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Add The New York Post on Google Island vacations are having a big year, and Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List points travelers toward 10 destinations where demand is rising — from Caribbean favorites and Greek islands to Arctic landscapes and lesser-known beach destinations in Asia.
The Hot List tracks the next wave of island destinations gaining attention from travelers around the world. Interest in the islands on the list is up 55% year over year based on Expedia flight searches, with every destination on this year’s list showing positive interest.
But the broader travel trend is not simply about travelers searching for the next beach destination. Expedia says travelers are increasingly looking for ways to make trips more valuable within their budgets.
“Travelers aren’t opting out of travel — they’re optimizing,” Melanie Fish, VP of global PR at Expedia Group, told the New York Post in an exclusive interview. “They still want to go, but they’re getting much smarter about how they make the trip work for their budget.”
That includes using travel technology to compare options, track prices and find bundled deals. According to Expedia, Hotels.com’s Budget filter use is up 1,800%, while searches for all-inclusive stays are up 50% year over year.
“That makes value more dynamic than simply choosing the cheapest trip,” Fish said. “It can mean shifting dates, choosing a different destination, bundling more of the trip together, or prioritizing features like an all-inclusive plan, a meal plan or free breakfast.”
For this roundup, we pulled the hottest resort and value opportunities from the destinations on the Expedia Island Hot List, with a closer look at the properties Expedia recommends for each island.
The list includes 10 destinations: St. Lucia, Porto Santo in Madeira, Praslin in the Seychelles, Syros in Greece, the Lofoten Islands in Norway, Palawan in the Philippines, Culebra in Puerto Rico, Sanibel Island in Florida, Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Fiji.
St. Lucia takes the No. 1 spot on Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List, with travel interest up 125% year over year. Expedia names it the best island on the list for romantic escapes and recommends Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, a five-star property in Soufrière.
Set between the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea, St. Lucia works particularly well for travelers who want a resort vacation with scenery and activities beyond the beach. Sugar Beach gives couples a high-end base for exploring the island while keeping the focus on a traditional Caribbean resort stay.
The island also illustrates why Expedia says value is becoming more flexible for travelers. Rather than simply looking for the lowest nightly rate, travelers can compare package prices, shift their dates or prioritize amenities that reduce other vacation expenses.
“Value is shaping where, when and how people travel — not whether they travel,” Fish said. “Travelers are using technology to protect the experience they want while making the math work.”
For travelers considering a Caribbean getaway during a high-demand period, booking earlier can also be important. Expedia says the Hot List is not a holiday-specific forecast, but it can provide a signal of where interest is building.
Porto Santo is the No. 2 destination on the list, with interest up 85% year over year. Expedia calls it a top choice for wellness and relaxation and recommends the five-star Pestana Porto Santo Beach Resort & Spa.
Porto Santo is part of the Madeira archipelago, which is an autonomous region of Portugal. The island has a very different feel from Madeira’s rugged, mountainous main island. Its long golden-sand beach is the main attraction, while the resort offers an easy setup for travelers who want to spend most of their trip relaxing.
Lael Kassis, VP of market innovation & development at EF Go Ahead Tours, says Madeira is also gaining attention from EF travelers. Data is backed by and sourced from EF World Journeys Go Ahead Tours.
“Madeira is one of my favorite islands anywhere. The microclimates are remarkable — you can walk a UNESCO laurel rainforest in the morning and stand on the arid, almost lunar Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula that afternoon,” Kassis told The Post.
“Add serious food and wine traditions and levada hiking, and it works in any month. If it were my list, I’d put the Azores alongside it as the most underrated island group in the Atlantic. We are seeing more and more travelers combining food & wine tours on mainland Portugal with Madeira.”
That combination makes Madeira and Porto Santo worth considering for travelers who want to mix a resort stay with hiking, food, wine and outdoor activities.
It also fits with the broader shift Expedia is seeing toward travelers building trips around specific experiences rather than simply chasing the cheapest available vacation.
Praslin ranks No. 3, with travel interest up 80% year over year. Expedia identifies it as the best choice on the list for nature lovers and recommends Coco de Mer Hotel and Black Parrot Suites, a four-star property on the island.
Praslin is known for beaches, forests and access to the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a strong choice for travelers who want a resort vacation but also want the destination itself to be a major part of the trip.
Coco de Mer Hotel and Black Parrot Suites sits on the southern side of Praslin, giving guests access to the island’s coastal scenery while providing the amenities expected from a resort stay.
For travelers comparing the Seychelles with more established luxury-island destinations, Praslin can also be worth pricing as part of a larger Seychelles itinerary.
Expedia’s broader point about value is particularly relevant for destinations such as the Seychelles, where travelers may be weighing a higher-cost long-haul trip against the experience they want. Bundling flights and accommodations can be one way to compare the total cost rather than evaluating each component separately.
Syros is No. 4 on Expedia’s list, with travel interest up 60%. Expedia calls it the best island for cuisine and charm and recommends Syrou Melathron in Ermoupolis.
Syros offers a different side of Greece from the familiar Santorini and Mykonos itinerary. Ermoupolis, the island’s capital, is known for its neoclassical architecture, waterfront setting and restaurant scene.
Syrou Melathron puts travelers in the heart of Ermoupolis, making it a useful option for visitors who care more about exploring local streets, restaurants and history than spending the entire vacation inside a large beachfront resort.
Kassis says Greece is seeing a major change in how travelers approach the islands.
“Greece has changed the most. Travelers used to treat the islands as a July product; now October is one of the most requested windows — warm water, open restaurants, no crowds,” Kassis said.
“We’re also seeing real appetite for islands beyond Santorini and Mykonos, across the Ionian, the lesser-visited Cyclades and the Dodecanese, plus more interest in the mainland for history, food and archaeology.”
That shoulder-season behavior also aligns with Expedia’s view that travelers are increasingly willing to change when they travel in order to make the overall trip better value.
For travelers looking for a Greek island in the fall, Syros is one of the strongest alternatives to the better-known names.
The Lofoten Islands rank No. 5, with travel interest up 50% year over year. Expedia names Lofoten the best destination on the list for Arctic adventures and recommends Henningsvær Bryggehotell, a four-star property in Henningsvær.
This is the destination for travelers who want something very different from a tropical island vacation. Lofoten combines steep mountains, fishing villages, fjords and dramatic coastal scenery.
Henningsvær Bryggehotell gives visitors a chance to stay in one of Lofoten’s best-known fishing communities while using the island as a base for outdoor adventures.
Kassis points to the fall and winter months as an important reason to consider the destination.
“The Lofoten Islands in Norway, above the Arctic Circle, are among the most beautiful places on earth — granite peaks dropping straight into the sea above fishing villages,” Kassis said.
“They’re a genuine year-round draw for opposite reasons: midnight sun in June, northern lights from October onward. Q4 is the aurora window.”
Expedia’s Fish similarly points to a mix of warm-weather and less-traveled island demand heading into the holidays.
“The Island Hot List points to two patterns: travelers looking for warm-weather escapes and travelers looking for an island less-traveled,” Fish said.
For a Q4 trip, Lofoten is less about poolside relaxation and more about pairing a distinctive hotel stay with Northern Lights viewing and Arctic scenery.
Palawan is No. 6, with travel interest up 40%. Expedia lists it as the best island destination for natural wonders and recommends Carpe Diem Villas & Resort.
Palawan is known for limestone cliffs, clear water, lagoons and island-hopping excursions. It is a particularly good fit for travelers who want a resort stay but plan to spend plenty of time outside the property.
Carpe Diem Villas & Resort offers a smaller-scale stay compared with the giant international resorts found elsewhere in Southeast Asia. That makes it appealing for travelers who want accommodation that feels connected to the surrounding destination.
Palawan can also work as part of a longer Philippines itinerary, allowing travelers to combine city sightseeing and cultural stops with several days focused on beaches and water activities.
That kind of itinerary-building is increasingly central to how travelers are approaching value, according to Expedia.
“The bigger takeaway is that value is shaping where, when and how people travel — not whether they travel,” Fish said.
Rather than automatically choosing the cheapest destination, travelers can change the mix of destinations, accommodations and trip components to preserve the experiences they care about.
Culebra comes in at No. 7, with travel interest up 35% year over year. Expedia calls it the best island on the list for water adventures and recommends Club Seabourne Boutique Hotel.
Culebra is a strong pick for travelers who put beaches, snorkeling and diving ahead of nightlife or large resort complexes. Flamenco Beach is the island’s best-known stretch of sand, while the surrounding waters offer plenty of opportunities for swimming and exploring.
Club Seabourne Boutique Hotel provides a smaller hotel option for travelers who want to stay on Culebra rather than treating it as a day trip from Puerto Rico’s main island.
The destination can also make sense for travelers who want an island vacation without committing to a long international flight.
As with the other destinations on the Hot List, travelers can compare dates and accommodation options to find the combination that best fits their budget rather than assuming a particular island or travel style will always be the cheapest.
Sanibel Island ranks No. 8 on Expedia’s list and is named the best island for family escapes. Expedia recommends Sanibel Inn, located on East Gulf Drive.
Sanibel is a straightforward choice for families who want a beach vacation in the United States. Its slower pace, warm-weather activities and easy access make it particularly appealing for travelers who don’t want the logistics of an international trip.
Sanibel Inn provides a traditional island-hotel option close to the beach. Travelers can spend their days swimming, walking the shoreline, exploring the island or searching for the shells that have made Sanibel famous.
For families, the biggest value can come from keeping transportation simple while using hotel or package offers to manage the overall trip cost.
Expedia says that kind of calculation is increasingly common across the travel landscape. The goal is not necessarily to spend as little as possible, but to find the combination of price and amenities that delivers the desired experience.
Phu Quoc is No. 9 on the Expedia Island Hot List, with travel interest up 25% year over year. Expedia names it the best island for affordable luxury and recommends the five-star Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa.
Phu Quoc has become one of Southeast Asia’s leading resort destinations, combining beaches, upscale hotels, restaurants and easy access to outdoor activities.
Green Bay Phu Quoc Resort & Spa is positioned as a five-star property for travelers who want a resort experience without the prices associated with some of the world’s most established luxury islands.
Kassis says Phu Quoc is also benefiting from its position within larger Vietnam trips.
“Phu Quoc has become a natural add-on for travelers coming off a Vietnam itinerary. After Hanoi, Hue and the Mekong, it offers the best beaches in the country and a few days to slow down,” Kassis said.
That makes the island particularly attractive for travelers who want to build a multi-stop vacation rather than fly halfway around the world for a beach-only trip.
It also illustrates why Expedia considers value more than a simple hotel price. Combining components of a larger itinerary, changing dates or choosing a destination where luxury accommodations offer relatively strong value can all change the economics of a trip.
Fiji rounds out the Expedia Island Hot List at No. 10, with travel interest up 15%. Expedia names it the best destination on the list for multigenerational value and recommends the five-star OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort.
Fiji is a natural fit for families and groups traveling together because the destination offers a mix of beaches, water sports, cultural experiences and resort activities.
OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort provides the full resort setup, making it easier for different generations to set their own pace during the same vacation.
Kassis says Fiji is especially popular as an extension of trips to Australia and New Zealand.
“Fiji is one of our most popular extensions for Australia and New Zealand tours. When someone is already flying that far, adding Fiji turns one trip into a multi-country experience — and the draw is as much the culture and the hospitality as the snorkeling and marine life,” Kassis said.
“Q4 also sits in Fiji’s dry season, which helps.”
The Expedia Island Hot List comes at a time when travelers are also looking beyond traditional summer destinations for fall and winter trips.
For the holidays, Expedia says the Hot List offers two broad signals: demand for warm-weather escapes and growing interest in islands that are less traditionally traveled.
“Every one of the 10 islands on this year’s list is up year-over-year in Expedia flight searches, from St. Lucia and Porto Santo to Sanibel Island, Phu Quoc and Fiji,” Fish said.
For travelers considering a holiday island vacation, that rising demand has a practical implication.
“Plan earlier for destinations that are gaining momentum, because availability can tighten during peak weeks,” Fish said.
Fish cautioned that the Hot List is not designed as a holiday-specific forecast.
“The Hot List is not intended to be a holiday-specific forecast, but it does provide a useful signal of where traveler interest is building ahead of the season,” Fish said.
The island trend also lines up with what tour operators are seeing heading into the final quarter of the year.
“Islands are really popular for our travelers. From the Expedia Island Hot list, we are seeing strong sales to many of the islands mentioned,” Kassis said. Data is backed by and sourced from EF World Journeys Go Ahead Tours.
The Expedia Hot List is primarily a search-trend ranking rather than a list of actual bookings.
“The list combines Expedia searches with broader cultural and social momentum; the rankings themselves are anchored in Expedia flight-search growth,” Fish said.
The core Hot List ranking is based on global Expedia flight searches made across Expedia points of sale from Sept. 22, 2025, through March 22, 2026, for travel at any point in 2026. Expedia compared that with the corresponding search period from Sept. 22, 2024, through March 22, 2025, for travel in 2025.
Expedia also used supporting signals to add context to the list. The 20% increase in social mentions reflects “island travel” conversations from March 10 through June 10, 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to Expedia.
That distinction matters when evaluating the list: rising searches indicate growing traveler interest, but they do not necessarily mean that the same percentage of travelers ultimately book.
Costa Rica, for example, is showing a more modest 5% year-over-year increase in booking interest based on lodging searches on Expedia (one hotel worth looking into for an exceptional value and experience is Jardín del Edén Boutique Hotel). That figure is based on searches from Jan. 5 through Aug. 23, 2026, for travel between Dec. 1, 2026, and Feb. 28, 2027. Because it measures lodging searches for a specific future travel window rather than the flight-search methodology used for the Island Hot List, it is not directly comparable with the Hot List rankings.
Expedia promotes bundling flights and hotels as one way to reduce the overall cost of an island trip, while its 2026 Island Hot List also highlights Member Prices and app savings on select hotels. Actual prices vary by property, dates, room type and availability.
Fish says travelers have more tools than simply comparing the headline hotel rate.
“Travelers can use filters to screen for price and amenities, track changes, compare a bundled flight-and-hotel price with booking separately, and increasingly use AI-powered recommendations to narrow the options,” Fish said.
Expedia also recommends strategies such as shifting dates, considering different destinations, bundling trip components and prioritizing amenities such as all-inclusive plans, meal plans or free breakfast.
“Islands don’t just satisfy the urge to get away; they can also be one of the smartest vacation values, thanks to all-inclusive resorts and bundle savings on Expedia,” Fish said.
Traveling in the shoulder or off-season, bundling trip components, using Price Tracking and Flight Deals and booking popular destinations early can all help travelers make the most of their budget as well.
Travelers should compare shoulder-season dates, especially for destinations where the weather remains favorable outside the traditional peak period.
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