Fall/Winter 2025 Travel Trends You Actually Need to Know
I love data. I love psychology. And you KNOW I love travel. When all of those things mix together, we get a peek into what actually drives people to book a trip, pick a destination, or change their travel habits, and I find it so freaking fascinating.
As someone who’s been traveling the world for over a decade and now helps others do the same (without blowing their budget or burning out), I’m always keeping a close eye on what’s changing in the travel world.
And 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years for travel yet…
From new tech in airports to rising travel costs (helloooo, tourist taxes), plus trends like “set jetting” and micro-vacations (I’m sure you’ve seen my friend Kevin’s crazy day trip videos) you’ll want to know about all of this before booking your next trip. I’m breaking it all down for you below with lots of ideas, inspo, and links to help you plan!
Let’s get into it!!!
1. Destination Dupes Are STILL Having a Moment
This was really big last year, and it’s still big this year. You’ve probably seen those videos “this is NOT the Maldives, this is NOT Italy, this is NOT [insert other beautiful destination], this is [insert random place you’ve never heard of]” all over TikTok and Instagram. These are cities or regions that give big destination energy without the crowds or price tags. Here are some of my favorites (and some I really want to visit!)
Instead of Paris, think: Savannah, Georgia — I’m plannning a trip here beacuse of it’s cobblestone streets, cozy cafés, and French Quarter-style charm!
Instead of Santorini: Albania’s Riviera (I REALLY want to go here) Gorgeous turquoise waters, dramatic cliffs, plus affordable and luxurious beachfront dinners.
Instead of Kyoto: Try Kanazawa, Japan! I LOVED this little town. It’s equally rich in culture and temples, but much less touristy (for now).
These swaps can be a little bit more cost effective if you do them right, and you’ll get a more local feel.
2. Set Jetting = Film/TV location inspired travel
If you’ve ever binge-watched a show and immediately looked up flights to where it was filmed... congrats, you’re already a set-jetter.
There was a significant increase in people booking trips to Sicily & Thailand after watching White Lotus, and more people planned trips to to South Korea thanks to Squid Game.
I personally love this one because it makes travel feel even more emotional than it already is. Plus, I’m a huge film snob/lover/critic and I just LOVE visiting places I’ve seen on screen. You’re not just going to a place, but you’re stepping into a story, a mood, a vibe! (ALSO if you’re planning to solo travel and need a confidence boost, visiting somewhere you’ve “seen” before on screen can also help you feel more familiar with the destination!)
3. Noctourism is a thing!
Noctourism = nighttime travel experiences, and the oportunist in me is obsessed with this. Jet lag doesn’t matter when there’s always some way to enoy your destination.
A few examples of “noctourism” would be Dark Sky areas, bioluminescent kayaking, after-dark museum tours, or even late night dinners in places where that’s the norm. Early mornings are also a potential here. I actually just went to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice and it’s a giant festival that takes place from sunset to sunrise on the 21st of June every year. Everyone was wide awake celebrating the turn of the season between midnight and 6am and it was MAGICAL!
These things are a great way to take advantage of jetlag when you can’t sleep at normal hours!
4. Micro-Vacations & Day Trips Are the New Long Hauls
Not every trip has to be 2 weeks long or across the world. In fact, quick weekend getaways, mid-week escapes, and even full-day local adventures are on the rise.
This is such a win if you’re low on PTO or just want more travel in your year without draining your energy (or wallet). Personally, I love planning a 3-day trip where I fully unplug, eat amazing food, and explore one or two neighborhoods or towns in-depth. It’s like a refresh button for my brain. My friend Kevin (@kevindroniak) however is king of the extreme day trip. He’ll jet off from NYC to places like Paris, Colombia, even EGYPT for just 24 hours and pack in as much as possible without needing to spend his cash on accommodation or take up too much vacation time!\
5. Travel Is SNEAKILY Getting Pricier
Here’s something we have to talk about: all the little fees that are popping up for travelers lately.
Tourist taxes: Cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Venice now charge per-night or per-visit taxes. More places will likely follow suit.
ETAs & digital visas: Places like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada now require travelers to apply for digital travel authorizations before arrival, even for short stays. These ETAs can cost between $5-$100 or more depending on the destination.
Cruise fees & park permits: Some hot spots are capping visitors and charging extra to enter national parks or cruise ports (lookin’ at you, Santorini & Galápagos).
6. Tech at Airports Is Getting an UPGRADE
Good news: airports in the USA are FINALLYYYY stepping into the future (ahem, most of the world has been there for a while now). And these upgrades are actually making time in the airport feel less chaotic… and maybe even enjoyable? Eh, still TBD on that.
There have been a variety of new lounge upgrades that feel more like co-working wellness spas (think yoga rooms, chef-curated menus, and private work nooks), plus AI-driven flight updates, self-check bag drops, and biometric boarding that means fewer lines and faster exits.
And the biggest news yet… YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF AT TSA ANYMORE — EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE PRE-CHECK! This is going to be a huge timesaver!
7. Immersive Travel = Luxury Travel
More travelers are craving trips that go beyond just checking off sights & eating their way through a city. Here are some trending travel experiences that you might want to consider for a future trip:
- Regenerative farm stays (think: milking goats in Portugal, then sipping wine in a vineyard you helped prune)
- Wellness retreats that focus on healing, not just hot tubs and massages.
- Creative tourism—taking pottery classes in Oaxaca or cooking pasta in Puglia with someone’s nonna
Again, it’s not about ticking off “must-sees.” It’s about slowing down, maybe healing a bit, and experiencing something you might not be able to experience at home.
I have yet to do much of this style of travel but it’s definitely something I am interested in. There are a few wellness retreats in Switzerland that I’ve been eye-ing, but man, some of these things are EXPENSIVE… so, we’ll see. Maybe some day I’ll figure out how to smart travel hack my way into doing one of these things!
How I Stay on Top of Travel Trends & Travel Planning
Keeping up with all these trends, planning trips, researching destinations, editing content and running a business from the road is a little crazy sometimes. I am based in Los Angeles now, but it seems like I’m always elsewhere and itt takes some serious tech backup.
If you follow me on socials (and if you don’t, it’s @raimeetravel!) you know I love my AMD-powered laptop. It’s fast (like, super fast because of it’s processor which is some tech stuff I didn’t know I needed to care about but very glad I do now), super lightweight for travel days, and powerful enough to handle alllll my tabs (because I always have at least 37 open 😅).
It’s also great for all my photo and video editing needs, especially since it's got a touch screen and long lasting battery life!
If you’re looking to upgrade your tech setup for school, work, or running your own biz, I definitely recommend looking into laptops with AMD Ryzen™ processors! LOVE YOU AMD!!!
Final Note on Travel Trends for 2025…
For me (and hopefully you, too) travel isn’t just about crossing off items on your bucketlist or counting countries. It’s about really understanding the world around us, getting to know each other’s cultures a bit more, and ultimately making the world a little better in the process. I truly believe travel can change the world, especially when we travel intentionally like some of these things.
And of course, we ARE going to have some incredible experiences, views and eats along the way.
I really don’t think you need to “keep up” with the trends, DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO & GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! But in case you’re a little data nerd like me and like to know where the industry is headed, this is for you. And I hope this gave you a little inspo for your upcoming trip(s)!!
