5 Travel Trends for 2025

You’ve heard this before and you’re going to hear it again: goodbye 2024, hello 2025! Now whether you’re just dreaming up ideas or are halfway through planning your holiday, we’ve scoured the internet for upcoming travel trends to inspire your next trip.

DUPLICATE DESTINATIONS: Similar, But Not The Same

The aim of the game here is to achieve the same vibe and feeling, without the crowds and high prices. We’re talking lesser-known alternatives - duplicates which feel familiar but fresh. Research Gozo in Malta rather than Bali, Annecy in France as opposed to Venice, or even Croatia instead of the Maldives. You’ll be surprised! Discover new experiences in underexplored places, and avoid over-tourism. Win-win.

THE (J)OY (O)F (M)ISSING (O)UT: Actively Escaping

This one’s about deliberately escaping the chaos of life. Of course, this is the general idea for any kind of holiday, but JOMO centres around your trip being slow and peaceful. It’s an opportunity to make minimal plans and switch off, with an invitation to get a little closer to nature as well. Stargazing, wild swimming, rambling across fields or through sleepy towns… take time to truly relax, reset, and lean into the joy of missing out.

SET-JETTING: As Seen On TV

We all watch telly, and we all watch those films or programmes that have you wishing you could be living it up on a yacht in Miami or descending the staircase of a castle in Scotland. Set-jetting is all about exactly that! Viewers are willing to travel in order to get those experiences, with classics including New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings and Croatia for Game of Thrones. As streaming services settle in most homes, travellers are also heading to Sicily due to The White Lotus, Chicago thanks to The Bear, and the Scottish Highlands because of Outlander. Set-jetting lets you step into the scenes you love.

IN-SEASON TRAVEL: Follow The Weather

In 2025 it’s expected that travellers are going to lean into the seasons as they happen, rather than chasing the sun across the year. Celebrate the destinations that flourish at different times of year, and embrace the natural course of things. Snowy mountaintops and cosy getaways in winter, springtime trips to European valleys where nature’s in bloom, scorching summer heat on a Moroccan beach, and train travel through golden foliage in autumn.

‘Coolcationing’ is also a thing, and apparently that’s on the up too. As the summers get hotter, people are escaping to Scandinavia or Iceland for a breath of fresh, crisp air.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: Eco Escapes

More than just a trend or buzzword, the term ‘sustainable travel’ is about completely overhauling the way you travel. It’s about considering the environment, managing disposable materials, and supporting local tourism. The gist of it is to basically move away from commercialised resorts, all-inclusive dining, and fuel-guzzling tours, instead opting for authentic accommodation, local produce, and conscious exploration.

Ready for 2025? Whether you’re embracing JOMO, chasing movie magic, or venturing off the grid, these trends are all about making your travels personal, meaningful, and memorable. Where will you go next?

BY HOLLY GARWOOD, 6TH JANUARY 2025