Summer travel during this year has exploded, so much so that several airports struggled to manage all of the people passing through. One of the biggest trends to be seen was that more people than ever before opted for international travel.
And further to the international travel increase, things like boat rental and hiking excursions went up in popularity.
Travelers made it a priority to go to places that they had always wanted to see, and with the travel industry in recovery from other events, the prices have been relatively low.
These factors culminated in people heading to places like the BVIs more often, and some of the top contenders elsewhere were Athens, Amsterdam, and Paris.
So what have been, and continue to be, the most significant trends in travel right now?
Minimal mindset
With so many airlines struggling to process so many travelers, the minimal mindset has been one of the most prevalent trends in travel. Large suitcases have always been cumbersome, but the hot trend of digital nomads and travel minimalists taking less and doing more has become the norm.
Dreams into reality
A significant trend has been people booking those ‘dream holidays. Some of the most significant changes have happened to populations over the last few years, and not all of them have been positive. Instead, it has seen people book and do the things they really want to experience.
A-list travel experiences have been increasing in popularity – things like private tours, private sailing trips, luxury restaurants, and safaris.
Privacy
Perhaps a trend that is here to stay in the enjoyment of exploring new places but in a more private way. The BVIs have seen an uptick in tourists, but it’s not just their luxury resorts that are getting booked up. People are opting for ultra-private sailing by chartering a catamaran.
Renting private villas and private sailing trips are both within reach now and check off multiple boxes when it comes to travel trends.
Check out Borrow a boat for ideas on making the BVIs your next dream location – any time of year.
Winter sun
Now more than ever, people realize that the world is a big place, and while one location might be frosty and biting – another can be sunshine, warm sea, and soft sand. Winter sun holidays have been creeping up in popularity, but it is becoming more common for people to head off somewhere that is going to offer sunshine and good vibes.
Beaches, Beaches, and more Beaches
Beaches on a budget have been a huge trend, but the search for stunning Caribbean and Americas has seen an enormous bump. U.S Virgin Islands, Curacao, Bahamas, and British Virgin Isles are top of the search list.
All of those destinations offer warmer climates and plenty of places to explore. Alongside the searches for those locations, boat rental has seen an increase too. Since many of the sites listed have multiple islands, and some are only reachable by boat – sailing trips are hot.
Sailing holidays
Sailing holidays have been one of the most popular, from canal boat trips locally to private yachts and catamarans. It is currently one of the fastest growing tourism sectors, and it’s not surprising when each of the other trends includes sailing holidays and private excursions too.
Sailing holidays, specifically to warmer climates like the BVIs, offer privacy, warmer weather, and the chance to explore unspoiled and uninhabited locations.
Wellness
Perhaps unsurprisingly, self-care, wellness, and traveling often go hand in hand. Wellness and self-care have been a big trend for the last few years, but how that looks on vacation can change. Some people consider the winter sun part of their wellness in a bid to keep seasonal affective disorder.
For others, wellness is a yoga retreat, but a large portion of travelers are looking for a way to explore locations but be out of the throngs of people, and sailing excursions and boat rentals (with a skipper) have offered that luxury at the right price.
There are even luxury hiking and wellness walking holidays available to cater to those who are genuinely looking to get away from it all – but still enjoy a new county and culture.
Foodies
With the explosion of restaurant culture and home cooking being more diverse than ever, traveling for food has also seen an increase. People are jetting off to try some of the most delicious cuisines around the world – and share their finds too.
Popular cooking shows and several books have been written to help people travel around the world and locate some of the best dining experiences in the world, from the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in Singapore to thousands of dollars for gold leaf coated burgers.
Impact travel
One trend that is likely here to stay is impact travel. With many exposes written about how tourism can be harmful to many locations, people want to make sure their money is going to make a positive impact. Influencers came under fire for knowingly heading to places where some parts were suffering, and others were thriving due to that influencer.
Traveling sustainably and making sure you positively impact the place you head to is something that many people are becoming more conscious of.
The trends we are seeing currently for travel are likely to become a permanent fixture as more people want to explore and experience as much as possible.