Expedia Group has released its annual data-driven outlook on travel trends for the new year.
Unpack ’25 leverages first-party travel data, insights from 25,000 travelers, and the latest industry innovations to identify eight travel trends to watch in 2025.
Respondents said they travel long distances to see real-life natural phenomena. Courtship dance of red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido (photo)
1. Detour destination
In 2025, travelers will not only visit established destinations but also add side trips. Expedia’s destinations this year are located close to popular attractions, making them perfect for day trips, as well as major tourist attractions. In search of less crowded and lesser-known destinations, 63% of consumers say they are more likely to visit a side trip destination on their next trip.
Top 10 trending detour destinations for 2025, based on increased flight searches, include Reims, France (detour from Paris); Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan). Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun). Santa Barbara, California, USA (detour from Los Angeles). Waikato, New Zealand (detour from Auckland). Girona, Spain (detour from Barcelona). Fukuoka Prefecture (detour from Tokyo). Abu Dhabi, UAE (detour from Dubai). Krabi, Thailand (detour from Phuket). Canmore, Alberta, Canada (detour from Calgary).
2. Goods Vacation
TikTok has inspired travelers to explore specialties worth sharing. From Dubai’s hottest chocolate bars to French butter, Korean skin care products and Japanese candies, travelers are carving out extra space in their carry-on bags for unique treasures and stocking up on goods. Sometimes we even put together an entire trip.
When going on vacation, 39% of travelers visit a grocery store or supermarket, and 44% shop for local products they can’t get at home. Coffee tours in Costa Rica, tea tastings in China, and matcha experiences in Japan are some of the top travel experiences booked on Expedia.
3. The era of all-inclusive
Today’s all-inclusive resorts appeal to Gen Z travelers looking for stress-free stays and great deals. One-third of these travelers say their perception of all-inclusive hotels has changed for the better, and 42% say all-inclusive resorts are now their preferred hotel type. The top three reasons Gen Z travelers are drawn to all-inclusive resorts are minimal stress (41%), ease of booking (39%), and luxury (38%) is.
4. Hotel Restaurant Renaissance
When booking a hotel, travelers don’t just book a room; they also book dinner. Hotels around the world are opening restaurants with Michelin-starred chefs and rotating seasonal menus to attract guests.
Travelers are looking for great dining experiences in hotels. Hotels.com has seen a 40% year-over-year increase in positive reviews for hotel restaurants, chefs, and bars. Additionally, nearly one-third of travelers say room service at a well-known hotel restaurant increases the likelihood of a reservation, and 31% say they’re more likely to book a restaurant if a table is reserved exclusively for hotel guests. He says this is the biggest reason.
5. JOMO Travel
In 2025, travelers will embrace JOMO, or the joy of missing out. JOMO travel means doing less on holiday to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, staying in a cozy cabin or quiet beach house to relax and connect. Two-thirds (62%) of travelers say this type of travel reduces stress and anxiety, and almost half say it enhances quality time with loved ones.
The best way to experience a JOMO trip is by staying overnight in a beach house, lakeside lodge, or mountain chalet. The top vacation rental amenities that JOMO travelers seek are pools, secluded gardens, hot tubs, and porches with views.
6. List of phenomena
To see the total solar eclipse in 2024, many travelers have booked vacation rentals along the path of the total solar eclipse. This proves that people travel long distances to see real natural phenomena. According to survey data, the top phenomenon travelers want to see is the Northern Lights (61%), followed by geological phenomena such as volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs (30%). 80% of travelers say it’s important to stay where you can best see these natural wonders, so a private holiday home in a remote or rural destination It’s no surprise that it’s ideal for those seeking phenomena.
Vrbo has handpicked the following natural phenomena that travelers will want a front row seat to in 2025.
International Dark Sky Park – Arches National Park, USA Synchronous Firefly Season – Great Smoky Mountains, USA Penguin Parade – Phillip Island, Australia Bioluminescent Plankton – Vero Beach, USA “Black Sun” Starling Migration – Wadden Sea National Park, Denmark Cranes Ballet – Hokkaido, Japan Walking on the seabed at the highest tide in the world – Bay of Fundy, Canada Starlings singing – Somerset, UK Volcanoes, lava fields and black sand beaches – Reykjavik, Iceland Northern Lights – Finnish Lapland
7. Set jetting forecast for 2025
From binge-worthy streaming shows to reality shows, travelers continue to turn to screens for travel inspiration. This trend has continued to grow since Expedia Group identified set jetting as a travel behavior in 2022. Two-thirds of travelers say movies, streaming services, and TV shows influenced their travel choices, an increase of 16% from last year.
For the second year, Expedia Group divisions Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo have created the Set Jetting Forecast, revealing the entertainment-inspired destinations travelers will turn to in 2025. Montana and Wyoming take inspiration from Yellowstone. New York City inspired by And Just Like That…; Cape Town inspired by One Piece. And Scotland was inspired by the traitor.
8. One-click travel
Half of consumers make daily, weekly, or monthly purchases from trusted influencers because of their content. Shopping on Instagram and TikTok has become the new normal for low-priced items like fashion and beauty, but travel shopping on social media is still in its infancy. Half of consumers have wanted to book a trip they saw on their social feed, but cite time and complexity as the main barriers. In response, Expedia recently launched the travel industry’s first shoppable storefront, curated by social media creators, tastemakers, and brands, with over 100 travel shops live on the Expedia app. Published.
