Top 40 Cities for 2020 Ranked Based on Recent Traveler Preferences Including Driveability, Population and Last-Minute Savings
While jet-setting abroad may be off the table this summer, many Americans are turning to their own backyard for a change of scenery after months of stay-at-home orders. In fact, more than four in five (81%) of adults agree that after quarantine, quick, local trips are the perfect way to test the waters before investing in a longer vacation according to a recent survey by online travel site Hotwire® -- but these trips will be accompanied by added safety precautions. Key changes travelers plan to make include traveling more by car (50%), visiting less crowded spots (43%), researching a hotel’s cleanliness procedures (29%) and traveling close to home in case of emergency (26%).
In 2019, the last-minute getaway experts at Hotwire brought new meaning to the term ‘quickie’ when they released the “America’s Best Cities for a Quickie Index” which ranked 40 U.S. destinations predominantly based on factors like leisure and entertainment for a two to three-night getaway. But with trip planning looking a bit different this year and impacted by a rapidly changing health and safety landscape, recent traveler preferences called for new city ranking factors such as savings on last-minute bookings, driveability and population.
Oklahoma City ranked #4 among Major Metropolises. To create the 2020 index, Hotwire’s robust ranking system analyzed more than 300 cities coast-to-coast, compiling more than 10,000 data points and taking into account today’s most pressing travel factors, including Ease of Arrival - Driveability (30%), Best Bang for Your Buck - Value (30%), Things to Do - Leisure (30%) and Population (10%) as travelers look to escape crowded destinations.
America’s Best Cities for a Quickie Index 2020 - Top 40
What Makes A Great Last-Minute Getaway City?
When it came to ranking the best cities for a getaway, these top 40 cities scored big in the following categories:
● Ease of Arrival – Driveability (30%):
- Short drive time (number of top 50 U.S. metro areas within 250 miles)
● Best Bang for Your Buck - Value (30%):
- High hotel demand
- Lowest average hotel daily rate o Biggest last-minute savings
● Things to Do - Leisure (30%):
- Most number of bars and restaurants
- Most things to do (sites and attractions)
- Least number of rainy days
● Population (10%)
- Higher priority to those with smaller populations
To ensure a safe and seamless trip, Hotwire strongly recommends checking the most recent local travel guidelines for your city and destination before booking. They have also been working closely with their hotel partners to communicate property cleanliness precautions during checkout to indicate enhanced health and safety measures taken to protect travelers.
For more information, see travel resources and deals, or to view the complete city index and tips, visit quickie.hotwire.com.