WATCH: Summer's hottest travel trends as travelers look for value trips

Article excerpt

As summer vacation season heats up, travelers are increasingly hunting for deals and value in their getaways. Hotels.com's VP of travel expertise Melanie Fish identifies the biggest trends shaping where Americans are headed and how they're booking, from budget-conscious strategies to emerging destination preferences. The shift reflects a broader consumer focus on stretching vacation dollars further, even as travel demand remains robust. Hotels.com, which tracks millions of bookings across the industry, offers insight into what summer travelers actually want this year.