The Coolest Travel Trends of 2025

Great vacations have always been about “getting away from it all.” But what exactly we’re all getting away from can subtly shift from year to year. Whether you’re a fully remote digital nomad or someone who’s mulling over how to spend your precious few weeks of PTO each year, travel can be a way to get a taste of life without obligation—you can go wherever you like, eat whatever you like, and do whatever you like.

Increasingly, travelers are looking to avoid crowded destinations and overly curated experiences. Sure, there’s plenty of people still doing it for the ‘gram, but there’s a widespread interest in the idea of traveling with a specific purpose in mind—whether that’s a digital detox, immersing oneself in a new culture, visiting all the National Parks, or simply opting for a sustainable resort that actively gives back to its community and natural surroundings.

With all that in mind, here are three emerging trends that will shape the travel space in 2025 and beyond.

See our full 2025 trends forecast here.

This year, fewer people are looking for a traditional vacation where they lounge at an all-inclusive resort with a cocktail in hand. Instead, more travelers are seeking authentic experiences. While ticking a bucket list destination off the list can certainly provide a quick thrill, immersing yourself in a new culture for a slower, more genuine experience tends to have a longer lasting impact.

Increasingly, travelers are seeking a taste of local life by talking to the people who live there, asking them their favorite spots to eat, learning what their lives are like, and going the extra mile to understand and appreciate cultural differences. Whether it’s skipping a chain hotel for a boutique family-owned accommodation, planning a trip to an under-the-radar destination, or simply traveling at a slower pace, here are three ways, and places, to enjoy authentic travel in 2025.

—Kaitlyn Rosati

For a quick jaunt from the US to some sunshine, without the sacrifice of an authentic experience (aka without staying at an all-inclusive resort), Saba is calling. If you’ve never heard of this five-square mile island, you’re not alone: located just 28 miles off of the coast of Saint Martin, Saba sees fewer than 10,000 tourists a year. 

Fly in via Winair (where you’ll land on the world’s shortest commercial runway), and base your stay at Juliane’s Hotel for a centrally located property with easy access to the best of the island’s offerings.

If you’ve got time to spare and want to go to some seriously rural parts of the world, Sossusvlei will certainly do the trick. The massive sand dunes are giving Moroccan dupe without the crowds, and this rural slice of beauty is especially ideal for stargazing and camping. 

Book a stay at Desert Quiver Camp, where individual rooms with unique A-frame designs are generously spaced out (just don’t expect any service). Best of all, you can take a dip in the pool each night as the sun sets.

Authentic travel doesn’t mean skipping tourist hotspots entirely: if you want to experience a popular place without contributing to its demise, a trip to Venice in low season is a pretty stellar way to get the best of both worlds. In the winter, the streets are just quiet enough—still with a nice mesh of tourists and locals, but without the influx of summer herds. 

To wake up to peace and quiet without being too far from the center, book a stay at Hotel Avani Rio Novo Venice. To really live like a Venezian, the hotel is just a short walk to Adriatico Mar, which is a great local favorite to grab traditional cicchetti.

Wellness travel isn’t just about hitting the spa or squeezing in a yoga session between sightseeing. Hotels and resorts are rethinking how guests unwind, blending relaxation with immersive experiences designed to reset the mind and body. 

And more than ever, travelers are seeking out wellness-minded hotels and resorts right now. According to a 2024 survey from Hyatt and partners, nearly two-thirds (62%) of travelers said that wellness facilities and services are very important or essential when choosing a hotel.

Some destinations lean into their natural surroundings, using the landscape itself as part of the experience. Geothermal pools and saunas are now common features at high-end retreats. Others focus on blending tradition with modern science, offering treatments that range from herbal rituals to biohacking techniques. The goal is the same—helping guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.

Luxury spas are also expanding their menus. Massages and facials alone just don’t cut it anymore. Now, guests can expect longer, more intense treatments that purport to soothe the nervous system. Some spots even offer treatments designed for specific needs, like recovery-focused therapies for athletes, or options aimed to help busy professionals unwind.

For travelers looking to prioritize wellness, choosing the right hotel can make all the difference. Some places cater to those who want a structured retreat with guided meditation and detox programs. Others offer a more laid-back approach, where guests can pick and choose from a variety of treatments according to their schedule. No matter the style, these experiences are designed to help people slow down, reset and take a break from the constant noise of daily life.

Below are three hotels in three regions around the world that exemplify the shift toward wellness-minded vacations this year.

—Rachel King

Yes, you’ve probably heard about this place already. But it’s a classic for a reason. No one quite does spa culture quite like Scandinavians, and Iceland (yes, Iceland is part of Scandinavia) adds a special element (and risk factor) into the mix: volcanoes. Blue Lagoon is as famous for its skincare products as it is for its photogenic geothermal pools. Where else could you slather on a high-end mud mask all over your body, when it costs $45 per 75-milliliter tube in stores? Inside the spa area, guests go through an hour-long ritual, slathering on and then rinsing off a series of four mud masks, including the lava scrub mask. Don’t forget that Blue Lagoon is also near an active volcano and has been evacuated from time to time. But otherwise this is a very chill place to be—even if the steam pools are always hot.

When you walk into the subterranean spa of the Waldorf Astoria (located in the Old Post Office), you really do forget where you are. With very low lighting with a soft warm tint, the spa here feels like a cocoon. And while this is a great staycation spot  for locals or a refresher while you’re in town, the ultimate draw here is the Himalayan salt therapy room. The tiny room glows from floor to ceiling with salt that has indeed been shipped all the way from the Himalayas. There are a number of benefits said to be associated with salt rooms, namely halotherapy, which is said to help with skin conditions, allergies and stress reduction. Guests can stay in here for quite awhile, and you’ll get to enjoy a rosewater foot bath and a very fluffy robe while you relax.

When you visit a spa at a luxury resort these days, massages and facials are the bare minimum of treatments you can and should expect. Many spas are now offering longer and more intense treatments, like full body scrubs and wraps, as well as prenatal and postpartum massages. The Alkemia Spa at Zadún, one of the few ultra-luxe Ritz Carlton Reserve properties, has a spa menu nearly as long as the one at the Cheesecake Factory. Here, along with hyper-specific facials (there’s one just for golfers), the spa offers its series of wellness rituals, often mixing a number of different spa elements at once, including hot stones, meditation and crystals. The Savasana Sound Room also features another emerging trend among hotel wellness programs: a sound bath. These baths don’t actually involve water but are instead meditative experiences using sounds and vibrations. Results can vary, but fans of the process say it greatly helps reduce anxiety and tension.

Traveling outside peak season has its advantages. Popular destinations are less crowded, prices drop and the trip feels more personal. The best spots don’t lose their charm just because fewer people are there. And for some of us, there’s more appeal in getting away from it all—even if that also means getting away from other people. 

Summer hotspots can surprise in colder months. Coastal locales are known for busy weekends and packed beaches, but winter brings a different atmosphere. Fewer crowds, open space, and a slower pace make it a great time to visit. Tropical getaways can also be better at unexpected times. The Caribbean during the off-season (but still well outside of hurricane season) is calmer and more affordable than during the December holidays. To top it off, the ski season isn’t so limited if you’re willing to travel for it. Head to South America in July or August, where the snow is fresh, the mountains are quiet and the scenery is always unforgettable.

Below are three hotels in three regions around the world that you should consider booking a stay at for some off-season travel in 2025.

—Rachel King

Have you ever craved a ski trip in July? While this is sometimes possible in popular ski areas in Colorado or Northern California, odds are you’re not going to find really good powder in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer. But don’t forget, when it’s summer up north, it’s winter down south. Mid-July to early September is the peak ski season in Chile. The Lake District, just north of Patagonia, is one of the best places to visit, not just in South America but just about anywhere, with absolutely breathtaking vistas every month of the year. 

AndBeyond (a.k.a. &Beyond) is one of the top luxury safari outfitters in the world, and it chose this majestic area to open its first hotel in South America. The andBeyond Vira Vira is a Swiss-inspired, 34-acre wooded property that delivers the ultimate winter luxury experience. The cabins here are so cozy, you might not even want to bother skiing. The main lodge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and direct view of the snow-capped Villarica volcano, would be a great spot for après-ski. That said, the hotel is more than happy to help you with arranging any sporting activities, from snowshoeing and snowboarding to snowmobiling and heli-skiing.

While Caribbean resorts are usually packed the last two weeks of December, January and February see a lull before the spring breakers arrive later in March. Aside from fewer crowds, hotel rates and airfares are usually cheaper and the weather should hold out since you’re outside of hurricane season. 

Each locale in the Caribbean is very unique and very special. But St. Lucia is exceptional with its lush but rugged pitons and hidden beaches, making it an ideal destination for mountain climbers, diving aficionados, and anyone who just wants to lie on a beach and bask in the warm sunshine in January. 

Tucked away between two pitons, which are UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, lies Sugar Beach, one of the nine luxury properties in the Viceroy Hotels portfolio. Here the rainforest meets the beach across 100 acres that consists of a collection of villas, cottages and beach bungalows—all with private deck space and spacious interiors. (The resort also offers all of the modern necessities, like high-speed Wi-Fi and housekeeping requests via mobile app). 

This resort is extra special for art lovers, with more than 120 pieces across the property produced by the likes of Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Banksy. There is also a large pool deck near the beach for those who like to sit by the sea but don’t like sand.

The Hamptons are usually associated with summer Fridays, summer weekend getaways, and anything else summer. The reality of summer in the Hamptons is that most places are overcrowded and overpriced. If you leave at the wrong time, you could be stuck in traffic for hours, and you’re still around four hours away from New York City. And to top it all off, it’s humid.

But winter in the Hamptons is something else entirely. This is the time for locals to enjoy their home—and for travelers interested in a calmer weekend holiday. Not everything is open, as many restaurants and bars close up shop during colder months. But you’re more likely to find better hotel rates and secure desired restaurant reservations this time of year.

Amagansett is a comfortable spot, almost in the middle of the region between Southampton to the west and Montauk to the east. The Roundtree, part of the Small Luxury Hotels collection, is a fully restored boutique hotel that’s open year-round. Both family-friendly and pet-friendly, the homestead-like retreat has 14 accommodations, divided up among cottages, barn rooms and suites in the main house as well as a meticulously-decorated beach house that used to be owned by playwright Neil Simon. 

Guests who stay in the winter can opt to schedule wellness treatments in their suites as well as a fine-dining room service experience delivered directly from Il Buco al Mare, just a few steps down the street. And while summer sees an ice cream cart, winter here means a bonfire pit with s’mores at sundown. 

With a location on the main road that cuts directly through the Hamptons (as well as right by a Hampton Jitney stop), from here you can also explore some of the popular spots in the area that are normally sold out or too busy in the summer, like Wölffer Estate Vineyard for wine tasting or LongHouse Reserve for its eclectic outdoor art and sculpture garden. Both sites are far more crowded during the summer, with hundreds of visitors per day, so you can luxuriate in these settings during the off-season rather than checking them off a list.