It seems the Easter Bunny has a passport this year — and he’s stamped it more times than a weary border official. According to RateHawk, the B2B travel booking platform favoured by clued-in agents across North America, Americans are showing a renewed appetite for old-world charm, Mediterranean sunshine, and a generous helping of cultural indulgence.
Gone are when Easter meant a quick dash to Disney or a flutter in Vegas. In 2025, U.S. holidaymakers are booking big — and abroad — favouring Europe, Mexico, and the UAE for springtime getaways. The company’s newly released Easter travel data reveals a distinct outbound momentum, with American travellers saying au revoir to domestic staples and buongiorno to European capitals.
📍 From Manhattan to Munich: The Shift Begins
Of course, cities like Las Vegas, Orlando and New York haven’t been entirely left behind — the neon lights, family fun, and Broadway dreams remain resilient draws. But make no mistake: there’s a new pulse beating in the American traveller’s compass.
“Cultural cities are having their moment,” notes the RateHawk report, as bookings surge for iconic destinations such as Rome, Paris, Lisbon, Florence, Munich, Barcelona and London. The sort of places where you can’t throw a breadstick without hitting a cathedral, a Caravaggio, or a coffee strong enough to wake the dead.
The numbers speak plainly — European accommodation bookings have risen by five percentage points compared to Easter 2024. The average booking value hovers around USD$1059, with travellers staying an average of three nights, long enough to soak in the sights, sip something civilised, and get utterly lost in a museum gift shop.
🌊 Sun, Sand and… Sousse?
Beach escapes, that age-old American tradition, haven’t been shelved either. Cancun and Playa Mujeres (Mexico), Bavaro (Dominican Republic), Sousse (Tunisia), and Dubai (UAE) remain holiday heavyweights for those who like their Easter eggs served with a piña colada and an ocean breeze.
The rise of Tunisia — yes, Tunisia — may raise a few eyebrows. But with its budget-friendly resorts, French-Arabic flair, and Mediterranean climate, it’s no surprise that travellers are swapping Cancun for Carthage.
And Dubai? Still every bit the luxury playground it claims to be — equal parts gold, glass, and glittering Gulf coast.
🧳 Why Now? Why Europe?
One word: accessibility. And another: desire. Americans are no longer content to ‘see the world later’ — they want meaningful travel now. Transatlantic connectivity is on the rise, with new direct routes slated for launch mid-2025, putting once-elusive European cities just a nap, a film and a warm airline croissant away.
And let’s not forget: with the U.S. dollar holding substantial and shoulder-season bargains ripe for the picking, Easter has become the perfect time to cross the pond.
💬 The Agent Advantage
Ronald Fenska, Regional Director of RateHawk for North America, knows precisely why this international surge is gathering speed.
“We’re seeing a clear trend: American travellers are more eager than ever to take long-haul international trips,” he explains. “At RateHawk, we’ve been growing quickly in North America, and a big part of that is because travel agents are actively looking for a one-stop shop.”
Indeed, that one-stop shop now includes over 2.6 million properties across 300 global suppliers and 120,000 directly contracted hotels — a travel agent’s equivalent of a golden ticket.
“It’s not just hotels. We offer flights, transfers, car rentals, train tickets — the works. It’s about making complete, personalised itineraries as seamless as possible,” Fenska adds, clearly confident that the days of juggling tabs and begging suppliers for a booking are fast becoming ancient history.
🗺️ Looking Ahead
RateHawk’s snapshot of American Easter travel offers a telling glimpse into where things are headed. Travellers want more: more connection, more culture, and more convenience. They’re booking smarter and venturing farther. It’s no longer about ticking boxes. It’s about tasting life properly.
And if that means swapping Las Vegas neon for Lisbon’s trams or Orlando’s queues for the quiet romance of Florence’s backstreets, then so be it. Easter 2025 is not just a holiday — it’s a statement.
After all, as every good traveller knows, the best souvenirs aren’t bought — they’re remembered.
By Christine Nguyen
