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Forget Europe or Manhattan or even Alaska—Priceline says try Birmingham, Alabama. Yes, the unassuming Southern city has officially claimed the top spot on the booking platform’s list of trending domestic destinations for 2027, according to its new Where to Next? Travel Trends Report.
The ranking draws on year-over-year growth in Priceline searches between May 2025 and May 2026. So why Birmingham? A combination of affordability, a rich cultural history and a food scene that gives travelers plenty of reasons to arrive hungry. Visitors can explore the Birmingham Civil Rights District, including the 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center and Kelly Ingram Park, before turning their attention to the city’s celebrated restaurants. A history lesson followed by an excellent meal? That's a vacation itinerary we can get behind.
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The report’s other domestic destinations offer a mix of small-town charm, outdoor adventure and art-world credentials. Block Island, Rhode Island, promises windswept beaches, historic lighthouses and Victorian-era inns, while Beacon, New York, pairs galleries and antique shops with the sprawling contemporary art collection at Dia. Snoqualmie, Washington, and Bayfield, Wisconsin, round out the domestic top five for travelers looking beyond the obvious.
Internationally, Priceline’s trending destinations include Fes, Morocco; Innsbruck, Austria; Miches, Dominican Republic; Adelaide, Australia; and Da Nang, Vietnam. In other words, there’s plenty of inspiration whether your ideal trip involves historic medinas, Alpine scenery, beaches or a far-flung culinary adventure.
The report also suggests travelers are getting savvier about how they spend. Because it's 2026, Priceline calls the strategy “TripMaxxing”: saving on one part of a trip to splurge on another. According to the report, 70-percent of Americans choose destinations based on how far their money will stretch, while 62-percent cut costs in one area to upgrade another, like an economy flight in exchange for a fabulous hotel.
Other predicted trends include planning trips around viral foods, using AI to personalize itineraries and treating vacations as opportunities to test-drive a potential new hometown.
Of course, a ranking based on search growth isn't a guarantee that Birmingham will suit every traveler. But if your next vacation needs culture, comfort food and a more budget-conscious approach, Alabama's biggest city deserves a spot on your shortlist.