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Far West Texas city recognized as a top travel destination for 2026

El Paso was named one of the "Rising Star Destinations" to book for a vacation in 2026.

A new 2026 Travel Trends Forecast from vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has unveiled the top U.S. cities that are on travelers' minds for the next year, and one unsuspecting far West Texas city was included on the list: El Paso.

El Paso was named one of six most sought-after "Rising Star Destinations" in the Southwest and Mountain West regions. Search trends revealed traveler interest in El Paso skyrocketed 191 percent year-over-year, with vacationers pining after "desert landscapes" and "frontier-style towns with modern Western flair."

To determine where travelers are planning on booking their 2026 vacations, HomeToGo surveyed 1,000 American adults from November 26-28, 2025 to discover which locales offer "both affordability and under-the-radar appeal." Search interest and price insights were based on observed searches executed via HomeToGo's website from August 1-November 15, 2025, with a check-in date during 2026.

The reports findings show the vacation accommodations in El Paso cost a median $62.21 per night, earning the city a reputation for being more affordable than Texas' major cities like Dallas or Houston. HomeToGo also said travelers are "increasingly turning to smaller [Southwestern] towns" to find accommodations rather than booking a stay at a large resort.

Additionally, younger travelers like Gen Zers and Millennials are driving the shift toward these hidden gem destinations after collecting inspiration from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

"Western destinations are seeing a rise in interest, fueled by a broader cultural moment that has placed such locations firmly in the spotlight," the report's author wrote. "In 2025, artists such as Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter brought fresh takes on the visual language of country music firmly into the mainstream, with this movement further amplified across social media platforms."

There's plenty to do in the self-proclaimed "Sun City," such as hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visiting local museums, and much more.

Other top "Neo-Western Revival" destinations to visit in 2026 include:

Marana, Arizona
Cañon City, Colorado
Yucca Valley, California
Queen Creek, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona

"According to the survey findings, 76 percent of U.S. travelers plan to go on vacation in 2026, with over a quarter (26 percent) actively booking longer and more extravagant breaks," the report said. "Fifty-seven percent plan to spend more on vacations in comparison to 2025, indicating that the appetite for travel is clearly growing."

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cut the travel time

Ladybird Jet air shuttle launches flights from Houston to Fredericksburg

Photo courtesy of Ladybird Jet

Hop on board from Houston to the Hill Country.

Houstonians now have a new way to travel to the Hill Country without spending hours in the car. Regional air shuttle service Ladybird Jet has launched a new route connecting passengers from Houston to Fredericksburg.

Texas-born Ladybird Jet is a membership-based charter flight broker providing a fleet of semi-private flights addressing "a growing gap in regional executive travel across Texas," per a release. Rather than spending hours in traffic traveling hundreds of miles by car, Ladybird Jet promises short flights without arduous security lines or baggage claim delays.

"Executives in Texas are losing half their day just getting to a meeting," said founder Devon Perry. "I built Ladybird Jet because I saw firsthand how broken regional travel was — and I knew Texas deserved better than choosing between a six-hour drive and a commercial airline odyssey."

The new Houston-to-Fredericksburg route operates out of West Houston Airport (IWS) and flies into Gillespie County Airport (T82). The flight cuts down an approximate nine-hour round trip down to just "a short flight," according to Perry, and passengers only need to arrive 15 minutes before departure.

Ladybird Jet semi-private charter plane Houstonians can travel to the Hill Country in style via Ladybird Jet's eight-seat aircraft. Photo courtesy of Ladybird Jet

"Houston professionals love Fredericksburg — the wine, the food, the Hill Country," Perry said. "But a nine-hour round-trip drive turns a relaxing getaway into an endurance test. We eliminate that. You land, and your weekend starts immediately."

Flights departing Houston will operate on Thursdays at 5 pm, and returning flights will take place on Sundays at 6 pm. That allows plenty of time to explore the Hill Country's wineries, restaurants, hotels, and the relaxing scenery. The planes can accommodate eight passengers, and round-trip fare costs $1,697 per seat.

Ladybird Jet also operates a route from Fredericksburg to Dallas, if ritzy Houstonians want to save time and travel luxuriously throughout all three cities.

Flight memberships start at $500 a month, with three different tiers available depending on travel needs.