As the second month of 2024 comes to a close, its time to unpack our suitcase and explore the landscape of travel trends for 2024. From sustainable travel adventures to the allure of TV-inspired trips, here's a playful peek into what's set the shape the world of wanderlust and adventure in 2024.
Sustainable Travel
Sustainable travel isn't just a trend; it's a movement that has been gaining momentum for well over a decade. Travelers in 2024 are increasingly mindful of their environmental footprint, seeking eco-friendly accommodations, opting for carbon-neutral transportation, and supporting local communities through responsible tourism practices.
Two of our favorite sustainable destinations for 2024 are Ecuador and the Azores. Both are renowned for their spectacular scenery, and conservation, both on land and at sea, making these two destinations an incredibly satisfying place for nature, animal, and sustainable travel lovers to visit. So, pack your reusable water bottle and prepare to leave nothing but footprints on your journey!
Shifts in peak travel seasons
Say goodbye to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist seasons! More travelers are embracing the shoulder seasons, dodging heatwaves, exorbitant prices, and overcrowded attractions. Whether it's savoring the tranquility of a European city in autumn or basking in the serenity of a Caribbean beach in spring, timing is everything in 2024.
Central Europe including Prague, Vienna and Budapest and even top Italian cities such as Rome, Florence and Naples are ideal places to head to during Spring. Not only will you benefit from lower prices and far fewer tourists, but all of these cities embrace the awakening of Spring with festivals and Easter Markets and you'll experience the beauty of brightly colored flowers and pastel blossoms in city parks. It could even be warm enough for a spot of sunbathing on the Amalfi Coast!
The same can be said for the Fall, with Germany's Black Forest bursting with Autumn colors and some of Europe's top beaches empty and still pleasant to visit with temperatures in southern Spain, Sicily and Greece still a balmy 25 degrees in late September and early October.
AI in Travel
Enter the age of AI-assisted adventures! From personalized trip recommendations to seamless itinerary planning, AI is set to revolutionize the travel industry and the way you and I not only book travel but in how we experience and explore the world. Taking the hassle out of travel planning, AI can help you plan your trip, offer personalized recommendations and even find suitable flights within your budget at the click of a button.
Here at Travelstride, we’re embracing AI. Rover our travel guide dog is at hand anytime you need help finding the perfect trip! Just answer a few questions and enter your preferences and you'll receive personalized tour and trip recommendations pulled from the 50,000+ expert-planned trips from over 1000+ companies, saving you the time of searching yourself.
Longer stays and slower travel
In a world where time is a precious commodity, more travelers are trading frantic itineraries for leisurely escapades. Embracing the art of slow travel, they immerse themselves in local culture, savoring each moment and delving deeper into destinations. While around-the-world trips and country highlight tours remain popular for time-conscious travellers, more and more people are opting to spend more time in a single destination as well as revisiting the same destination multiple times to gain more insight and experience the places they visit like a local. So, swap the rushed sightseeing for languid afternoons and meaningful connections—because sometimes, less is truly more.
Increased Interest in Train Travel
All aboard the nostalgia express! As travelers yearn for the romance of yesteryear, train journeys are experiencing a renaissance in 2024. Ride the opulent elegance of the Maharajas' Express as your travel through India and see some of the country's most impressive palaces and monuments. For breathtaking vistas, take a journey on the Glacier Express visiting two of Switzerland's top alpine resorts of St Moritz and Zermatt.
Train travel offers a captivating blend of luxury, adventure, and old-world charm, so this year choose a train journey that allows you to
sit back, relax, and let the rhythmic clickety-clack carry you to new horizons.
TV Inspired Travel
Lights, camera, adventure! Inspired by the allure of the small screen, travelers are embarking on pilgrimages to destinations immortalized in TV shows and movies. Following in the footsteps of their favorite characters, they traverse landscapes brought to life on-screen, from the sun-kissed shores of Spain to the bustling streets of Tokyo.
In recent years we saw flocks of tourists heading to the sun-kissed coastline of Croatia and towns of Dubrovnik and Split in search of iconic filming spots from the hit series The Game of Thrones and even more recently the series The White Lotus gave the small hilltop town of Taormina in Sicily a boost (actually the whole island saw increased tourist numbers from the thriller series) of popularity. So, grab your popcorn and get ready for a reel-life rendezvous like never before!
In the ever-evolving world of travel, 2024 promises a kaleidoscope of experiences, from eco-conscious escapades to cinematic sojourns. So, whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or a starry-eyed explorer, embrace the journey ahead—it's bound to be the adventure of a lifetime! And remember, if you’re ever in doubt about where to travel next, let Travelstride be your guide.
