Anyone looking for Israelis abroad this summer will find them primarily in Greece, though many - particularly among the younger generation - are venturing to more distant shores. Data from MAX for Summer 2026 points to several distinct shifts in travel and shopping habits: A quarter of travelers still wait until the last minute to book, family getaways are surging, and young adults are showing a growing appetite for the Far East.
The MAX Index, based on booking data from the MAX Travel platform and transactions made across more than 4 million MAX credit cards, offers a clear picture of how Israelis are vacationing and spending in 2026.
Greece remains in first place
Despite rising airfares, Greece remains the top summer destination for MAX Travel bookings, capturing 27% of total orders. Cyprus follows at 13%, with Italy rounding out the top three at 7%.
When measuring active cardholders making transactions abroad, Greece again claims the top spot, followed by the US, Italy, Cyprus, and Thailand.
However, the picture shifts dramatically when examining expenditure rather than visitor volume. The US leads overall spending, accounting for 13% of all MAX card outlays abroad since the start of the year. Thailand ranks second at 8.9%, followed by Greece (6.9%), Italy (6.6%), and France (4.3%).
This disparity is equally stark in average spending per card: A MAX card used in the US logged an average expenditure of NIS 4,639, compared to NIS 1,675 in Greece and NIS 1,398 in Poland.
A quarter of Israelis wait until the last minute
Despite the push for early planning, many Israelis still prefer to keep their options open. While summer flights were booked on average two months prior to departure, roughly a quarter of customers locked in their orders within two weeks of takeoff.
Overall, 43% booked within a month of departure, while 80% secured tickets up to three months in advance.
Booking patterns also reveal clear timing preferences: Sunday emerged as the most popular day for reservations (15.4%), with activity peaking between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM (19:00–20:00).
In summer, Israelis return to family travel
Summer remains peak season for families. Some 36% of customers booking July and August flights purchased three or more tickets in a single transaction. This is more than double the rate seen in November–December 2025, when just 17% of bookings were for groups of three or more.
During the summer months, solo travelers account for 30% of bookings, couples represent 34%, and larger groups or families make up the remaining 36%. By contrast, winter travel leans heavily toward couples, who made up 45% of bookings in November–December, compared to just 17% for groups of three or more.
Young adults aren't giving up on the East
One of the index's most striking findings is the demographic divide between age groups. In Thailand, 59% of cardholders making transactions are aged 35 and under. In Japan, that figure stands at 54%. A strong youth presence was also recorded in Vietnam and India.
Conversely, Western destinations attract an older demographic: In Germany, France, the UK, and the US, over half of active cardholders are 46 and older.
Not just flights and hotels: Israelis go shopping
While flights and travel services comprise the largest expense category abroad at 17% of total spend, retail and dining follow closely behind. Clothing and footwear account for 14.4% of total spending, while restaurants and food delivery represent 13.8%.
Spain tops the list for fashion retail, with Israelis allocating 24.4% of their total spend there to clothing and footwear. Italy follows at 23.3%, and England at 21.7%. Meanwhile, the US stands out for tech, with electronics accounting for 5% of all Israeli card expenditure in the country.
Dining habits also vary by location: England leads in restaurant and delivery spending at 20.8%, followed by Greece at 19.2%. In Italy and Spain, food accounts for around 17% of expenditure.
Rafi Shauli, EVP of Private Customers at MAX, notes that the data reflects a broader shift in Israelis' consumption habits: "Flying abroad has become a standard part of Israelis' consumption basket. Against the backdrop of rising aviation costs, there is a genuine market need for benefits that help reduce expenses."
According to Shauli, bookings on the MAX Travel platform rose by 86%, while the SKYMAX card crossed the 100,000-customer threshold.
Ultimately, the figures show that the Israeli vacation in 2026 is far less uniform than in years past: Families continue to flock to nearby European hotspots, younger travelers are heading East, and last-minute bookers remain a powerful force - even as airfares climb.