New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
CT summer travel trends: These were the top getaways on Airbnb and Vrbo
Last summer, in the height of the pandemic, many Connecticut residents opted for staycations rather than going abroad or across the country. This year, while cities have re-opened and restrictions loosened, data shows that many residents still chose to keep their endeavors local.
While Connecticut has many landscapes to offer, most visitors were drawn to the state’s coastal areas this summer. Nearly 40 percent of the demand for Vrbo, a short-term rental site, in the state has been for homes in the New London area, according to Nancy Lien, public relations manager for Vrbo.
“We know the coastal areas of the state — including the cities, towns and tourism businesses within them — tend to attract the most visitors each summer,” said Christine Castonguay, interim director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism.
When Connecticut residents chose to leave the state, they mostly traveled to nearby states. According to Vrbo, these were the most visited places by state residents this summer: Cape Cod, Mass., Washington County, R.I., the White Mountains, N.H., York County,
Maine, and Kissimmee, Fla.
In addition to coastal destinations, rural travel has also increased during the pandemic. Rural destinations accounted for 28 percent of Airbnb bookings in the U.S. in 2021 — up from 10 percent in 2015.
In Connecticut this summer, the top destinations on Airbnb were either rural or coastal. Here are the top five visited towns in Connecticut this summer, according to Airbnb.
Litchfield
Popular attractions: Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield Distillery and White Memorial Conservation Center.
Population: 180,333
Stonington
Popular attractions: Terra Firma Farm, the Lighthouse Museum, Stonington Vineyards, Saltwater Farm Vineyard and Lauren ‘B’ Charters.
Population: 18,559
Groton
Popular attractions: Outer Light Brewing Company, Bluff Point Coastal Reserve and the Submarine Force Library & Museum.
Population: 38,436
Milford
Popular attractions: Walnut Beach, Eisenhower Park and Silver Sands State Park.
Population: 53,195
Old Saybrook
Popular attractions: Harvey’s Beach, 30 Mile Brewing Co. and Lynde Point Lighthouse.
Population: 10,061