A new year brings new opportunities to travel. And when it comes to where and how we’ll be traveling in 2025, there are several trends that will be driving everything from the destinations we choose to the activities we’ll do while on vacation. Whether you’re an adventure seeker or a digital detoxer looking for ways to slow down, here are the trends that will influence the way your family travels in 2025.
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1. A desire to get off the beaten path
Maybe you feel like you’ve been there, done that. Or you’re concerned about overtourism and the crowds descending on popular vacation spots. Whatever the reason, you and millions of others travelers may be looking to detour from the usual spots in 2025 to find hidden gems and visit under-the-radar destinations.
“People are seeking out smaller towns and more local authentic experiences,” says Christina Bennett, consumer travel expert for Priceline. “I would dub 2025 as the year of intentional travel. Travelers are looking to go to unique places where they are really getting bespoke experiences. They want to live like a local and not go to touristy attractions; it’s about really experiencing a new culture, getting to know the locals, and forging new connections.”
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Adventure tour company Backroads, for example, has seen interest in destinations like Belfast and Newfoundland, with tours like its Canada Gulf Islands Multi-Adventure Tour and Norway’s Ålesund Multi-Adventure Tour trending with travelers. Expedia Group’s list of “detour destinations” includes spots like Brescia, Italy, and Fukuoka, Japan.
“You might still go to those popular tourist destinations, but families are going to plan a side trip to get away from the crowds and see something a little bit different,” says Melanie Fish, a travel expert at Expedia Group. “Families are still going to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, but they’re also going to add on a detour perhaps to a place like Reims. They’re still going to go to Los Angeles and visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but they’re also going to drive up the coast to take in that majestic scenery and stop in someplace like Santa Barbara.”
So 2025 would be a good year to explore the Midwest, an under-the-radar spot like California’s Bodega Bay, or an off-the-beaten-path destination in Europe or Asia.
2. The continued appeal of all-inclusive resorts
All-inclusives are having a moment, and it shows no signs of stopping in 2025. Major hotel chains keep increasing their presence in the space, with Marriott opening the brand’s first-ever all-inclusive, Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort, in 2024, and Kimpton making its entry into the space with Kimpton Tres Rios in Mexico’s Riviera Maya in spring 2025.
Traveler interest in all-inclusives is helping drive that growth. “I give families credit for having been fans of all-inclusives for years and years,” says Expedia Group’s Fish. “What we’re seeing for 2025 is other audiences catching up to the love of an all-inclusive, specifically Gen Z, which is helping drive this kind of glow-up for all-inclusives.”
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In fact, use of the “all-inclusive” filter on Hotels.com has jumped 60 percent year-over-year. “The all-inclusive filter on Hotels.com has really gotten a workout over the past year,” says Fish. “People are using it with increasingly more frequency. And all-inclusives are no longer a generic experience across the category with buffets three times a day and all-you-can-drink well margaritas at the swim-up bar.”
You can find a biohacking menu at the spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, overwater suites at adults-only Royalton CHIC Antigua, swim-up suites and super-fun theming at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, and opportunities to swim in a cenote and connect with the natural environment at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa del Carmen.
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“All-inclusive resorts are not all created equal, but the tried-and-true brands are doing really well in this space,” says Erika Richter, vice president of communications for the American Society of Travel Advisors. “And I think part of the reason is travel has become a lot more complicated. There are just so many more options available, and people kind of get decision fatigue when it comes to planning. By the time they’re ready to take the vacation, it’s like where can I go to put my brain in a box and not have to think about meals and activities?”
3. Memory-making multigenerational vacations
When it comes to family vacations, “the more the merrier” will continue to be a common theme. “Last year, one in five travelers took a multigenerational trip, making it one of the most popular travel trends for 2024,” says Annie Roberts, senior vice president of club and owner services for Club Wyndham, which recently surveyed 2,000 American travelers in partnership with Talker Research to get a sense of travel patterns for 2025. “In 2025, travelers are looking to make even more memorable trips with their families.”
A 2024 survey of North American families by Beaches Resorts found that 50 percent of parents polled would prefer a multigenerational vacation over a vacation with just the kids. In fact, 57 percent of respondents want to start new family traditions centered around vacations with grandparents, and almost 70 percent of parents actively want their children’s grandparents to join more of their family vacations.
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Among those surveyed, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, and vacation rentals will continue to be popular options for big family trips. “An all-inclusive is a way to be together as a multigenerational trip but not all the time,” says Expedia Group’s Fish. “People can do their own thing, then gather for a meal or see each other throughout the day. And no one has to be the one in charge of making all the reservations and figuring out transportation. It’s a more relaxed way of taking a family vacation.”
The grandparents will play a big role in making these kinds of trips happen. According to data from Booking.com, 45 percent of Baby Boomers and 40 percent of grandparents over 80 would rather spend money on a family trip of a lifetime in 2025 than leave an inheritance to their children. And when it comes to funding these tips, around 80 percent of Boomers are happy to pay for their kids and grandkids in order to travel together.
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“These trips allow older generations to fund meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for their families while creating lasting memories,” says Angela Cavis, head of communications at Booking.com. “Family-friendly destinations offering adventure and relaxation, like national parks, beach escapes, and ski resorts, will remain popular.”
4. Getting outdoors both day and night
The pandemic helped reignite an interest in and appreciation for spending time outdoors that hasn’t abated as the years go on. In fact, a recent survey from Campspot found that 82 percent of travelers were interested in or planning on taking nature-centric trips in 2025 to escape the stresses of everyday life.
National and state parks remain popular options for these kinds of getaways, but last year’s solar eclipse has also inspired travelers to kick things up a notch in search of out-of-this-world kinds of experiences. That’s why phenomena like the Northern Lights will influence where and how people travel in 2025.
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“We expect growth in ‘NocTourism,’ or travel tied to natural phenomena such as eclipses or the Northern Lights,” says Booking.com’s Cavis. “Over half of Americans are considering visiting Dark Sky locations for uninterrupted stargazing, and 52 percent would travel for a once-in-a-lifetime solar event. We saw the beginnings of this trend with the eclipse this spring, and it’s only expected to grow in popularity.”
Vrbo put together a “Phenomena-List” with even more ideas to build a trip around, like the Yosemite Firefall in February and synchronous firefly season in the Great Smoky Mountains in June. “I credit the total eclipse for kicking off this trend in 2024, when private vacation homes out in nature away from the city lights all along the path of totality sold out,” says Expedia Group’s Fish. “People really got a charge out of having that front-row seat to nature, and it inspired them to want more of it.”
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Tour companies will also help families chase their wildest dreams in 2025. Among the new trips introduced by Intrepid Travel for 2025 is a six-day Iceland Family Holiday that includes visits to waterfalls and crater lakes along with a search for the Northern Lights, while Backroads lists its Iceland Northern Lights Multi-Adventure Tour among its trending trips for 2025.
5. The joys of slowing down
In the past couple of years, travelers squeezed in a lot of activity-packed trips to must-see destinations after the pandemic put a pause on travel. This year, expect to see an appreciation for a slower pace and vacations that prioritize family togetherness over checking off a list of sites.
Expedia Group calls it the “joy of missing out.” “It’s a play on this idea that people were traveling driven by FOMO,” says Fish. “But now people are craving time away together and realizing that one way to get that is to zig when everybody else is zagging. Rent that private vacation home in the mountains or in a more remote destination, where your primary activity is doing a whole lot of nothing. It really lends itself to what a vacation used to be, a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a chance to recharge.”
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Travelers will also apply this approach when exploring new cities and countries. “Rather than cramming too many destinations into a single trip, travelers are opting for slower travel experiences that allow them to immerse themselves in a few places over a longer period,” says Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “This includes multi-destination rail trips, road trips, or extended stays in one region.”
6. Traveling for concerts and other experiences
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour dominated the cultural landscape over the last year-plus, and many fans discovered the delights of combining a concert experience with travel to a maybe new-to-them destination. Data from Expedia, for example, found that interest in Indianapolis was up 120 percent ahead of the city’s fall 2024 Eras Tour dates.
Plenty of U.S. residents also headed to places like London or Paris to catch the tour stops there. “People realized that they could combine a trip to Europe and a chance to see their favorite artist for the same cost, if not less, than they would have paid in the U.S.,” says Expedia Group’s Fish.
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“I think people have realized that you can combine a passion for following your favorite artist or your sports team with travel and have a really unique experience,” says Priceline’s Bennett. “I think we’ll continue to see people planning trips they would have taken around sporting events and concerts, or maybe even planning trips they may not have taken and exploring new destinations based on where their passions are.”
Those passions can also include favorite TV series and films. “The allure of ‘set-jetting’ is captivating travelers, as they explore the enchanting locations seen in their favorite movies and TV shows,” says Club Wyndham’s Roberts. That could mean following in the footsteps of Emily in Paris, capturing the magic of Gilmore Girls in a small New England town, or seeing London through the eyes of Paddington Bear.
7. Budgeting for travel no matter what
Economic issues may be dominating the news cycle of late, but many people will find ways to travel no matter what the financial future brings. “Regardless of the economy, travel remains a highly prioritized discretionary expense,” says Priceline’s Bennett. “It’s too soon to know what happens in 2025 with the economy, but we feel strongly that travel will continue to be prioritized.”
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Meaningful travel experiences can be found across the financial spectrum, from luxury resorts and cruises to camping trips and lower-cost lodging options. “Budget will always play a significant role in shaping how people travel, influencing both destination choices and travel behaviors,” says AAA Travel’s Barber. “However, we find that even if budgets are tight, people will still find a way to travel, whether by cutting back on other expenses or taking advantage of destinations closer to home.”
Luckily, there are lots of ways to save money on car rentals, airfare, or hotel rooms, and road trips can always been a fun alternative to traveling to a more far-flung location. Lower-priced vacation destinations or budget-friendly resorts can also help keep vacation costs down.
“Americans still have a strong desire to travel, but they are mindful of cost, and it’s prompting travelers to get savvier,” says Club Wyndham’s Roberts. “Seven out of ten travelers expressed their determination to continue exploring as much, if not more, in 2025. To fulfill their travel dreams despite rising costs, half of the travelers have already set aside savings for next year’s adventures… And for 2025, 52 percent of travelers highlighted price as their guiding factor in choosing a vacation destination.”
