Which Destinations Are Gaining Popularity with U.S. Travelers?

If you’re hoping to avoid crowded destinations, you may want to avoid these places, gaining popularity especially among U.S. visitors.

These five international destinations see a surge in American travelers, according to travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth. They looked at customers and found Israel is the fastest-growing destination, with a 50 percent boost in travelers since 2017.

Right behind Israel is Iceland. The land of volcanoes and mountains now sees more American tourists per year than it has citizens. There’s been a 43 percent jump in customers buying travel insurance for Iceland trips through Squaremouth.

Portugal is No. 3 with a 42 percent increase. The hip city of Lisbon and romantic town of Porto, plus a bourgeoning wine region in Duoro, are all draws for travelers.

Vietnam came in fourth place, with a growth of 39 percent, followed by Norway with a growth of 36 percent. Travelers heading to Norway spend almost twice as much as those going to the other top destinations, an increase of 12 percent over 2017.

Visitors to Iceland also spent 20 percent more than last year, while Portugal saw a 10 percent drop in the average cost of a trip.