Top 20 Destinations for Vacation Rentals

See where other travelers are booking.

By: Deanne Revel

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Already dreaming of your summer vacation? You're not alone. January and February are the most popular months to book travel, according to vacation rental site HomeAway. “Vacation home demand tends to spike 75 percent from December,” says Melanie Fish, HomeAway’s family travel expert.

Photo by: Photo Courtesy of HomeAway

Photo Courtesy of HomeAway

It makes sense. People are sick of winter and want something to look forward to. Travelers searching through more than two million homes on the site are already planning their summer vacations. "We recommend looking for your vacation home at least three months in advance,” said Fish.

If you feel like you’re behind on your travel plans, get inspiration from the top destinations travelers are booking.

Crab Island

Enjoy fun in the sun on Crab Island, an underwater boating and party island located on the North side of the Destin bridge. From April to November, tourists will notice anywhere from 10 to 200 boats anchored in the bay. Locals anchor their boats to spend the day swimming, snorkeling, and playing football, Frisbee and volleyball. During the summer, there are boats selling burgers, shrimp, boiled peanuts, ice cream and much more.

Photo by: Emerald Coast CVB

Emerald Coast CVB

Most Popular U.S. Destinations

Panama City Beach, Florida

Destin, Florida

Orange Beach, Alabama

Walt Disney World Area, Florida

South Walton Beach, Florida

Vacation Ideas for These Spots

Destin Vacation Guide 15 Photos

Family Fun in Orange Beach

Fish said beyond HomeAway’s traditional, popular destinations it’s surprising to see the up and coming spots. “We’ve pinpointed areas that are in high demand,” she said. These are destinations that have skyrocketed in search for thousands of travelers booking vacation homes in just the past year.

Trending U.S. Destinations

Hurricane, Utah

Sautee Nacoochee and Cleveland, Georgia

Bay Area, California

Waco, Texas

Utica, Illinois

Baylor University, Texas

The campus of Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Photo by: Lauren Simpson

Lauren Simpson

Haven’t heard of some of these spots? That’s because they’re more rural. Families are opting for places close to nature. “The common thread I see with up and coming spots is that they’re very outdoorsy,” Fish said. “The destination with the most growth, Hurricane, Utah, is close to Zion National Park. People want the best of both worlds. They want adventure but want to come home to a hot shower and home furnishings and relax.”

And Waco, Texas doesn’t surprise us at Travel Channel. Our sister network HGTV airs the hit show Fixer Upper, which is based in Waco. HomeAway agrees that fans are making the pilgrimage to Texas to visit popular Chip and Jo sites.

Thinking of an international vacation? These are the top five, most popular destinations for booking home rentals.

Most Popular International Destinations

Whistler, Canada

Precos Pensisko, Mexico

Toronto, Canada

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Vacation Ideas for These Spots

Whistler Foodie Guide

Cabo San Lucas Must-Dos

Toronto Travel Guide

And for the new, hip spots, Fish said these are the top five trending international destinations. It’s clear Canada is king for home vacation rentals. Fish said that’s not surprising as 61 percent of HomeAway travelers drive for vacation.