The extreme temperatures that marked the start of summer 2026, with a number of Italian cities placed under red heat alert, are changing the way Italians plan their vacations. Destinations are increasingly being chosen in a matter of days, rather than months, based on weather trends: this is known as coolcationing, and the mountains are among the most popular this summer 2026. This trend is corroborated by industry data: Club Med Pragelato Sestriere, a resort located in the Piedmont Alps, reports that nearly eight in ten Italians (78%) are either planning or considering a summer or fall trip to the mountains. Families are the most likely to select the mountains, accounting for 77.8% of mountain vacationers in summer 2026, an 80% rise from 2025.