10 Travel Trends For 2024

morning hike at Zion National Park

​ by Marcia Simon

Unused vacation time? Too often, Americans let that earned job benefit slip through their fingers. They say their families are too busy. But young professionals are changing that with an increased priority on life-work balance, and a yearning to explore more of life's treasures.
 
Attitudes about travel are changing. Remote work lifestyles and restless retirees with money and grandchildren are also paving the way for a very busy 2024 travel year, according to surveys and reports revealed at the recent annual International Travel Show in New York City.

Here are 10 New Travel Trends for 2024:

1. Immersive experiences are more important than skimming the surface through a "been there, done that, got the t-shirt" mentality. "Slow travel" or staying longer in one place gives you time to feel the culture. Hotel deals for longer stays (e.g., stay three nights, get the fourth night free) are on the rise.
2. Remote work, as a digital nomad or a "paycation", is prompting hotel chains to add accommodations that include kitchenettes, more robust fitness centers and enticing "month-long stay" rates.
3. The desire for more quality time among multigenerational families (such as grandparents, adult children and grandchildren) also adds to increased resort options in terms of suites with added sleeping, kitchen and dining spaces, an additional bathroom, and private patio plunge pools in many Caribbean resorts. Many hotel chains now offer home rentals and onsite villas.
4. Affordability: Many families are looking to travel more, or longer, and stretch their travel dollars. A survey by the Family Travel Association and NYU's Tisch Center of Hospitality showed that consumers are getting savvier; half of those surveyed will try to avoid hotels and airlines that charge hidden fees (e.g., a nightly resort fee or charge for Wi-Fi) About half of surveyed travelers are paying closer attention to cancellation penalties and refund policies.
5. More people are buying travel insurance. With more missed connections, lost luggage and concerns about illness prior to or during an international trip, protecting a travel plan is perceived more widely as a smart investment. (Frequent travelers might consider an annual insurance plan.)
6. Solo travel. Maybe people got used to spending time alone during the pandemic. A yearning for independence and an increased sense of confidence is combined with the fact that many people are less willing to compromise on what they want from their journey. And some people are just tired of waiting for a travel companion, so they pack a bag and go where they want, when they want.
7. While some people are totally comfortable traveling solo, others are not. For these people, It's easy now to travel solo, but not alone­, by joining a solo traveler small group where you can meet like-minded individuals and never feel like a third wheel.
8. People are checking off the boxes on the bucket list. "If not now, when?" This often includes booking further in advance than ever before. While most of us are thinking about 2024, the tour operators and river cruise companies have already announced their itineraries and pricing for 2025 – with very attractive early booking discounts. The best staterooms sell out quickly.
9. On the other hand, there's a joy in last-minute spontaneous travel. Taking advantage of unfilled space can reap steep discounts. This generally involves grabbing the rooms others don't want or traveling at a time that's not as popular.
10. Off-peak travel gives you more options for lower airfares, lower hotel prices and perhaps most importantly - fewer crowds so you're not jammed into a museum, following a herd on a popular hiking trail, or waiting an hour for a restaurant table. Shoulder seasons of early spring or late fall can be a beautiful time to experience the real essence of your destination. Check weather patterns for rainy seasons and average day and nighttime temperatures to find your travel window.

 
Marcia Simon is a travel writer, and founder/travel advisor at Friendly Group Travel. Connect via email: [email protected] and please visit friendlygrouptravel.com.