Orbitz says more Americans are headed to the beach this summer

Nearly three-quarters of Americans are planning to take a summer break and many will be heading to the beach, which is the most popular vacation getaway, according to a report released on Thursday by online travel company Orbitz.

Historical and cultural tours are the next most popular option, followed by cruises, Orbitz said.

With their balmy climates, Orlando, Las Vegas and Cancun are the top three summer destinations, along with Los Angeles, Honolulu and Maui, which were among the ten most popular destinations.

Seattle, New York, San Francisco and Denver also made the list.

“With the economy continuing to rebound, we’re seeing consumers move away from settling on a shorter summer road trip and thinking more about that big vacation to someplace like Cancun,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor for Orbitz.com, which based its results on flight and hotel bookings.

Tornatore said airfares have also dipped since last year, making travel more appealing.

The cost of flights to all of the top destinations, except for Cancun, have fallen, according to Orbitz. The drop ranged from less than one percent for Orlando to 14 percent for Denver.

An Orbitz poll of 750 adults showed that three-quarters of travelers plan to keep their budget below $2,500. In addition to finding cheaper flights, 11 percent of consumers said they would consider shortening their vacation and 34 percent would eat some meals in their room, rather a restaurant, to save money.

Reporting by Patricia Reaney; Editing by Paul Simao. Copyright (2013) Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.