Greenland, the British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, Antarctica, and the Maldives are the world’s most expensive vacation destinations to visit in 2026, according to a new ranking reported by Euronews. The list comes from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth’s 2026 travel expense index, which compared destinations across five categories: average daily trip cost, average flight cost, average accommodation cost, average car rental cost, and everyday food and drink prices.
Squaremouth said it used reported trip costs from more than 100,000 travel insurance sales, survey responses from more than 6,000 customers, and external booking data. The ranking shows how remote geography, luxury resorts, long-haul flights, and expedition-style travel continue to shape the price of major vacations. It also points to continued demand for premium trips, as some travelers report spending more on bucket-list experiences while overall travel costs remain high. Those factors placed hard-to-reach regions and luxury island markets near the top of the 2026 list.
Greenland Tops The 2026 Ranking For Vacation Costs
Greenland ranked as the most expensive destination overall, with an expense index of 9.84 out of 10, according to Squaremouth. The company listed Greenland’s average daily trip cost at $1,171, with average flights at $1,357, car rentals at $110 per day, inexpensive restaurant meals at $36.03, and weeknight hotel stays at $227.
The British Virgin Islands ranked second, with a 9.72 expense index. French Polynesia ranked third, followed by Antarctica and the Maldives. Antarctica had the highest average daily trip cost among the top five, at $1,511, while French Polynesia and the Maldives stood out for high hotel costs. Squaremouth noted that some Antarctica costs used Ushuaia, Argentina, a common gateway for Antarctic expeditions.
Flights, Hotels, And Daily Costs Drive Prices Higher
The ranking shows that no single expense category explains every high-cost destination. Airfare pushed several long-haul destinations higher, with Namibia averaging $2,009 in flight costs, followed by Antarctica at $1,899 and Zimbabwe at $1,839. Hotels played a major role in island destinations. Anguilla had the highest average weeknight hotel cost at $1,684, followed by Turks and Caicos at $1,413 and French Polynesia at $1,382.
Food and drink prices also shaped the index, with Bermuda recording the highest listed meal cost at an inexpensive restaurant, averaging $68.83. Squaremouth also reported that 45% of surveyed travelers expected their 2026 travel budgets to increase, while 23% said they were spending more to secure a premium or bucket-list experience. The company said luxury island vacations, African safaris, and polar expeditions ranked among the top premium trips travelers planned to prioritize.
The 15 Most Expensive Vacation Destinations For 2026
1. Greenland
2. British Virgin Islands
3. French Polynesia
4. Antarctica
5. Maldives
6. Switzerland
7. Zimbabwe
8. Turks and Caicos Islands
9. Botswana, Anguilla, and Saint Lucia (tied)
12. Namibia and Iceland (tied)
14. Norway
15. Zambia
