2024: What’s Trending in Travel
As 2023 comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about what 2024 has in store for the world of travel. Whether it’s the top destinations (and what’s going to be popular next year) or trends that we are seeing in luxury travel, here’s some highlights of what 2024 has in store:
Travel Trends
Celebration Travel - Many of my clients come to me for celebration travel - anniversaries, honeymoons, and milestone birthdays are quite popular. Post-pandemic, travelers want to go big for their celebrations - or they are finally taking trips to celebrate occasions that happened during the years when traveling was at a minimum. I love planning these kinds of trips for my clients because it’s about so much more than the destination itself. If you’ve got a milestone event coming up and are wondering how to celebrate, let’s connect! Villa rentals, immersive cultural experiences, bucket list trips, or relaxing at a luxe resort - these are just a few of the ways you can celebrate something special.
Multi-Generational Getaways - Another trend coming out of the pandemic has been multi-generational family travel and we don’t expect to see that stopping anytime soon. Similar to celebration travel, families are looking to spend time together in new and interesting ways, often by traveling somewhere as a group. Villa rentals are perfect for these kinds of trips where an entire family can be together under one roof, but also consider cruises for your next family adventure. A cruise has so much to offer every age group and it’s easy to keep everyone in one place while letting them do their own thing.
Multi-Country Trips - Just visiting one destination isn’t enough it seems. Many of my clients come to me for multi-country trips and that trend will continue into next year. Popular combos include Spain and Portugal, Spain and France, Italy and Greece, Peru and Ecuador, Croatia and Greece… When thinking about combining multiple countries for one trip, keep in mind how much time you have to travel and what your priorities are for the trip. Moving around a lot within a short amount of time might not be super relaxing so you may want to limit yourself to one country rather than try to do too much. A good way to experience multiple destinations in one trip is a cruise, particularly a river cruise, which can take you through countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, or South America. Unlike an ocean cruise, you’ll travel within each country and be able to stop and explore within each one.
Off-Season Travel - I’ve been preaching about the benefits of off-season travel a lot this year and I would suggest that you think about ways you can take advantage of shoulder season or off-peak travel next year. Travel isn’t slowing down and you’re sure to run into crowds, elevated prices, and limited availability if traveling during high season. By choosing to travel during off-peak times, you’ll see benefits of fewer crowds, better rates, and in many cases, more personalized attention and service. If you’re thinking that you don’t have the flexibility to travel off-season, think again. If you have kids, consider traveling to off-peak destinations during Spring or Summer break or, if your kids have other breaks during the year that don’t correspond with peak travel times (February, September, and October are great options), plan your trip then!
Hot Destinations for 2024
Japan is the new Italy
In the past two years, Italy saw a big surge in visitors which put a lot of demand on the tourism infrastructure - hotels, drivers, tourist sites. Japan was closed to tourists for a while due to COVID meaning that those who canceled their trips before are finally taking them this year and next. Japan has seen a big surge in popularity since reopening late last year and expectations are for even more travelers to visit in 2024. I'm already hearing from my partners that Spring 2024 is getting booked up so if you’ve been thinking about a trip to Japan, start planning now! It’s best to avoid peak travel times to get the most out of your trip and to avoid big crowds and impact on tourism resources.
Off the Radar Destinations - Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Dominica, and Mongolia!
Every year there are ‘new’ hot spots that start popping up on every travel list. Often this is due to these destinations becoming popular alternatives to other places in the same region. These destinations tend to offer fewer tourists and better value for your money, while also seeing a rise in luxury accommodations that draw travelers there.
The other reason these destinations become popular? Better flight options. Once it’s easier to get to some off these places, they start becoming more attractive for travelers. More direct flights or new direct routes from the US are making some out of the way destinations a bit more accessible (and thus more popular). Flying nonstop to Mongolia from the US was never an option until now!
Rising in Popularity - Slovenia, Portugal, Scandinavia
Over the past few years, these are the places that the in-the-know travelers have been visiting. They emerged as alternatives to other popular destinations (Italy, Spain, Iceland) and are now becoming the top places to visit. These countries offer diverse landscapes, incredible culinary experiences, adventure, and relaxation.
No matter where you are thinking of traveling next year, working with a travel advisor can make it that much easier. Let us do the work for you - researching, planning, booking, and managing all of the details - so you can focus on everything else you’ve got going on.