Non-European destinations now account for 60 percent of winter bookings among independent travelers, according to custom tour operator Avanti Destinations, which sells exclusively through travel advisors.
“Europe has always been our top seller in all seasons, but we’re seeing something quite different in advisor bookings for independent travel between November 2026 and March 2027,” said Paul Barry, Avanti’s CEO, in a press statement.
Avanti’s Rankings
Australia ranks first among winter picks, followed by Italy, Japan, Germany, France, New Zealand, Thailand, Costa Rica, the UK and Argentina. Barry said in the statement that warmer weather in the Southern Hemisphere and destinations near the equator appeal to travelers looking to escape the cold and experience a different culture.
Japan, which shares North America’s seasons, has become a strong year-round pick for independent travelers. Barry added in the press statement that clients who choose Europe and the UK in winter are drawn to a full cultural calendar of theater and concerts, fewer tourists and a more authentic experience than the summer crowds bring, along with the region’s Christmas markets and winter festivals.
Clients booking with Avanti this winter favor spa and wellness stays, winter sports, wildlife-spotting in Australia and Central and South America, food and wine or beer experiences, and filming-location tours tied to Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and Outlander.
Australia’s summer, November through March, favors Sydney, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, Tasmania and Lord Howe Island. New Zealand’s milder summer makes December through March ideal, and the country will mark the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers with tours of filming locations.
In Japan, clients can ski in Nagano or see Sapporo’s snow festival February 4-11, 2027. Krabi, on Thailand’s southwest coast, offers the five-star Banyan Tree resort with 72 suites and villas.
Winter is high season across Central and South America. Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands remain a top pick, with Avanti offering cruises on 14 ships, including the M/Y Galapagos Sea Star, which has two sundeck jacuzzis and suites with balconies. Packages include two nights in Quito or Guayaquil and private airport transfers.
In Europe, Lyon, France, hosts its Festival of Lights Dec. 5-8, 2026, and Carnival runs in Cologne, Germany, and Nice, France, in February 2027. Spa travelers can head to Baden-Baden, Germany, home to the Brenners Park Hotel and Spa, or Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, home to the five-star Grandhotel Pupp.
In Scotland, guests at the Fairmont St. Andrews can book a private Beneath the St. Andrews Stars experience with an astronomer, telescope and dinner, plus a telescope placed in the guestroom.
For more information, visit book.avantidestinations.com.
