Travel booking website Booking.com’s annual travel forecast has been released, revealing several new travel styles that will define travel next year.
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Buzzwords and neologisms have increasingly defined travel trends in recent years, and it looks like 2025 will be no different. Travel booking website Booking.com’s annual travel forecast has been released, revealing several new travel styles that will define travel next year.
It involves rejecting expected travel norms based on age, gender, and other stereotypes and using personal journeys to foster and find personal growth. Here’s our predictions for the biggest travel trends of 2025 and where to try them out in Europe.
Nocturnal: Celestial events, cool weather, and the magic of midnight.
As space tourism becomes more and more a reality, in 2025 travelers will turn to more achievable space explorations and focus on forging connections with space. More than half of those surveyed are considering visiting dark-sky destinations to avoid the daytime crowds and seek the magic of midnight. Star bathing experiences, star guiding, once-in-a-lifetime space events, and constellation tracking are at the top of your list of star adventures.
As space tourism becomes more and more a reality, travelers will turn to more achievable space exploration in 2025 and focus on forging connections with space.
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Concerns about climate change are also influencing this shift, with half planning to increase their nighttime activities to avoid rising daytime temperatures and a third planning to holiday somewhere cooler. I prefer The best places to try this trend in Europe include Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where there’s less Northern Lights viewing, snow, and light pollution.
The Gate Escape: Airports are more than just destinations, they become destinations
Gone are the days of arriving “on time” to avoid lingering in crowded lounges after security, as travelers reshape the start of their 2025 holidays to embrace a new era of airport entertainment. Ta. More than a quarter are interested in visiting somewhere because of the airport, and 57% are interested in airports that offer more unique experiences and facilities.
Look for sleep pods in London Gatwick and Frankfurt, spas in London Heathrow and Helsinki, and Michelin-starred restaurants in Stuttgart.
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But Gen Z and Millennials will accelerate this trend. Of both, 53% are keen to consider destinations based on airports, rejecting over-emphasized stereotypes in favor of luxury experiences. Look for sleep pods in London Gatwick and Frankfurt, spas in London Heathrow and Helsinki, and Michelin-starred restaurants in Stuttgart.
Passport to longevity: Travel experiences that help you live a longer, healthier life
More than half of American travelers say they would pay for a vacation solely focused on extending their lifespan and health. From body vibration and red light therapy to cryotherapy and stem cell treatments, deep activation is paramount.
Head to Austria and Switzerland for a luxurious spa experience.
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More than half are looking for new wellness activities they can incorporate into their daily lives to help them feel more balanced, such as timed coffee drinking or learning about IV therapy. Europe’s top wellness destinations for 2025 include Austria and Switzerland, which offer top-notch spas and treatments.
Vintage nautical: travelers choose unique second-hand souvenirs
In 2025, vacation wardrobes will undergo a makeover as fashion-forward travelers transform into vintage Voyagers, visit thrift stores on vacation, and curate more sustainable suitcases. More than a third of travelers say they’re interested in shopping for their vacation wardrobe during their trip rather than before, rising to 59% of Gen Z and 55% thrift shopping while on vacation. nearly three-quarters of respondents said they had already purchased a vintage or second-hand item. Handmade items overseas.
Paris is home to the vast Saint-Ouen flea market, and Bilbao is home to numerous vintage shops.
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Both cost and climate awareness are undoubtedly at play. This change is not just a matter of style, but of retaining knowledge. With 58% of travelers intending to be more frugal on their travels and 67% tightening their budget plans to maximize their experience, finding a bargain at a second-hand store will be the key to your adventure in 2025. It’s going to be an important part. Bilbao is home to the vast Sant-Ouen flea market and many vintage shops.
Ski trips: Baby boomers spend instead of saving
Booking predicts that baby boomers will not be living a peaceful retirement, but will be showing the rest of the generation what it means to “live your best life.” ‘Ski’ trips are on the rise, but not on the slopes, as parents and grandparents re-prioritize their children’s inheritance (SKI) rather than dipping into their savings. Two-fifths of parents surveyed would rather spend money on a once-in-a-lifetime trip than leave a legacy for their children by 2025.
Booking predicts that baby boomers will not be living a peaceful retirement, but will be showing the rest of the generation what it means to “live your best life.”
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There is also an altruistic side to this trend, with older relatives trying to help younger generations overcome the cost of living crisis by spreading money among their families and paying for their next vacation. Although the majority of those surveyed admitted that their parents had already paid for vacations or part of their vacations as adults, 77% were willing to pay for their children, and 81% were willing to pay for their children’s vacations. Boomers are likely to influence the increase, as they pay more. I’d be happy to pay for my grandchild when I book my next trip.
