Trending 2024 summer vacation ideas
It may only be April, but if you're an in-advance trip planner, spring is the perfect time to make arrangements for the summer season. We've already covered where Swifties are gig tripping and ways to get more out of (or avoid) the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but we get that those aren't for everyone. Here at Daytrip, we've consulted our internal data for the up-and-coming places our clients are booking trips this season—and the top three confirm that Daytrip travelers are a different breed. So this one's for anyone still seeking a unique destination that doesn't appear on the same old, same old annual tourist lists: whether that means out-of-the-ordinary additions to your Europe trip, memorable summer vacation ideas for families, or luxury getaways without the crowds, the countries below are perfect for travelers like you. Here’s a teaser of what unexpectedly ties all of these together: mountains!
Methodology
Destinations on Italy's Amalfi Coast, along the Lisbon-to-Porto corridor in Portugal, or within the Habsburg heartland are some of Daytrip's most popular routes every year. This year, however, we decided to dig deeper into our data. We compared the trips that Daytrip customers took between June 1, 2023, and August 31, 2023, to bookings already in place for the same period in 2024. The data points we considered also included optional stops for en route experiences, one of Daytrip's most appreciated features—and a sure sign that vacation planners intend to get the most out of the sightseeing and cultural opportunities on offer. The three countries with the largest year-on-year percentage increases in bookings are featured below.
Montenegro: 1,700% increase in summer bookings
Montenegro at a glance
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Podgorica Airport (TGD), Tivat Airport (TIV), Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport (DBV)
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Podgorica (capital), Cetinje, Budva, Kotor
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Euro (€)
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Montenegro is not part of the EU or the Schengen Zone. It has been in talks to join both since 2012, but currently this means that border controls are in place when entering or exiting from any other country; these can take up to three hours in peak season. US, EU, and Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa. More info
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It seems that Croatia's Game of Thrones-inspired boom and perpetually overcrowded Greece have lost their luster and small but mighty Montenegro is finally getting its due. Sun worshippers and cruise operators understandably head straight—and only—for the coast, which is understandable: warm sapphire waters, aged stone buildings, craggy islets, and a developing resort infrastructure recalls other, equally lively European rivieras. UNESCO-enshrined Kotor, Budva, and Herceg Novi deliver these all in spades.
But there's much more on offer if you venture away from the coast—which is easy to do given that Montenegro is about the size of the US state of Connecticut. The country's name, meaning "Black Mountain" is a clue: the terrain steadily rises as you head inland and eventually reaches respectable peaks in the northeast. Along the way, Montenegro's karst topography and sparse population (even the capital, Podgorica, doesn't clear 200,000 inhabitants) offers ample opportunities for forested valleys, dramatic cliffs with monasteries attached, and lakes, the finest of which are protected—Durmitor National Park and Biogradska Gora National Park in particular.
Sample itinerary: Planning to stay in Montenegro
Podgorica to Kotor
After landing and getting settled, it’s worth spending a day or so taking in the capital city’s long history, from Roman bridges to Orthodox churches to mosques and the nearly new Millenium Bridge. But obviously the sea beckons, and Daytrip can give you a private ride from your door to precisely where you’re staying on the coast. The way there—less than a two-hour drive—is a perfect opportunity to get a feel for all of Montenegro, both literally and figuratively: small Cetinje’s unexpectedly regal buildings hint at centuries of power-politics, while Lovcen, Montenegro’s tallest mountain, offers views that span most of the country on a clear day.
Kotor to Podgorica
Once you arrive at the Bay of Kotor, the city by the same name is the hub of the action. But in addition to the beauties of the beaches, terra cotta roofs, and winding cobblestone streets of Kotor proper, the secretive inlets of the rest of the area are perfect for shorter excursions to well-preserved Perast, exuberant Budva, or luxurious Sveti Stefan. Even once it’s time catch your return flight from Podgorica, your exploration doesn’t have to end: you can pencil in stops to any sights you missed on the way out, including refreshingly cool Lipa Cave.
Sample itinerary: Planning a multi-country vacation
Small but mighty strikes again: especially if you’re staying along the coast, Montenegro is a great hub for quick cross-border visits to Dubrovnik or Split in Croatia, Sarajevo or Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Tirana in Albania.
Albania: 600% increase in summer bookings
Albania at a glance
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Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA), Kukës International Airport Zayed (KFZ), Corfu International Airport “Ioannis Kapodistrias” (CFU)
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Tirana (capital), Saranda, Shkoder, Dhermi
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Albanian lek (L)
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Albania is not part of the EU or the Schengen Zone. It has been in talks to join both since 2022, but currently this means that border controls are in place when entering or exiting from any other country; these can take a few minutes to a few hours in peak season. US, EU, and Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa. More info
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Not content with just having the coolest flag on Earth, Albania takes Montenegro’s beach/mountain dichotomy and adds its own twists. Sure, you can get your fill of beach life in Saranda or enjoy a more physically active visit to the Accursed Mountains (a name that's also extremely cool, though also known as the Albanian Alps), but Albania's development alongside and sometimes within Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and communist spheres of influence makes it equally attractive to lovers of history and culture. This same placement today—sharing borders with four countries and a sea border with one more—also positions it as a convenient hub if you're trying to figure out how to plan a multi-country European vacation.
But even if you remain solely within Albania, its unique and proud culture is evident in and between any destinations you choose. Whether you're spending your time in the thriving largest city of Tirana or heading to almost-forgotten villages and national parks like Theth, the hospitality of the Albanian people is rightfully famous. This alone—made even better when you have the relatively untouristed breathing room to fully appreciate it—is why Albania is one of the best places to travel in Europe this summer, and likely for summers to come.
Sample itinerary: Planning to stay in Albania
Tirana to Saranda
Whether you’re flying into Albania or arriving from elsewhere, it’s sensible to start off in the capital, Tirana. Here you can get a crash-course in the full arc of Albanian history, from timeless foodstuffs like olives, cheese, and wine to the legacy of Emperor Justinian to the rapidly developing arts and architecture of recent decades. Tirana is, however, landlocked; while the quick jump from the capital to the coast—we recommend Saranda (a.k.a. Sarande or Sarandë)—can be done in just a few hours, making that transfer into a fuller one-day trip is much more rewarding. Touring the ruins at Apollonia and cresting the UNESCO-enshrined fortress of Gjirokaster lets you pack multiple millenia as well as plenty of Instagram-worthy views into a single afternoon.
Saranda to Tirana
Once on the Albanian Riviera you’ll be surrounded by beaches so clear that they could be mistaken for the Caribbean. For a change of pace—especially if nightclubs or music festivals are on your to-do list—a trip up the coast to Dhermi (or Dhërmi) is quick and picturesque. And whether you head back from Dhermi to Saranda or you’re ready to depart again from Tirana, a quick stop at the Blue Eye will make you think you veered to a Mexican cenote.
Sample itinerary: Planning a multi-country vacation
If you prefer freshwater to seawater, a trip from the capital of Tirana to Ohrid in North Macedonia will land you at an equally refreshing lake via a rustic mountain route. Or you can make Ohrid just one stop on your way to Skopje, the Macedonian capital—daring feats of ancient architecture such as Petrele Castle are other options for breaking up the drive.
Switzerland: 94% increase in summer bookings
Switzerland at a glance
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Zurich Airport (ZRH), Geneva Airport (GVA), EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL/MLH/EAP)
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Zürich, Geneva, Bern (capital), Interlaken, Basel, Lugano
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Swiss franc (Fr.)
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Switzerland is not part of the EU but it is a member of the Schengen Zone. This means that no border controls are in place when entering or exiting from surrounding countries by land, though you may need to pass through customs when arriving by air; these checks are characteristically quick and efficient. US, EU, and Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa. More info
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It's easy for the mind to go straight to winter sports when you think of traveling to the heart of the Alps. But that's exactly why Switzerland is an ideal summer destination too: you can fully appreciate the country’s world-famous historical, artistic, and natural sights amid pleasant temperatures and without the persistent crowds that flock to the sea or the slopes. And of course, fondue and raclette taste equally good no matter the time of year.
Part of what makes Switzerland such a draw throughout the year is the sheer variety you can get in a single country. Bern, Geneva, and Lugano each offer a taste of the country’s German, French, and Italian aspects (respectively), while Zürich, Basel, and Grindelwald offer a range of settings from cosmopolitan metropolis to classic village. Or you can get out of town entirely: Switzerland’s alpine peaks, valleys, lakes, and streams make hiking or simply getting some fresh summer air an unrivaled pleasure.
Sample itinerary: Planning to stay in Switzerland
Zurich to Interlaken
Home of Switzerland’s busiest airport, busiest train station, and largest population, Zurich is an almost inevitable place to start any Swiss vacation. Whether your tastes first draw you to fine art museums or in the footsteps of famous residents like Albert Einstein, James Joyce, or Carl Jung, this city is its own moveable feast. Lest you forget your surroundings, though, an hour-and-a-half drive can take you deeper into the country to Interlaken. Appropriately interleaved between two lakes and a handful of peaks, active travelers will feel at home exploring the hillsides, as will the more relaxation-minded in search of clean mountain air. The trip back from Interlaken to Zurich can be a sightseeing adventure itself, with the Swiss gems of towns lined up on the way. If you want even more dramatic surroundings than you enjoyed in Interlaken, a Zurich to Grindelwald trip will only add a few extra minutes.
Lucerne to Zurich
Instead of heading straight back from Grindelwald or Interlaken to Zurich, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t stop in Lucerne along the way. Not only does the medieval cityscape form tangible ties to William Tell, Goethe, and Wagner, but adding this stop to your itinerary lets you check out sights like Zug or a stunning glass museum you might have missed the first time round.
Sample itinerary: Planning a multi-country vacation
Locking in Switzerland as a starting point makes planning a European tour even more convenient. Heading from St. Moritz to Milan lets you swing by Lake Como and some excellent hiking en route, while heading west from Zurich via Basel or Geneva will let you see still more famous Switss cities while ultimately ending up in two very distinctive regions of France.
These are where our forward-thinking summer planners seem to be headed, but all is not lost if you're a last-minute planner or you have a different part of the world in mind. Daytrip is has over 7,000 drivers at your service in nearly 120 countries, so we’re able to connect you to the perfect trip wherever you’re headed this summer. Happy travels!
