HomeToGo, the SaaS-enabled marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, ranked Gulf Shores as the third-most in-demand destination among American travelers in its 2024 Summer Travel Forecast.

Gulf Shores lands just behind Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and top-ranked Destin, Florida, based on searches via HomeToGo.com with check-in dates between June 20 and Sept. 22 in what details the vacation preferences and plans of U.S. travelers within the warmer months. HomeToGo's 2024 Summer Travel survey estimates that 76% of Americans have summer trips planned and that 50% claim they will go on more vacations compared to last year.

"Beach retreats are the top priority for the majority of U.S. travelers, with 70% of Americans planning to visit coastal locations this summer," HomeToGo states. "This is followed by city breaks (58%), national park and wilderness area retreats (56%), mountain escapes (50%) and visits to rural towns and communities (42%). HomeToGo's traveler demand data reflects these preferences: beach destinations rank as eight of the 10 most in-demand U.S. locations for summer 2024."

Cost, sustainability and spending are the key and top determinants in the location selection process, according to HomeToGo's survey statistics. The company details percentages on the number of people who say price is the most important factor (32%), as well as those seeking destinations closer to home (39%), with Americans traveling 518 miles fewer this year on average (1,180 in 2024; 1,698 in 2023).

"46% of Americans stated that they will opt for travel during the off-peak periods in summer 2024, with 39% planning to take trips at different times to avoid extreme weather such as heat wave," HomeToGo adds. "Bad weather is seen as a key concern, selected as the top vacation disruption by 31% of U.S. vacationers, ahead of unsatisfactory/inadequate accommodation (28%), overcrowded destinations for (20%), underwhelming experiences (12%) and arguments within one's travel group (9%)."

To view the entire HomeToGo 2024 Summer Travel Forecast, visit www.hometogo.com/2024-summer-travel-forecast.