Latest news with #EleanorMoody
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Hospitality Net
HomeToGo Unveils 2025 Taste of Summer Index, Revealing the Top Rising Star Foodie Destinations for Summer Vacations
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – With almost half (48%) of U.S. travelers seeking out trips centered around food and drink experiences for summer 2025*, HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, today released its first-ever Taste of Summer Index, pinpointing the top 20 U.S. destinations likely to satisfy both travelers' wanderlust and tastebuds. The marketplace evaluated exclusive rental price insights and search statistics, alongside data on highly rated restaurants and gourmet experiences in each destination, to identify the best palate-pleasing places to stay across the United States. An appetite for unique food and drink experiences is shaping how people plan to travel this summer, as vacationers are hungry for destinations that dish out authentic and exciting culinary adventures. From wine region retreats like Woodinville and Sonoma, to small-town gems including Ithaca and Astoria, to big-city hubs such as Seattle and Portland, this index serves as a menu from which travelers can choose their next gastronomic destination, based on the ingredients that make up an ideal break. Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo Travel Expert and Spokesperson To rank each location, HomeToGo researched the following four data points, calculating scores based on the findings: Rising Star Score: The higher the year-on-year search increase for vacations, the higher the score. The higher the year-on-year search increase for vacations, the higher the score. Affordable Accommodation Score: The lower the vacation accommodation cost, the higher the score. The lower the vacation accommodation cost, the higher the score. Highly-Rated Restaurant Score: The higher the percentage of highly-rated restaurants, the higher the score. The higher the percentage of highly-rated restaurants, the higher the score. Gourmet Experiences Score: The more food and drink experiences offered, the higher the score. From Hawaii's Maui to Portland in Maine, here is a glimpse of the ranking: HomeToGo Unveils 2025 Taste of Summer Index, Revealing the Top Rising Star Foodie Destinations for Summer Vacations— Source: HomeToGo Here's what travelers can expect in the top five trending destinations: Portland, Oregon: Portland's food scene pulses with the best of the Pacific Northwest, from lush Willamette Valley sourcing to eco-conscious eateries. Don't miss the city's food cart pods, which open up a world of international gastronomic possibilities. Woodinville, Washington: Woodinville, tucked in Washington's wine country, overflows with small-town charm and world-class tipple. Explore this destination's four districts and discover their culinary delights, from laid-back farmers market fare to luxury fine dining. Ithaca, New York: On the southern edge of the longest Finger Lake, Ithaca's gourmet culture is characterized by farm-to-table dining and vineyard vibes. Travelers can visit The Commons in downtown Ithaca in search of their new favorite restaurant, or escape into nature on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Astoria, Oregon: Astoria, situated at the mouth of the Columbia River and a point on the North Coast Food Trail, is a port city that's packed with flavor. Vacationers can sample seafood such as Dungeness crab and Chinook salmon, washed down with local craft beers in a selection of this location's lively breweries. Seattle, Washington: From the International District to Capitol Hill, Seattle's food scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself, shaped by coastal influences and global flavors. The city's coffee culture is also a highlight, with locally roasted brews fueling busy vacation days. *The full list, destination descriptions, and an interactive map can be found at Methodology: For the full methodology and more information as to how this report was created, please visit *Survey insights are based on research conducted by HomeToGo among a sample of 800 respondents in the United States. To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older. The survey was carried out online between September 3, 2024, and September 5, 2024. Respondents were able to select multiple answers across a number of questions. About HomeToGo HomeToGo is the SaaS-enabled marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, listing millions of offers from thousands of trusted partners, including Vrbo and TripAdvisor. From vacation homes, cabins, beach houses, apartments, condos, house boats, castles, farm stays and everything in between, HomeToGo combines price, destination, dates and amenities to find the perfect accommodation for any trip worldwide. Founded in 2014, HomeToGo operates localized apps & websites in more than 30 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Asia-Pacific. HomeToGo also operates brands such as AMIVAC, Casamundo, e-domizil, EscapadaRural, Kurzurlaub, Kurz Mal Weg, and Wimdu. To learn more, visit or download the HomeToGo app.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arizona national park named a top US travel destination — and it's not the Grand Canyon
Saguaro National Park near Tucson was named a hidden gem of the U.S. National Parks, according to a recent report. Vacation rentals marketplace HomeToGo analyzed which national parks across the country offer smaller crowds, stunning scenery and affordable stays for those looking to escape to lesser-known destinations to experience the beauty of the U.S. wilderness. 'According to our 2025 Travel Survey, almost half of U.S. travelers have their eyes set on the great outdoors, with 49% planning to visit national parks or wilderness areas this year,' Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo's travel expert, said in an news release. 'As many vacationers continue to show particular interest in off-the-beaten-path destinations, whether this is to escape the crowds or find more affordable options, we hope this guide helps travelers pinpoint their perfect park escape." Here's why Saguaro National Park is one of the top national parks to enjoy nature without crowds, as well as a roundup of the top 10 national parks from HomeToGo's ranking. Saguaro National Park showcases the Sonoran Desert in all its prickly, sunlit beauty with its more than 94,000 acres of land on the western and eastern edges of Tucson. The park helps protect the biodiversity of the Sonoran desert landscape, including unique desert species like roadrunners, Gila monsters, desert tortoises and the iconic saguaro cactus. The park offers scenic drives, short trails and breathtaking views of towering cactuses, arid valleys and rugged mountains. During certain times of the year, the desert blooms with vibrant colors, bringing the trails to life. On the road? An Arizona city was named among the most underrated US travel destinations Additionally, the park was recently certified as an Urban Night Sky Place by Dark-Sky International, making it the first National Park Service location in Arizona to achieve this certification. Urban Night Sky Place recognition is awarded to sites near or surrounded by large urban areas that actively promote an authentic nighttime experience amid artificial light. One of the best parts? This stunning destination can also be budget-friendly. According to HomeToGo, the median nightly price per person for a vacation cabin near the park is about $53. To help preserve this unique landscape, visitors are encouraged to follow park guidelines closely. "As outdoor enthusiasts hit the trails, we encourage park visitors to embrace the Leave No Trace principles - preserving these natural spaces and leaving the parks as they found them,' Moody said. The desert environment: this tiny mouse lives in Arizona and eats cactus. See what it looks like Here's a list of the 10 most beautiful — and affordable — national parks for a vacation this summer 2025 and the median price per night per person for a vacation rental stay in the area, according to HomeToGo. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska: $59 Congaree National Park, South Carolina: $62 Saguaro National Park, Arizona: $53 Crater Lake National Park, Oregon: $75 Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota: $56 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado: $56 Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: $112 Arches National Park, Utah: $77 Lassen Volcanic National Park, California: $120 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: $76 To figure out the top national parks for travel, HomeToGo looked at vacation rental data and travel interest from January 1 to March 15, 2025. They focused on trips planned between April 1 and Sept. 21, 2025. The data was taken from the site's own exclusive pricing and search demand data, in addition to 2024 visitor statistics from the National Parks Service´s Integrated Resource Management Applications portal. Only parks with reliable vacation rental price data were included. Each park was scored using three factors: Affordability: the average nightly cost per person for a vacation rental near the park. Crowd size: how many people visited the park in 2024. Popularity: how many people searched for that park on HomeToGo during the travel dates. Each factor was given a score between 5 and 10, with 10 being the best (for example, the cheapest park or the least visited one). The highest possible total score a park could earn was 30. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Looking for a beautiful summer escape? Try this Arizona national park
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hatteras Island ranked second in HomeToGo's 2025 travel report
HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. (WNCT) — HomeToGo released its 2025 Memorial Day Travel Report pinpointing the top trending travel destinations for the holiday weekend, which ranked Hatteras Island as number two. The list includes other vacation spots such as: Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina. Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky. Temecula, California. Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Captiva Island, Florida. Traverse City, Michigan. Grayton Beach, Florida. Port Clinton, Ohio. 'Memorial Day is one of the biggest markers of American travel habits, and vacations around this holiday can act as an interesting early indicator of what's ahead for the summer,' HomeToGo Travel Expert and Spokesperson, Eleanor Moody said. 'This year, we're seeing vacationers gravitate toward locations offering space, scenery, and a slower pace—from lakeside gems in the Ozarks, to serene stretches of the Carolina coast, to scenic cities situated in wine country. On average, travelers are venturing 746 miles from home to reach Memorial Day vacation destinations, indicating a preference for spots that feel distinctly different from the everyday, providing both distance and downtime.' HomeToGo's Memorial Day Travel Report says that the majority of the top ten trending destinations this year are rural or small-town spots, with lake and river retreats, beach towns and island breaks, and gourmet stays in wine country reigning as top priorities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Study reveals the best budget-friendly places to see the Northern Lights in 2025
Ready to chase the Northern Lights without breaking the bank? A new report from HomeToGo has identified the most affordable destinations for witnessing the aurora borealis in 2025. Using exclusive accommodation pricing data, the travel marketplace analyzed the cost-effectiveness of prime viewing locations, ensuring travelers can experience this natural phenomenon without stretching their budgets. 'Last year's solar eclipse sparked an astrotourism trend among American travelers, which we are now seeing carry through into 2025,' said Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo Travel Expert and Spokesperson. 'With even more travelers wanting to witness out-of-this-world celestial displays, search increases have skyrocketed for places providing strong chances of seeing the Northern Lights.' For budget-conscious travelers hoping to witness the northern lights without leaving North America, Canada and Alaska offer some of the best options. Topping the list is Whitehorse, Canada, where the median nightly price for accommodation sits at just $160.68. While the city itself provides glimpses of the aurora, venturing to nearby dark-sky locations like Fish Lake and Takhini offers optimal viewing of the subarctic display. Next up are Churchill and Yellowknife, Canada, both known for their prime locations beneath the auroral oval, where the northern lights frequently dance across the sky. Churchill boasts a median nightly accommodation price of $190.55, while Yellowknife follows closely at $192.61 per night. Rounding out the top five are Denali, Alaska ($199.82 per night) and Fairbanks, Alaska ($227.63 per night), two destinations known for their crisp, clear winter skies. Thinking about venturing outside of North America to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights? Here are the most affordable worldwide destinations. Kemi, Finland: $101.97 per night Lofoten, Norway: $132.87 per night Luleå, Sweden: $133.90 per night Alta, Norway: $143.17 per night Narvik, Norway: $158.11 The post Study reveals the best budget-friendly places to see the Northern Lights in 2025 appeared first on The Manual.
