Trends tips

Many travel trends have proved fleeting, like revenge travel or buddymoons. But some evolve and help shape the future of travel.

Nowadays, people prioritize experiences over mementos when traveling.

Expedia Group’s Q3 2023 data indicated that traveler confidence remained high as people continued to travel for events and planned short- and long-term trips.

The countdown to spring break has officially begun in the US. The hotly-anticipated travel period can mean a lot of different things to different people—from classic college party-goers and ultimate family vacationers to couples and solo travelers looking to escape the winter chill. But one thing that’s certain in 2024 is that spring break is no longer limited to one type of traveler, nor just one week of the year.

It's hard to know when to call something a travel trend but one sign might be when current trends merge into one, particularly for the top 1% of travelers.

This year more folks are prioritizing travel and newfangled experiences. We’re inspired by beloved television shows à la Emily in Paris to reexamine cities we’ve previously visited. Scoring tickets to see our favorite musical artists, like Taylor Swift, fortuitously opens up the prospect of flying to a different country. A rising wellness and longevity movement encourages travelers to seek alcohol-free vacations. Slower and more intentional travel—quality over quantity—is important and sustainability and eco-minded experiences are at the forefront.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

In a landmark development for astrotourism, Under Canvas, a leader in upscale outdoor hospitality, has announced a significant achievement: all five of its Grand Circle camps across Utah and Arizona—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, and Moab—have been certified as the world's first official DarkSky resorts. This recognition is not just a badge of honor; it represents a committed effort to preserve and appreciate the natural beauty of the night sky.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

Maybe it’s the nation’s glut of centuries-old cellars and tunnels. Or perhaps it’s the world-class bar scene, which led the way with speakeasy-style drinking dens when they were trending a few years back. Either way, the UK today is full of quirky places to say ‘cheers’ at a subterranean level. Whether your preferred tipple is wine, beer, whisky or a mixologist-crafted cocktail, these celebrated bars from London to Edinburgh will serve it to you amid atmospheric underground vibes.

Neutral colors, quality fabrics with few superfluous details, classic cuts, and a dearth of flashy labels—you’ll recognize these as key components of the ‘quiet luxury’ trend. Sparked in part by Succession’s morally questionable yet always stylish Roy family, the understated look has been governing our interior and wardrobe choices for the past couple of years. Now it’s quietly influencing our luggage, too.

Karen Herold, founder and principal of the acclaimed interior design firm, Studio K, Chicago, is the woman behind top hospitality destinations. Travelers from all over flock to Studio K’s exquisite projects, from ski resorts to private wellness clubs to unique restaurant concepts and hotels, including the following:

Can you make it two weeks through Europe with just one bag?  

One of the fastest growing travel trends in recent years has been the rise of the “digital detox retreat” as we look for more ways to switch off from our screens. But you don’t necessarily need to shell out for a fancy spa break. From stays in remote off-grid cabins to forest bathing, foraging, yoga and mindfulness retreats, we’d love to hear about the UK getaways that have helped you to unplug and reconnect with nature.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

Skift is coming to India for the first time to host our inaugural Skift India Summit in Delhi-NCR on March 19-20. In this transformative Summit, we will decipher the big trends facing the travel industry, and we will hear from leaders across all sectors, including tourism, hospitality, aviation, experiences, and more.

Many of the issues that dogged the UK’s dining scene in 2022 did so throughout 2023 — particularly the high cost of food, which continues to have a big impact on how and what we’re eating. This is being felt most notably in the capital, where food costs are compounded by high and rising rents, contributing to what many food writers have cited as a sense that restaurants are playing it safe, at least within the city centre. As the Guardian’s food critic Grace Dent put it in her end of year review, ‘2023 seemed to be the year that London’s restaurant scene lost its edge. Outside the M25, I was eating far better’. This sense of caution can be seen among many of the trends widely cited for 2025, with humble ingredients and classic creations seeing a return in popularity. Perhaps this is why the martini is back in fashion and beans are more prevalent on the menus of hip restaurants — albeit both with fresh twists and interpretations. For all this, though, there are still plenty of exciting developments, such as the rise of music-led restaurants and fresh ingredients to explore, such as the fig leaf. Here’s what’s on the horizon for 2024.

Visitors are "shocked" when they come to his native community in central Chile, says Mauricio Painefil, one of the village elders.

For a majority of bicyclists killed in crashes, the most serious injuries are to the head. Wearing a helmet can reduce that risk by about 60% – and help save cyclists’ lives – but many people still ride without them.

London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún and Las Vegas, some of the most visited destinations in 2023, are still among the top places travelers are searching to go to this year, according to the travel sites Kayak and Hopper.

A new year always brings plenty of lists from travel experts and influencers predicting the most popular destinations for the next 12 months. But what countries does AI think will lure the crowds in 2024?