worse vs. 6% better
   • Germany: 23% worse vs. 5% better
   • Spain: 22% worse vs. 7% better

International travelers see the US as worse value for money

• Travelers from every market perceive the US as worse value for money, with “worse value” ratings far exceeding “better value”:
  • Australia: 41% worse vs. 21% better
  • Mexico: 42% worse vs. 21% better
  • Spain: 37% worse vs. 12% better
  • Great Britain: 43% worse vs. 6% better
  • Canada: 62% worse vs. 8% better

“Americans’ appetite for international travel hasn’t disappeared; it has simply become more selective,” said Kenton Barello, VP at YouGov America. “Travelers are scrutinizing value more closely, stretching budgets further, and adjusting plans based on cost, whether that means going off-peak, choosing alternative accommodations, or substituting domestic trips. Brands that clearly communicate value without compromising experience will be best positioned in 2026.”

As economic pressures mount, the next year of global travel will be shaped less by desire and more by affordability. Americans are not giving up on international experiences, but many are recalibrating how often they go, where they stay, and how much they’re willing to spend.

Travel providers, airlines, and destinations should expect a more value-driven traveler in 2026, one who weighs every dollar spent against the experience delivered.

Full findings can be explored in the complete report: US International Traveler Outlook 2026.

Findings in the US International Traveler Outlook 2026 report are based on a YouGov Survey conducted between October 20 and November 11, 2025, among 1,506 US adults, including nationally representative samples of US international travelers. Additional insights and destination rankings are sourced from YouGov DestinationIndex, which tracks daily perceptions of destinations among US international vacationers. Data was weighted where necessary to ensure national representation.