RICHMOND, VA, November 10, 2020 — 

Thanksgiving travel volumes will look different in 2020 as Americans navigate a changing landscape of travel restrictions amid COVID-19 – and while numbers are down from last year, travelers are still planning trips during the traditionally busy holiday season, according to Allianz Partners’ Top 10 Thanksgiving Destination Index.

 

Allianz reviewed travel plans* around Thanksgiving for outbound flights scheduled between Saturday, November 21 and Tuesday, December 1, 2020. In line with industry predictions of a75 percent dip in bookings for November, the travel insurance and assistance company** noted a similar decrease in flight itineraries for the holiday compared to 2019 during the typical six-week booking window.

 

For the sixth consecutive year, Mexico will draw more Americans for Thanksgiving than any other international destination with Cancun, San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta taking gold, silver and bronze. In comparison to 2019, Cancun moved up one spot while San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta each jumped up by four places. Always a popular destination, Mexico has been a leader in tourism recovery since COVID-19 began – the country’s accessibility and safety protocols like restricted capacity at resorts to enable proper social distancing may be helping to drive demand along with the promise of a warm weather escape. Travelers should be aware that local restrictions may change frequently, including in Puerto Vallarta, which recently announced temporary activity restrictions.

 

This year, all top 10 international locations are beach destinations, a first for Allianz's Thanksgiving index since launching in 2015, with European holiday survey mainstays London and Paris notably absent and facing travel restrictions. Following the top three Mexican destinations, Americans are planning trips to Aruba; Santo Domingo and Santiago, both in the Dominican Republic; Jamaica’s Montego Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Havana, Cuba.

 

New York, which recently retired its state by state Travel Advisory list in order to transition into a new travel testing policy, was knocked to second by Seattle, the first time a West Coast destination has led the list in the survey’s history. Taking third place this year is Los Angeles, followed by Dallas, Boston, Orlando, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Las Vegas, which returns to the index for the first time since 2016.

 

According to Allianz’s review, the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 25, is the busiest departure day for those headed to domestic destinations, with travelers most commonly taking four-day trips. Another consistent year over year travel timing trend: international jetsetters will use the weekend immediately preceding the holiday for their travel, with Saturday, November 21 as the most popular departure date.

 

When traveling this holiday season, assessing risk factors and planning ahead as much as possible will prove important. In addition to taking extra quantities of masks, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers, Allianz Partners’ Senior Medical Consultant, Lori Calavan, recommends checking the  Center for Disease Control and Prevention website regularly to find the most up to date guidelines for COVID-19 in your destination. Visit state and country websites to read executive orders such as mandatory masks, quarantine for out-of-state or U.S. residents, or testing requirements, and visit tourism board websites to review special procedures places of business have implemented.

 

“Whatever holiday travel plan you make, checking the box on travel insurance is a smart decision to protect your investment,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Partners. “Planning ahead can ease your mind during an often stressful time of year.”

 

Until further notice, although Allianz travel insurance products generally do not cover known, foreseeable, or expected events; epidemics; government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories; or fear of travel, Allianz has made several temporary claims accommodations for trip cancellations, trip interruptions and emergency medical care for those who become ill with COVID-19, and is temporarily accommodating refunds of travel insurance premiums to customers whose travel suppliers have canceled their trips due to COVID-19, so long as no payable claim has been filed under the plan.***

 

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and the policies offered for travelers, please visit: http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com.

 

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*Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers’ 2020 Thanksgiving plans was gathered by analyzing the number of travelers that went through the online booking process of airfare for partners offering Allianz Travel Insurance, to generate itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports between 11/21/2020 – 12/1/2020 and returning from their trip during the same timeframe. In total, 632,757 itineraries were analyzed using this methodology.

***Restrictions apply. These accommodations are strictly applicable to COVID-19 and are only available for customers whose plan includes the applicable benefit. All other terms, conditions, and exclusions of the plan apply as normal. Please note, the described accommodations are an explicit and limited expression of donative intent only, which is for only the limited purposes expressly specified at the link below and for no other further purpose, express or implied. Further, it is expressly not a guarantee of coverage or admission of legal or equitable liability. Nothing contained or described at the link below, nor any payment made pursuant to the position described at the link below, is or should be construed to be a waiver of any term, condition, or exclusion of any plan, or any applicable rights, remedies, or defenses under any plan or at law or equity. We and our applicable underwriters and reinsurers reserve all rights, remedies, and defenses under the plan and under applicable law and at equity. For complete details, please visit:  https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/coverage-alerts/2019-novel-coronavirus.htm