We're constantly thinking about the next adventures we want to check off our bucket list. While it might seem hard to top the amazing trips from 2019 (wellness holidays! underwater hotels! zodiac trips!), we have a feeling 2020 will be just as epic (if not more so). The new year's travel trends have a little something for every kind of explorer, from wild endeavours and slower travels to animals interactions and the much-needed budget-friendly choices. But that's enough of a sneak peek. What will be big in travel in 2020? You'll have to keep reading to see. Just make sure your passport is on hand!
Already a hot-ticket item, these small group trips are experiencing a major increase in bookings. REI Adventures has seen a 106 percent rise this past year and predicts those numbers to keep on climbing as 2020 gets going. Because of this, they've rolled out a bunch of brand new adventures to add to this already amazing category.
Because our furry best friends want to explore, too! Having trouble finding an awesome place to stay with your pet in tow is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Many hotels are not only picking up on this trend, but also embracing it wholeheartedly by offering special packages, as well as amenities, goodies, and even pet-centric events tailored to them. Sharing the wonders of travel with our furry family member is becoming easier in 2020 . . . I mean they probably have bucket lists too, right?
Where to go: The XV Beacon in Boston offers a specially planned canine birthday party (yes, you read that right) complete with peanut butter dog biscuits. It should be noted that it's called a birthday "paw-ty" too. Napa Valley's Calistoga Ranch goes the extra mile with a bacon scavenger hunt, abundant treats, and extracomfy dog beds. Don't have a dog but want one? Head to Pittsburgh's Shadyside Inn, a hotel that helps rescues find a home. Stay five nights and you can adopt a buddy for free!
Alllll aboard! The idea of slow travel, taking in the sights, and really experiencing a place has taken off recently, and one of the best ways to do that is via train. Splurging for a more luxury experience when booking a train ticket is a solid way to treat yourself to an all-around amazing experience when travelling without the worry of navigating. Allow yourself to indulge in the cuisine, sights, and sounds while relaxing in your front row seat.
Where to go: Check Machu Picchu off your bucket list via Inca Rail and enjoy a meal, drinks, live music, and ridiculously epic views all from the comfort of the two designated train cars (one is an awesome lounge). Enjoy the scenic ride on the famous Flåm Railway in Norway, gawk at the Swiss mountain landscape and quaint alpine villages aboard the Glacier Express, and take in the stunning Australian Outback from the Ghan, a luxury train journey spanning four days from Adelaide to Darwin.
Second best is the best, in this case. According to Booking.com, "second-city" travel is becoming more and more of a thing as travellers veer away from overcrowded destinations and toward cities or locales that offer similar attractions and vibes without throngs of tourists. One plus? They're usually more affordable, too.
Where to go: Trade Italy's Amalfi Coast's most well-known spot of Positano for the more under the radar and very authentic seaside hamlet of Atrani. Swap Dubrovnik for Mostar in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Island hop to Paros or Ios in lieu of crowded Santorini in Greece. The bricks of feta taste great on all of the Greek Islands.
Instead of "home for the holidays," many are opting to take all the work out of hosting and gathering loved ones at a festive hotel, lodge, or resort instead. Properties that go above and beyond with their holiday decor, special packages and events, and overall atmosphere make the hotel holiday travel trend a memorable and more relaxing one.
Where to go: Deer Valley's Stein Eriksen Lodge in Utah not only adds new meaning to "deck the halls," but is known for their European ski lodge feel and over-the-top gingerbread house display at Christmas. Mix in a few runs on the ski-in-ski-out slopes, and you'll be feeling all sorts of holiday cheer. For Halloween enthusiasts, a stay at the Time Nyack in New York's Hudson Valley adds just the right amount of creepy fun with their Halloween package. Perfectly placed, visitors can venture to the nearby haunted house, Horseman's Hollow, based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, attend the Halloween parade downtown, and party it up at the hotel's evening soiree. Don't feel like cooking Thanksgiving dinner? Enjoy a lush feast at the Allison Inn & Spa in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Farm-to-table cuisine will most certainly be washed down with wine.
The thrill of viewing wildlife is always on trend, but doing it safely and in small-group situations led by knowledgeable guides is a coveted method of travel, especially in the coming year as more opportunities with reputable companies arise. From responsible and sustainable safaris to bird-watching expeditions, there's something for all interests that keep animals and travellers happy.
Where to go:Wilderness Safaris in Africa is not only a luxury tour operator, but also a conservation company with several camps in different areas of the country making giant efforts in the sustainable eco-tourism world. The newly-opened Magashi Camp is the first luxury safari lodge in Rwanda's Akagera National Park. Sri Lanka's Gal Oya Lodge offers immersive forest lodging just outside of the Gal Oya National Park and puts together boating excursions for elephant viewing at sunrise complete with a fancy picnic breakfast. Or, bundle up and for a more remote experience on a small cruise trip with PolarQuest for the unique chance to view polar bears in the wild.
Responsible and sustainable tourism continues to be on the rise, with major efforts being made in every aspect of lodging, all without giving up the pampering end of things. More travellers are choosing to stay at boutique-style eco-lodges that not only provide luxury accommodations, amenities, and in-house curated excursions, but also give back to the community where they dwell in a sizable way. Whether donating funds to local programs designed to assist the surrounding region or commissioning local artists for the hotel decor, a lot of positive things are happening in the eco-lodge realm.
Where to go: The Inkaterra lodges in Peru offer an authentic experience with all the cultural elements and attention to detail that boutique hotels do, and are family run to boot. Not only that, but Inkaterra is an NGO with a number of incredible projects to help the environment and local communities. Each property manages to immerse guests while incorporating natural elements of the region in which the various lodges inhabit. In Indonesia, Nihi Sumba Island promises "rugged luxury." The property might be beachfront, but its most shining qualities are that of the foundation it runs, aiming to lessen poverty on the island. They work hard to provide aid for access to clean water, creating educational opportunities, and several other notable community efforts.
The lure of minimal crowds and lower prices lets you fully enjoy popular destinations during the shoulder season. Those weeks just before or after peak season in many hot-spot places are often the sweet spots for travellers ready to take advantage. There's sometimes a risk that the weather may not be perfect, but we'll take an afternoon rainstorm in lieu of a gazillion tourists trying to holiday in the same location. Shoulder season usually holds onto the assets of high season without the people and price tags. You'll also have your pick of amazing hotels without scrambling for something with availability.
Where to go: The world is your oyster as almost every destination has a shoulder season and it depends where and when you're looking to travel. Consider the US Virgin Islands in June, when the crowds dissipate and hurricane season hasn't really kicked off. Head to Banff National Park in Canada in September to explore sans throngs of visitors. Check out Greece or Italy in October for a bit of Fall chill and better pricing.
The upcoming year is going to be a big year in sports, with many events taking place worldwide, including the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Sporting events are becoming a popular motivation for planning travel to include the event itself and exploring the area in which they're hosted.
Where to go: The Olympic Games in Tokyo, obviously, but that's not all. The 2020 Fifa Women's World Cup is taking place in India, and thinking a little smaller scale, Red Bull is putting on several epic events worth building a trip around too, like the BMX Red Bull Rampage in Utah's Zion National Park or the Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare, Italy. We can't forget classic bucket list items in our own backyard as well, like NASCAR's Daytona 500 in February, an experience where the car racing is just as exciting as the people watching.
This is not your classic all-inclusive holiday. This rising trend will take the extra work out of trip planning by helping to pair travellers with local guides and authentic (and usually unique!) experiences via their lodging. More hotels and bookable stays like Airbnb are offering creative opportunities for their visitors to reserve pretty much everything in one place without skimping on local connections and cultural experiences.
Where to go: Airbnb recently launched their series of Airbnb Experiences, which is a real game-changer. So far, you can book activities involving animal interactions — like sheep tea parties or stand-up paddle boarding with corgis — and adventures such as Northern Lights hiking in Norway with a local guide. Oh, and you can book cooking experiences, too.
