NEED TO KNOW
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Las Vegas was named the happiest U.S. travel destination, scoring 88 out of 100 on JustCover’s “Happy Place” scale
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Researchers analyzed over one million reviews to rank destinations based on language expressing happiness and joy
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Tulum, Mexico, topped the global list while Maui and New York City also ranked among the happiest U.S. destinations
The nation’s ultimate happy place doesn’t need ocean views, just a serious dose of inland fun!
Las Vegas has been named the happiest travel destination in the United States, according to a July 2026 report from Irish travel insurance company JustCover. Nevada’s most populous city scored an 88 out of 100 on the report’s “Happy Place” score, earning the title of fourth happiest travel destination in the world.
Also known as Sin City, researchers say Las Vegas is “engineered for peak moments.” Many travelers already arrive in celebration mode for weddings or milestone birthdays, but the shows, restaurants and nightlife bring another level of bliss.
The Las Vegas skyline
Credit: George Rose/Getty
Last year, the city saw 38.5 million total visitors, with 6 million people coming in for a conference, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Further research found that 12% of those visitors traveled internationally for this visit.
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To compile its list of the world’s happiest destinations to travel to, JustCover analyzed over 1 million reviews across tourist hotspots such as attractions, event venues, national parks, scenic spots and resorts in 155 popular vacation destinations across the globe.
Researchers looked at how often travelers used language that expressed pure happiness and joy — such as “this place made me so happy” or “I felt genuine happiness here” — to rank each destination. A “Happy Place” score was then determined based on the share of happy reviews relative to each destination’s total reviews.
Coming in at the top of the list is Tulum, Mexico, with a perfect score of 100. The beach town on the country’s Yucatán Peninsula is known for its well-preserved Mayan ruins. Besides its historic charm, Tulum has built a notable reputation for its food, nightlife and wellness scenes, drawing crowds from all around the world.
A total of 11 U.S. hotspots made the top 20 list. Following closely behind Las Vegas at No. 5 is Maui, Hawaii. The laid-back island destination scored 84.6 on the “Happy Place” scale. Tourists can take advantage of oceanside resorts offering luxury stays, snorkeling adventures in the rich coral reef or a hike through Haleakalā National Park.
Wailea Beach in Maui, Hawaii
Credit: Getty
Coming in at No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 6 overall, New York City is celebrated for its Broadway entertainment scene, iconic skyline and many bucket-list attractions — like walking the Brooklyn Bridge and climbing to the top of the Empire State Building.
Other U.S. cities breaking the top 20 list include Chicago; Austin, Texas; Miami; San Francisco and Los Angeles.
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