Wanderlust 2025: Unveiling the Exciting Travel Trends on the Horizon

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Happy New Year, and (as you may expect from a travel editor), I trust you are immersed in travel arrangements for 2025. At the risk of reiterating, 2024 experienced travel disturbances such as strikes, air navigation challenges, IT failures, and climatic conditions. However, it also ushered in remarkable adventures and lasting memories for those who managed to escape – and that, hopefully, can nearly compensate for any rail, road, or aerial issues.

I’m inclined to grade myself a B+ for my 2024 forecasts. Sports were a significant impetus for travel, and this year appears no different. Opting for alternatives to overrun destinations was trendy, offering travellers unique – and typically less populated – experiences.

Furthermore, along with the recap of travel trends comes the reappearance of dreadful portmanteaus. I bore through “coolcation“ in 2024 (a trend that persists into the new year), yet I refuse to embrace “baecation” – Abta’s expression for what many would label a couples holiday. Reset-jetters, where you vacation to refresh mind and body, I’ve nearly allowed to pass (but consider this your warning, Skyscanner).

Here are the trends to keep an eye out for this year. Safe travels!

Read more: Delving deeper and family-centric – our travel New Year’s resolutions for 2025

Chasing the stars

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Astro-tourism – not vacations in space but journeys to experience celestial events – has been progressively growing over the last few years and seems poised to be a major catalyst for trips in 2025. Also known, quite awkwardly, as noctourism, this bodes well for dark-sky regions and locations far removed from the glaring lights of metropolitan areas.

Indeed, a survey by Booking.com revealed that 60 percent of respondents were contemplating destinations away from light pollution to enjoy a clearer view of the night sky. And it’s not solely the scientific aspect that is igniting enthusiasm. Astro-tourism is also impacted by the mystical allure of astrology, according to travel search platform SkyScanner, particularly resonating with younger Gen Z and millennials, who are “seeking a connection with the universe.” Its research indicates that 44 percent of individuals aged 25–34 would be inclined to utilize astrology to plan their next journey (though just as effective is randomly closing your eyes and pointing at a map).

If you are in pursuit of optimal stargazing conditions, astronaut Kellie Gerardi advises flexibility in your plans: “If your schedules don’t coincide with a major celestial event, incredible views can still be enjoyed year-round at locations like Mauna Kea in Hawaii or dark sky parks like Galloway Forest Park in Scotland.”

Read more: The best northern lights cruises

Detours over duplicates

Destination replicas, where you exchange an overcrowded location for a less-traveled alternative (like Venice for Genoa), are so 2024; now the focus is on incorporating detours. While well-trodden holiday spots will still draw visitors, adding an additional stop prior to, following, or during the trip will become increasingly prevalent. This not only aids in evading crowds, but also allows more sights to be enjoyed in one journey – saving on unnecessary returns. According to data from Expedia, the online travel agency, 63 percent of clients are likely to explore a “detour destination” on their upcoming trip. Noteworthy alternatives include Reims as a detour from Paris, Fukuoka as a detour from Tokyo, and Waikato as a detour from Auckland.

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Luxury on the rise

While many individuals are mindful of their finances, luxury travel continues to increase. In the United States, this segment was valued at $239 billion in 2023; global management consultants McKinsey anticipate that it will escalate to $391 billion by 2028. As reported by Forbes, this growth is driven by an increase in individuals worldwide with a net worth of $1–$30 million. They are younger and prepared to invest more in premium travel experiences. In the UK, the luxury market indicates a sustained interest in culinary, beverage, and wellness experiences, as noted by hotel giant Marriott, with 51 percent indulging in high-end gastronomic experiences and 43 percent pursuing private spa services and “unique” treatments. Phil Andreopoulos, chief sales and marketing officer for

Marriott International (Europe, Middle East & Africa) expressed, “2025 is set to be a significant year for travellers from the UK,” and in the organization’s annual trend report, it noted that luxury travel is “transforming,” with individuals with financial means “prioritizing unique and tailored experiences.”

A contemporary lads holiday

Wellness fads are prevalent at the start of the year, but one of the most fascinating is the growth of retreats exclusively for men. Arising from the evolving perceptions of gender roles – along with heightened social consciousness regarding men’s mental well-being – anticipate these male-focused getaways, centered on wellness and self-improvement, to become increasingly popular over the coming year. Booking.com discovered that nearly half (47 percent) of the 27,000 travellers they questioned would advocate for the men in their lives to embark on a men-only journey, with this figure increasing to 65 percent among Gen Z and 58 percent among millennials. The driving forces behind this trend include the necessity for relaxation, emphasis on health, and addressing feelings of isolation.

Learn more: How this Finnish ‘sauna capital of the world’ aided my recovery from burnout

In the broader wellness landscape, both Booking.com and Skyscanner indicate that health-related travel is expected to rise in 2025, with the latter forecasting that “in conjunction with the surge of sober-curious travellers and microbiome-focused adventures aimed at enhancing overall wellness, individuals are seeking experiences that support longevity and vitality, in environments where they can truly be themselves.” I still wish that the term “reset-jetters” doesn’t gain traction, however.

No halting sports

This trend carries on from 2024, as enthusiasm for sports shapes how individuals – particularly younger demographics – engage with a location. Following a year that featured the Euros, Olympics, Paralympics, and another thrilling Formula 1 season, the emergence of behind-the-scenes sports documentaries such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive, Break Point, and Full Swing are credited with introducing sports to new demographics – which subsequently leads individuals to desire to witness these events in person. Skyscanner’s findings noted that 29 percent of 25-34-year-olds (and 20 percent of all UK travellers) in their analysis intended to journey domestically or internationally to attend a sporting event in 2025, with “entertainment,” “thrill,” and “community” as key motivators. It’s not solely about the spectacular highlights, either: 45 percent of 25-34-year-olds aim to discover a new location through running or cycling.

If you’re seeking a specific sporting event, in 2025 you’ll be overwhelmed with options, including (but not limited to) the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland, the Fifa Club World Cup in the US, the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, the Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, and the World Athletics Championships in Japan.

Explore more: The most exciting new hotel openings across the globe for 2025