Coolcations had another great summer. Here are the places travelers went

Extreme temperatures are driving travelers to seek out cooler destinations. And there’s a term for the trend: “cool.”

Heat waves — which are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — are affecting where people choose to vacation, especially during the hot summer months.

“Often, when we think of vacations, beaches and tropical getaways come to mind,” an Expedia spokesperson told CNBC Travel. “However, cool is about choosing destinations where the temperatures are more moderate, where you pack a light sweater instead of a sun hat.”

From January to June 2024, flight searches to Lapland, Finland increased by 705%, according to Expedia. The online travel agency said flight searches are also into Canada, specifically Banff (65%) and Lake Louise (55%), its data showed.

Home rental website Vrbo reported that cooler places appeared among the top 40 most-booked destinations this summer, a list that included Breckenridge, Colorado. White Mountains, New Hampshire; and the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania.

Californian Stephanie Greitzer said she was planning a family trip to Whistler this summer.

“We live in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles where we experience extreme heat most of the summer, reaching highs well over 100,” he said. “We want to feel comfortable when we travel to experience all that a city has to offer and take a break from the extreme heat at home.”

European cities such as Rome and Madrid top the list of popular summer destinations. But rising temperatures in southern Europe are hitting the summer travel season hard.

This summer, Italian officials issued heat warnings in 12 cities as temperatures reached triple digits in some areas.

“For the summer as a whole, from June to August, temperatures averaged 3-8 degrees F above historical averages in southern Italy,” Jason Nicholls, chief international meteorologist for the AccuWeather website, wrote in a email to CNBC. “There were several rounds of heatwaves across Italy and the Balkans later in July into August.”

As a result, northern Europe is seeing a rise in tourism.

“Northern Europe as a whole has really taken off in the last couple of years,” says Delphine Combes, product executive at travel agency Scott Dunn. “Norway has emerged as a top five destination for us in Europe, rising eight places from 2022.”

He said Scott Dunn is adding more summer travel options to Finland, Sweden and Switzerland to meet increased demand.

“These are destinations where until recently we only offered winter and holiday products,” Combes said.

According to Visit Finland, foreign visitors made more than 4.8 million trips to the Nordic country in the past 12 months. The number of foreign overnight stays registered from January to June 2024 was 9% higher year-on-year, with the largest number of visitors coming from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States and the Netherlands.

Combes had a suggestion for American travelers looking for a cooler vacation.

“Be open-minded about traveling to places where Americans are not the main tourists,” he said. “Unlike the Mediterranean, a lot of cool places aren’t full of Americans. It creates an interesting atmosphere that allows for maybe a more cultural experience.”

Combes also suggests booking early. “There are fewer quality hotels in many cooler and less visited destinations. Rising demand is starting to outstrip hotel inventory, so prices will either be high or there will be no availability if you wait until the last minute.”

Sara Steele-Rogers and her husband, who currently live on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, booked a trip to Estonia in September to beat the heat.

“It’s always hot in the Caribbean, so cooler weather destinations are more appealing than ever to get a taste of fall,” says Steele-Rogers. “Little things like being able to walk distances without sweating through my clothes are things you won’t miss until they’re gone.”