Beach cocktail? Ancient ruins? These are WA’s most-searched summer vacations, study says
It’s January, we’re past the early-winter festivities, and now we’re stuck with the prospect of several more months of cold with little in the way of distractions.
But in the distant future, you can almost feel it…warm sun kissing your skin, a cold drink in your hands and a sandy beach at your feet.
Many Washingtonians are thinking specifically of Belize or Costa Rica. At least, that’s according to a new study by We Review Resorts, which analyzed Google search results to see which tropical destinations Americans are Googling most.
Costa Rica was the second-most searched-for tropical location among Americans, coming in behind Thailand, which was the most searched-for destination in 22 states.
WA’s top tropical vacation destinations
Here are the Evergreen State’s top-five searched destinations for summer destinations, with a little bit of information about each one:
1. Belize
Belize ranked as Washington’s most searched location, and a significant reason for that may be the country’s language. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America, meaning asking for directions or ordering at a restaurant shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Belize shares a border with Mexico’s southern edge and is the ancestral home of the ancient Mayan Empire, dating back over 3,500 years. As a result, many Maya ruins can be seen and visited in Belize.
About 5,306 per 100,000 Americans search for Belize vacations monthly, making it America’s third-most searched location.
2. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America, sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama along the narrow isthmus connecting the North and South American continents. A leader in environmental conservation, Costa Rica is renowned for its low-stress lifestyle that emphasizes quality of life and balance.
The name Costa Rica translates into English as “rich coast” and can be traced back to Spanish settlers who arrived in the area in the 16th century. It receives about 6,124 Google searches per 100,000 Americans each month.
3. Thailand
On the other side of the world, in southeast Asia, Thailand is Washington’s third choice for a tropical vacation. Thailand, also known as The Land of Smiles, receives 6,750 Google searches per 100,000 Americans, making it the most sought-after tropical destination.
Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is home to 11.2 million people, making it the 31st-largest city in the world and more populated than any U.S. city.
4. Vietnam
Also in southeast Asia, Vietnam came in as the state’s fourth-most popular search. The country has reportedly been growing as a tourist destination in recent years, with exponential growth in 2023. The U.S. contributed the fourth-most tourists to Vietnam, the top country outside of Asia.
Vietnam has beaches and cities packed with tourist opportunities, and is generally affordable as far as foreign travel goes.
Vietnam was the sixth-most searched destination in the country, averaging about 4,313 searches per 100,000 Americans.
5. Philippines
Washingtonians remain looking toward Asia for their fifth-most popular search, with the island nation of the Philippines ranking next. The Philippines comprises more than 7,640 islands and was searched by about 4,717 per 100,000 Americans, making it America’s fifth-highest search tropical country.
The Philippines can be divided into three regions:
Luzon: The northernmost island is where the country’s capital, Manila, is located. Manila has a population of 14.9 million, making it the 18th-largest city in the world.
The Visayas: A collection of islands in the center of the country. Some of the region’s more notable islands include Panay, Cebu, Bohol and Leyte.
Mindanao: The second-largest island in the Philippines and at the country’s southern edge.
