New York, NY, USA emerged as the undisputed top destination, accounting for 11.8% of all group trips planned, according to a recent analysis of Anywayr (formerly Travelry) user data. This first-party research, spanning the last 90 days and encompassing 5781 trips planned by 4917 unique users, provides a comprehensive snapshot of current group travel trends. It reveals nuanced preferences in destinations, group dynamics, timing, and interests, offering invaluable insights for both travelers and industry professionals alike. The findings underscore key shifts in how groups conceptualize and execute their travel plans in late 2026.
Where group trip planners are heading
The data from the last 90 days highlights a clear and consistent preference for major urban centers, both domestically and internationally. New York, NY, USA dominated the list of planned trips, securing an impressive 682 trips, which translates to 11.8% of the total sample. This overwhelming preference reflects New York's enduring appeal as a multifaceted global hub, offering an unparalleled array of experiences from world-class dining and Broadway shows to iconic landmarks and vibrant neighborhood exploration. For groups considering a comprehensive trip to the Big Apple, Anywayr offers comprehensive guidance and curated itineraries at New York City. Further granular insights into specific user plans for this perennially popular destination can be found in our detailed blog analysis: New York, NY, USA Travel Data: What 21 Anywayr Users Planned.
Following New York, a strong contingent of international metropolises captured significant attention, indicating a robust return to global exploration:
- Tokyo, Japan: 195 trips, 3.4%
- Paris, France: 167 trips, 2.9%
- Las Vegas, NV, USA: 114 trips, 2%
- Rome, Italy: 95 trips, 1.6%
These top five destinations collectively represent a substantial portion of all planned trips, showcasing a strong inclination towards iconic global cities known for their culture, entertainment, and historical significance. Tokyo's rise in popularity, securing 3.4% of trips, underscores a growing appetite among groups for unique cultural immersion experiences in Asia. Groups planning an unforgettable adventure to Japan's vibrant capital can explore tailored resources and activity suggestions at Tokyo. Similarly, Paris continues to enchant travelers, holding the third spot with 2.9% of trips, proving its timeless allure for friends, families, and couples alike seeking romance, art, and exquisite cuisine. Discover more about planning a seamless group trip to the City of Light with Anywayr's comprehensive guide to Paris. Las Vegas, holding steady at 2%, maintains its position as a go-to for entertainment-focused group getaways, while Rome's 1.6% signifies a continued draw towards European history and gastronomy.
Beyond the leading five, other notable destinations included Miami, FL, USA (83 trips, 1.4%), Italy (73 trips, 1.3%), London, UK (68 trips, 1.2%), Lisbon, Portugal (66 trips, 1.1%), Hawaii (60 trips, 1%), Orlando, FL, USA (57 trips, 1%), and Los Angeles, CA, USA (53 trips, 0.9%). The presence of both specific, highly-developed cities (like London and Lisbon) and broader geographical regions (such as 'Italy' and 'Hawaii') indicates a diverse range of planning approaches. Travelers are either pinpointing exact urban centers for concentrated experiences or exploring wider geographical areas known for specific attractions like pristine beaches, historical sites, or natural wonders. The data reveals a slight skew towards domestic travel within the USA for the absolute top spots, but international destinations quickly gain prominence, highlighting a balanced interest in both accessible and aspirational journeys that offer varied cultural landscapes and recreational opportunities.
Who's traveling together
An examination of group dynamics among Anywayr users reveals that intimate and smaller travel experiences are overwhelmingly predominant. The 'couple' group type leads significantly with 31.2% of all planned trips, closely followed by 'friends' at 27.2% and 'family' at 25.4%. These categories collectively account for over 83% of all group travel planned on the platform, indicating that the core user base is focused on shared experiences with close companions or relatives. 'Solo' travel, while representing a smaller segment, still accounts for 16.2% of plans, a notable figure that suggests individuals are also leveraging sophisticated planning tools, even for personal itineraries, to organize complex logistics and discover new experiences efficiently.
When looking at group sizes, the trend towards smaller, more manageable groups is even more pronounced and provides further clarity:
- Couple (2 people): 47.7%
- Small group (3-5 people): 30.4%
- Solo (1 person): 16.1%
- Large group (6+ people): 5.8%
The 'couple' category alone makes up nearly half of all trips by size (47.7%), establishing two-person trips as the most common scenario. Solo travelers account for a substantial 16.1% of plans. Combined, these two categories represent over 63% of all trips, underscoring that the majority of travel planned through Anywayr involves either individuals or pairs. This suggests that while Anywayr is a robust platform supporting complex large group planning, its intuitive features are also highly valued for organizing trips for two or even one, streamlining decision-making, itinerary building, and logistical coordination for smaller parties.
The average group size across all trips was 2.8 people, with a median of 2. This statistical divergence strongly reinforces the dominance of couples and very small groups. The median of 2 indicates that half of all trips involve two or fewer people, while the higher average of 2.8 is influenced by the longer tail of larger groups. Large groups of 6 or more individuals constitute a smaller, yet significant, 5.8% of the total. While less frequent, these larger, often more complex trips—such as family reunions, destination weddings, or extensive friend getaways—are still a key use case for the platform, benefiting from its collaborative planning features and ability to collect everyone's share for bookings.
When they're going
The analysis of top travel months reveals distinct and compelling seasonal preferences among Anywayr users, with a strong lean towards autumn and early winter. This period appears to be a prime window for group travel, optimizing for a balance of favorable weather, cultural events, and potentially fewer crowds compared to peak summer.
The top travel months are:
- October: 17.1%
- December: 13.5%
- September: 13.2%
- November: 10.6%
- March: 7.2%
- May: 7%
The period from September to December collectively accounts for over 54% of all planned travel. This significant concentration indicates a clear preference for shoulder seasons and the holiday period. October stands out as the single most popular month, capturing 17.1% of all plans. This could be attributed to several factors: pleasant weather conditions in many top destinations, the allure of fall foliage in certain regions, and the strategic avoidance of peak summer crowds and prices. Many groups may also be taking advantage of school breaks or professional conference schedules during this time.
December's strong showing (13.5%) is unequivocally driven by holiday travel, encompassing Christmas and New Year's trips, as well as winter sports getaways or escapes to warmer climates. The consecutive popularity of September and November further solidifies the autumn window as a prime time for group excursions.
The spring months of March and May also feature prominently, though less extensively than the autumn/winter window, suggesting that travelers are either avoiding the peak summer rush or capitalizing on specific events, festivals, or favorable weather patterns during these times. March, with 7.2%, often aligns with spring break periods, while May, at 7%, precedes the summer vacation season, offering a sweet spot for pleasant weather before the intense heat and crowds. The data suggests that many group planners are strategic about their timing, opting for periods that balance favorable conditions, cultural opportunities, and potentially lower costs.
What they care about
Understanding the interests selected by Anywayr users provides deep insight into the motivations and priorities driving contemporary group travel. 'Food & Dining' is overwhelmingly the top priority, selected by 68.8% of users. This highlights the central and often celebratory role culinary experiences play in modern travel, whether it's exploring local street food, indulging in fine dining, participating in cooking classes, or simply enjoying shared meals. Food is clearly a communal experience that bonds groups.
Other leading interests paint a picture of diverse, experience-driven travel, moving beyond passive sightseeing to active engagement:
- Food & Dining: 68.8%
- Adventure & Outdoor Activities: 60%
- Cultural Experiences: 53.3%
- Beach & Water Sports: 51.9%
- Local Markets: 47.2%
- Shopping: 38.9%
- History & Museums: 35.1%
- Architecture: 31.7%
- Music & Arts: 27.3%
- Nightlife & Entertainment: 26.4%
The high engagement with 'Adventure & Outdoor Activities' (60%), 'Cultural Experiences' (53.3%), and 'Beach & Water Sports' (51.9%) indicates a strong, collective desire for active and immersive trips. Travelers are not just looking to see places; they want to do things, engage with their surroundings, and create shared memories through dynamic activities. The popularity of 'Local Markets' (47.2%) further supports this trend, showing a significant interest in authentic, community-level interactions, discovering unique local crafts, and experiencing the pulse of a destination beyond its main tourist attractions.
Even interests traditionally associated with solo exploration, such as 'History & Museums' (35.1%) and 'Architecture' (31.7%), are significant for group planners, suggesting a shared desire for educational and aesthetically rich experiences. This indicates that groups value intellectual stimulation and a deeper understanding of a destination's heritage. 'Shopping' (38.9%) remains a strong draw, providing opportunities for leisure and acquiring souvenirs, while 'Nightlife & Entertainment' (26.4%) rounds out the top interests, confirming that groups also seek vibrant social scenes, live performances, and evening leisure activities. The data clearly shows that group travel is moving towards a holistic experience, blending culinary delights with adventure, culture, and relaxation.
How long their trips are
An analysis of trip durations reveals two distinct patterns in group travel behavior among Anywayr users. The data shows that the average trip length is 7.3 nights. However, a significant divergence is observed when considering the median trip length, which stands at just 2 nights. This disparity is crucial for understanding how groups plan their time away.
The median of 2 nights, representing the midpoint of all trip durations, tells us that a large proportion of group travel plans are for relatively short getaways. These are often weekend trips, extended long weekends, or quick city breaks designed to maximize limited vacation time. This trend aligns with the prevalence of smaller group sizes and the popularity of major urban centers, which can be explored effectively over a few days.
Conversely, the higher average of 7.3 nights indicates that while many trips are indeed shorter, a substantial number of longer trips significantly pull the overall average up. These longer excursions likely involve more extensive international travel, multi-city itineraries, or trips focused on immersive experiences that require more time, such as extended outdoor adventures or multi-week cultural explorations.
This dichotomy suggests that Anywayr users are leveraging the platform for a wide spectrum of travel needs: from quick, efficient city breaks or local escapes (as reflected by the median) to more extensive, multi-day adventures that might involve international travel or exploring multiple regions (contributing to the higher average). Planners are likely optimizing their trips to fit within limited vacation time, balancing the desire for frequent short escapes with the aspiration for occasional, longer, more profound journeys. This flexibility in trip length caters to modern lifestyles, where both quick rejuvenation and in-depth exploration hold value.
Methodology
This report is based on an exclusive first-party data analysis of 5781 trips planned by 4917 real Anywayr users over the last 90 days. The data was generated on 2026-10-19. To ensure the accuracy and relevance of insights into genuine user activity, all internal admin and test trips were meticulously excluded from the sample. This comprehensive report is refreshed monthly to provide the most current and actionable trends in group travel planning.
What this means for your trip planning
These robust trends offer invaluable, data-driven insights for anyone embarking on the journey of planning a group trip, whether for family, friends, or a couple's getaway. If you're aiming for a highly popular destination like New York, Tokyo, or Paris, the data strongly suggests considering booking key activities and accommodations well in advance, especially if your travel dates fall within the peak autumn/early winter months. The overwhelming emphasis on 'Food & Dining' and 'Cultural Experiences' among top interests means prioritizing unique culinary adventures, local market visits, and immersive cultural activities will likely enhance your group's satisfaction significantly. For the smaller groups that dominate the travel landscape (couples and small groups of 3-5), streamlining decision-making and managing shared expenses efficiently are crucial for a smooth experience.
Moreover, the prevalence of shorter trips (with a median of 2 nights) underscores that efficient planning is paramount to maximizing your group's time. Focusing on a few core, high-impact interests, such as a specific culinary tour, an outdoor adventure, or a deep dive into a historical site, can create a memorable and fulfilling experience even within a limited timeframe. For those planning longer trips, integrating a balanced mix of popular interests ensures that everyone in the group finds something exciting and engaging throughout the journey. Leverage these insights to craft a trip that resonates with your group's desires and travel style. Anywayr's AI can build a comprehensive and personalized trip itinerary in minutes, simplifying the entire planning process for any group size or destination, from initial ideas to booking real activities with live prices and collecting everyone's share.
