Beaches and Islands Still Dominate Valentine’s Day Travel Plans, and St. Thomas Makes Its First Appearance on the Top 10 International Roster of Most Popular Romantic Escapes
Richmond, Virginia, January 18, 2023 – Valentine’s Day is one of the first times couples can get away to spark or rekindle a romance after the busy winter holiday season. This year signifies we all need a little more love in our lives as searches for Valentine’s Day travel plans jumped by 45% compared to 2022, according to Allianz Partners USA‘s Top Valentine’s Day Destinations report.
After reviewing more than 700,000 itineraries* for roundtrip flights departing U.S. airports between Thursday, February 2 and Monday, February 6, with a return between Thursday, February 9 and Monday, February 13, the travel insurance and assistance company noted that 71% of the itineraries are for domestic travel and 29% are for international trips, typical for this travel season. The data also revealed the top destinations for Valentine travelers.
While the holiday season saw families hitting big U.S. metros like New York City and Seattle, ever-popular Florida destinations Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami fill the top three slots for romantic rendezvous this year. The dreamy Hawaiian island destinations of Honolulu and Kahului, Maui, round out the top five with Salt Lake City (#8) and Denver (#10) closing out the Valentine’s Day rankings with adventurous, snowy escapes.
International beaches continue to draw Americans to Mexico, Aruba, Jamaica, Costa Rica and the Caribbean in 2023, indicating romance is still best courted by the sea. While Cancun remains the number one getaway location, St. Thomas is the first of the U.S. Virgin Islands to make the roster in the 10 years Allianz Partners has tracked Valentine’s Day travel plans.
“Love is indeed in the air this year, with flight itineraries soaring around the Valentine’s Day holiday,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “For those who choose travel over chocolate and roses, it’s important to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect pre-paid travel investments from unpredictable events like trip cancellations or interruptions, travel delays, and baggage issues.”
Building on the success of its 2021 Epidemic Coverage Endorsement product enhancements, Allianz Partners rolled out new retail channel products in many states in late 2022. As with the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement products, these new retail products may provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. These products also may cover emergency medical care and transportation or provide reimbursement for change fees and loyalty points deposit fees if the customer becomes ill with an epidemic disease. Availability of these enhanced benefits and specific covered reasons varies by product and by state. See your plan for details.**
Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and available travel policies, please visit http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/.
*Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers’ 2023 Valentine’s Day plans was gathered by analyzing the number of customers that went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for partners offering Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance, to generate itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from 2/2/2023 –2/6/2023, returning 2/7/2023 – 2/9/2023. In total, over 700K itineraries were analyzed using this methodology.
About Allianz Partners
In the United States, Allianz Partners USA (AGA Service Company) offers Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans and serves millions of customers each year. In addition to travel protection, the company offers event ticket protection, registration protection for endurance events and unique travel assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. AGA Service Company is doing business as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency in California (License # 0B01400) and Massachusetts. Allianz Partners USA is part of the Allianz Partners group. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, mobility and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech, high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Present in over 75 countries, our 19,400 employees speak 70 languages, handle over 58 million cases each year, and are motivated to go the extra mile to offer peace of mind to our customers around the world.
** Except for the benefits and covered reasons expressly included in a particular product, or added in the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, products otherwise generally do not cover claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories, or fear of travel, and coverage can vary by state. Please see our COVID-19 Coverage Alert for information about temporary accommodations that may be available. Benefits for quarantines only apply when an eligible traveler is specifically named and individually ordered to quarantine by order or official directive of a government, public regulatory authority, or the captain of a commercial vessel on which that eligible traveler is booked to travel during the covered trip, based on that eligible traveler’s exposure to COVID-19. The benefit does not cover travel restrictions (whether or not they are referred to as “quarantine”) that apply generally or broadly (a) to some segment or all of a population, geographical area, building, or vessel (including without limitation shelter-in-place, stay-at-home, safer-at-home, or other similar restriction), or (b) based on to, from, or through where the person is traveling. Coverage may not cover the full cost of your quarantine and is subject to applicable benefit limits. See your plan for details.
For Allianz Partners USA products offered and sold in the U.S.: Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of coverage, including the epidemic-related benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums. Benefits and limits vary by plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan’s Letter of Confirmation/Declarations and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance coverage is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: Oakbrook Terrace, IL), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: Richmond, VA), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101‐C series or 101‐P series, depending on state of residence. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best’s 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Except as otherwise specified, AGA Service Company d/b/a Allianz Global Assistance is the licensed producer and administrator of Allianz Travel-branded travel protection plans in the U.S. and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. Allianz Global Assistance is a mark of AGA Service Company or its affiliates. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between Allianz Global Assistance and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance and assistance services. Noninsurance benefits/products are provided and serviced by Allianz Global Assistance.