“Planuary” January is here with bells on! As you’re dreaming up the year’s itineraries, you’ll notice many exciting travel trends are popping up. From the all-inclusive renaissance and “JOMO” to “me-moons” and strides for accessibility, here are eight fabulous travel trends to look for in 2025.
#1: A Focus on Accessibility
The rise in accessibility-minded travel is likely (and hopefully) more permanent than just a fleeting trend. There’s a growing awareness and commitment to ensuring travel experiences are inclusive for all, including those with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. Even before your trip, travel agencies and platforms are catering to travelers with disabilities by offering curated lists of accessible destinations and activities as well as detailed search filters.
Many cities and tourist towns are improving their infrastructure to be more inclusive with accessible public transportation, wheelchair-friendly sidewalks, and multi-language signage, including braille. Museums, theaters, and cultural sites offer sensory-friendly experiences for the visually and hearing impaired. Hotels are removing steps and building “smart rooms” that allow guests to control lighting, curtains, and temperature via voice commands.
One Southern destination is doing more than the rest. Since 2016, Visit Myrtle Beach and the communities along the area’s 60 miles of coastline have been committed to creating an autism- and sensory-friendly destination. Over 150 businesses have pledged support or received CAN (Champion Autism Network) certification through special staff training, infrastructure updates, and sensory offerings. These efforts have even been featured in a new TV series on Peacock called Traveling The Spectrum! Check out the trailer.
#2: “Soft Travel” and “Silent Travel”
Everyday life is filled with so much noise, and people are using travel to escape it now more than ever. This could mean anything from literal silence at a silent retreat to digital detoxes to no-service places. Instead of packing a dozen activities into one day in a big city, people want to wake up with little to no agenda, get lost in a book, or forest bathe to nature’s soundtrack. This trend is about embracing JOMO (the joy of missing out) and escaping the need to document, plan, and feel pressure to see all the sites.
Unlike trendy wellness retreats, this trend is more about going to unpopulated places, booking low-touch-point stays, and favoring simple pleasures over constant healthy activities. To experience this trend, hike into a mountain lodge, soak in a mineral hot springs, or pick a beach with almost nothing else to do but look for shells. Edisto, South Carolina, and Little Saint Simons, Georgia, have no high rises, little commercial milieu, few cars, and so much serenity.
#3: All Aboard Luxury Trains!
Luxury train travel is having a moment this year, driven by travelers’ desire for more immersive, sustainable, and nostalgic experiences. While flying remains the fastest mode of long-distance travel, trains are becoming the preferred choice for those who want to enjoy the journey itself with a touch of old-world glamour and comfort. With increased awareness of the environmental impact of air travel, many travelers seek lower-carbon alternatives.
Travelers prioritize experiences over destinations, and a luxury train journey combines transportation with high-end dining, breathtaking scenery, and cultural immersion. Expect spacious cabins, no long security lines, and no need for baggage claim.
The Rocky Mountaineer has epic glass-domed carriages offering spectacular Canadian Rockies views. It recently expanded into the U.S. with a Denver-to-Moab route. The company offers panoramic windows, chef-prepared meals, and luxury sleeper cars. Take a look.
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Europe has many luxury sleeper trains, but perhaps the most iconic is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with its Wes Anderson-ready Art Deco interiors, gourmet dining, and plush private cabins. Many of Europe’s revamped train lines replicate the glamour of early 20th-century aesthetics while offering modern amenities.
#4: Day Trips and Detours > Dupes
The last few years saw a rise in “dupe” destinations (I even wrote about European-feeling cities in the United States), but people realize that Quebec City isn’t Paris. And that is ok. This year, instead of picking these “dupes” over the most popular (and often overrun) cities, travelers are opting for “detours.”
To combat over-tourism, travelers are exploring lesser-known locales that offer unique experiences without the crowds. For example, choosing Beaufort over Charleston, Black Mountain over Asheville, or Coral Cables over Miami. These detours allow for authentic encounters, better value for money, a more relaxed atmosphere, and proximity to the “real thing” without the price gauging and over-tourism.
Another way people are combatting over-tourism is by pulling the Uno reverse card on the detour stay and opting for more day trips out of the main cities, even if that is where they’ve unpacked. A day trip is an excellent way to escape the hustle and bustle and see a new town, either on a tour or on your own. Many booking platforms cater to one-day car rentals to help you do this.
#5: The All-Inclusive Renaissance
Gone are the days when all-inclusive resorts conjured images of lukewarm buffets and overcrowded pools. In 2025, all-inclusive travel is having a glow-up. The trend is tightly tied to the trend of stress-free travel. We want to unpack once, forget our wallets and phones in the room, and have elevated service, gourmet dining, and curated activities at our fingertips.
Multi-generational families, remote workers, and younger travelers are booking all-inclusive 2.0 because the options are growing at many new price points. Mexico, Cancun, and Riviera Maya have clusters of luxury all-inclusive resorts like Myakoba, but don’t expect lukewarm buffet bars. These places are intimate, stunningly decorated, and boutique-in-vibe.
Caribbean Islands like Jamaica, Antigua, and Grenada offer high-end, all-inclusive with private beaches, gourmet dining, and butler service. Europe is also coming around to the all-inclusive trend, where resorts are making waves in Greece, Italy, and Spain. Blackberry Farm and Greyfield Inn lead the luxury all-inclusive charge in the South, but more are popping up. Bungalows Key Largo is the country’s largest 21+ all-inclusive five-star resort, and it looks downright magical:
#6: Natural Phenomena & Wildlife-Inspired Trips
Nature does weird stuff! Trips to see once-in-a-blue-moon natural events or even bucket-list safaris across the globe will continue to climb the list this year. We saw this trend rear its head in a major way when hundreds of thousands flew and drove toward the path of eclipse totality last year. Certain fascinating natural phenomena provide great excuses to travel to strange, off-the-beaten-path places.
Travelers are planning trips around natural phenomena, such as solar eclipses, bioluminescent events, and wildlife migrations. This trend reflects a desire for awe-inspiring and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that connect travelers with nature. In Decatur, Alabama, over 14,000 Sandhill Cranes and several pairs of Whooping Cranes spend the winter each year at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The town hosts a three-day festival to celebrate.
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#7: “Me-Mooners” aka Solo Travelers
Solo travel is experiencing a significant surge, with more individuals exploring the world independently. Even coupled travelers are ditching their partners for solo trips, and according to The Wall Street Journal, it’s helping marriages. Traveling alone provides so much flexibility to create itineraries without accommodating others’ preferences, leading to a more fulfilling adventure. You get to do YOU, so to speak.
A report by American Express found that 69% of travelers are planning a solo trip in 2025, and 76% of Millennials and Gen Z travelers are planning solo trips. The industry is responding to this data-backed trend. Digital platforms and travel apps have made planning and navigating solo trips easier, providing resources and communities that support independent travelers. Hospitality providers offer more options for solo travelers, like single-occupancy rooms, solitary spots in top restaurants, and group tours designed for single travelers.
#8: New Definitions of “Off-Peak:” Coolcations and Noctotourism
With rising daytime temperatures and a desire to avoid crowds, summer travelers are opting for nighttime activities. Examples include late-night stargazing parties, ghost tours, Northern Lights tours, after-hours ski passes, and late-night admission to museums and galleries. Exploring destinations after dark offers cooler climates and fewer people.
“Coolcations” are also overtaking over the “shoulder season” rage. Travelers are picking spots typically enjoyed in the summer, spring, or fall to enjoy in colder months. Kids are back in school, crowds are light, and prices are down … what’s not to love? We’re seeing this everywhere, from the Mediterranean hotspots and Caribbean cruises to the Atlantic coast and the South’s top fall foliage destinations.
Which trend will you try this year? Let us know on Instagram!
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