Santa Monica is emerging as a top spring break destination for Los Angeles-area families this year, with new Airbnb data showing a significant uptick in searches for short-term rental stays along California's coast heading into the vacation season.
According to Airbnb data, travel to Santa Monica by families this spring break is up, with many travelers coming from Los Angeles County itself. Californians make up 11% of searches for Santa Monica stays, reflecting a broader statewide trend of residents opting for closer-to-home getaways this spring and families account for 60% of Angeleno travelers searching for Santa Monica.
Across the state, Airbnb reported search growth as high as 70% in some California coastal cities compared to last year, driven largely by families and in-state travelers. Statewide, one in three spring break searches is coming from California residents, and searches for family stays along the coast are up nearly 10% overall.
"Families and Californians are turning to short-term rentals for affordable and flexible getaways this spring break," Airbnb said in a statement accompanying the data release.
Angelenos are the second most popular group traveling to the coast this spring, with popular other destinations including Santa Barbara and Oceanside. One in four Angelenos heading to the coast this season is traveling with family.
The surge in family travel is not limited to major destinations. Searches by families for Newport Beach stays are up nearly 20%, while family searches for Pacifica are up approximately 40%. Lesser-known communities are seeing even steeper jumps — Oceano is up roughly 81% for family searches, and Cayucos is up approximately 85%. Airbnb attributed those gains likely to affordability, as travelers seek lower-cost alternatives to pricier beach markets.
In anticipation of the spring break influx, Airbnb also used the data release to remind travelers of its strict ban on disruptive parties. The company's reservation screening technology uses machine learning to flag higher-risk bookings and prevent them from being completed. Third-party bookings are prohibited, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Violations can result in account suspension, trip cancellations and financial liability for property damage.
The spring break travel bump comes as the broader tourism industry remains a critical economic pillar for Santa Monica and the surrounding region — one still working to recover from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, the January 2025 wildfires.
Santa Monica is among the most tourism-dependent municipalities in the country. An estimated 56% of the city's general fund revenue traces back to visitors, according to a May 2025 city budget presentation. The city's 15% Transient Occupancy Tax on hotel stays — and 17% on home-shares since a 2022 ballot measure — generated $62.7 million in 2024 alone. Visitor retail sales taxes contributed an additional $4.2 million.
Despite those figures, the city faces structural headwinds. Santa Monica Travel & Tourism reported 4.2 million visitors in 2024, a fraction of the 8.4 million recorded in 2019. The city is projecting a $29.1 million annual general fund deficit by fiscal year 2026-27, driven largely by tourism revenue shortfalls.
International visitors are a key variable in that equation. While hotel guests represent just 13% of Santa Monica's visitors, they generate more than three-quarters of all visitor spending at an average daily rate of $331. International travelers accounted for 44% of all visitors in 2024 and 51% of spending — an outsized economic contribution relative to their share of foot traffic.
The pattern holds across the broader Los Angeles region. According to the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, 50 million visitors traveled to LA County in 2024, matching the pre-pandemic record and generating more than $45 billion in total business sales. The sector supports over 543,000 jobs. International visitors numbered 5.8 million in 2023 — still 21% below their 2019 peak — yet accounted for 49% of overnight visitor spending despite representing just 23% of overnight visitors. Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom are the top international feeder markets.
For the City of Los Angeles, the most direct tourism revenue stream is the 14% hotel Transient Occupancy Tax, which was budgeted at $342.8 million for fiscal year 2024-25. Collections have lagged projections, however, falling $13.9 million short at midyear — following a $14.3 million shortfall the prior year. Two LA hotels permanently closed in recent months, and 20 area hotels are on commercial mortgage default watchlists.
The January 2025 wildfires have added further uncertainty to an already fragile recovery. The LA County Economic Development Corporation has estimated total economic output losses of $5.2 billion to $10.1 billion through 2029. Visit California projected statewide visitor numbers would decline 0.7% in 2025 — the first such drop since the pandemic — with international arrivals forecast to fall 9.2% due to wildfire perceptions, a strong dollar and geopolitical tensions. California saw an 8% decline in international air arrivals through August 2025 compared to the prior year.