Travel Trends!

Planning a trip in 2023? Read this year’s travel trends!!

Many travel trends have emerged since many aspects of life have changed for people in the last three years. Some are modern versions of old trends, and some are just brand new!

Travel takes Precedence!!

For many reasons, people could not travel until late 2022. The rise of omicron cases at the end of 2021 caused people to sit back for a few more months before they could safely travel again later in 2022.

Earlier in 2022, many countries forced travel restrictions, and many others closed their tourism doors, leaving a small leeway for people to execute their travel plans.

2022 marked an evident return in travel, and in 2023 it will only increase. Inflation and talks of recession are not keeping travelers off, and 2023 is still expected to see a rise in travel and tourism.

Finally, even after the multiple crises that the world is facing, people still consider traveling a priority because it gives them breathing space in between busy life.

Let us see what the expected Travel Trends for 2023 are.

1. Workations

Workation, as the name says, is Work + Vacation. That means you take your work on vacation, maybe from a lounge chair by the pool, at an Airbnb on a mountain, or from a campground.

This way, you are not limited to the number of PTOs but can also extend your time at a different location.

With the increase in remote job opportunities and flexible work culture in business, combining work with leisure has phenomenally increased.

As of 2023, companies are not calling their employees back to the office, which means there will still be many workations.

A foreseen trend is to extend the weekends and make their long weekends, combining a Friday or Monday. A new term has also been coined as ‘HUSH Trip’, where employees take a trip on work days and work from a different location without telling their employer about the same. 

2. Motorhomes and RVs

RVs were always a famous option for camping around here in America. It further picked up the craze post-pandemic when people were looking to travel in a safe environment.

What else could have been better than having your own mini home on the wheels with the facilities like your personal bathroom and cooking your meals?

In 2022, many people made RVing their life and moved in as their full-time travel home. As per the RVshare 2023 Travel Trend Report, RV interest has continued to grow, with 62% likely to consider renting an RV for a trip in the future; this is a 9% jump from 2022.

Photo from Iceland on a Campervan road trip

3. Low Budget Travels :

Most of us learned to save money and waste a little post-pandemic. Also, with the inflation and talks of the recession coming in 2023, people have started saving money and are choosing low-budget trips and experiences.

Two out of every three traveler focus on travel hacking, travel deals, free experiences, and are happy to travel off-season or via longer routes to save money.

Also, the trend of ‘SAVINGS’ is seen in many Gen Z who wants to go on their bucketlist destinations with the money saved. They have also realized, budgeting the existing travel plan can help with saving for a future travel plan.

Since people have started being smart about their money, there will be a rise in budget travel experiences.

4. Off-Grid Travels

In the past years, to follow the social distance and still be able to travel, many of us focused on more off-grid experiences. The list includes, but is not limited to, national parks, camping, nature reserves, and forest or mountain cabins.

You will agree that we like this type of travel better than visiting crowded cities. This brings us close to nature and helps us improve our health and mental well-being through digital detox. 

Imagine waking up to the sound of birds, waking up in a wooden cabin, and having a bonfire in front of your tent. 

This will be one of the top travel trends in 2023. We will see people going on solo or group backpacking trips. It will also be famous among families to spend some time close to nature, recharge, and refresh away from their phones and computers.

An off-grid trip to the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York

5. International Travel

Many had to cancel their International travel plans in 2020 – 22. From Covid-19 test requirements, mandatory quarantines, and country restrictions, finding out where you can travel was very intimidating.

Many countries are open now with minimal travel restrictions, and people plan to take advantage of that and plan international trips. 

Many are choosing to book a one-way ticket and hop to different countries, combining to meet their families and taking advantage of accumulated leaves.

6. Solo Travel

I do not even need to say how solo travel is in fashion and becoming more popular across continents.

The new flex culture at work leads to loneliness. Sitting at home and in front of your computer the whole day, a whole week, or a whole month can be boring.

With the freedom to work from anywhere, why not choose to work from a new location where later, after work, you live an interesting life? Like, going on group activities and meeting interesting people from all around the world.

It is also a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and give oneself more time to stay around nature.

Many countries are inviting travelers and digital nomads by providing extended visas. Moreover, companies are providing remote work, adding fuel to the fire for travel enthusiasts.

Puerto Rico road trip – Drove around the whole island rather than staying only in San Juan

 7. Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel means traveling in a way being mindful and responsible toward the environment. It means respecting the local communities and cultures and benefiting the local economy.

Caring about sustainability does not mean giving up on holidays. It is more about making responsible decisions while traveling, like reducing emissions, using public transportation, and choosing a small business for staying, eating, and buying souvenirs. It includes leaving your surroundings clean with no trace or trash behind when you visit the place. 

Slow travel and Off the beaten path –

Seek hidden gems and less-visited destinations, and stay in locally owned accommodations. This way, you can help to spread the economic benefits of tourism more widely and help avoid the negative impacts of over-tourism on residents. Moving around a lot causes more impact on the environment. 

Over-tourism at a spot can cause price inflation, leading to non-affordable living in the areas and forcing the residents out of their homes in search of a more affordable place. 

One should not categorize oneself as a sustainable or non-sustainable traveler. We must all travel fully conscious of less impacting the local environment and people. Traveling sustainably takes practice, and being an imperfect traveler is better than not trying.

Numbers say 70 % of people are willing to pay extra for sustainable stays, clothing, and souvenirs. Many companies are coming up with new sustainable products and ideas in 2023, which will only spread more awareness, and more people will join this traveling style. 

Relaxing at Myrtle Beach on a slow travel trip to South Carolina

Thank you for reading!! Time to know your thoughts!!

Share this blog post with your travel buddies, families, partners, and anyone who wants to know what’s trending in Travel for this year. 

Which of the above Travel trends are you thinking of jumping onto this year? Share with me in the comments section.

Also, share if you think another travel trend that will sweep 2023 travelers.

Don’t forget to subscribe for such blog posts!!

Gear Up, Travelers! Let’s explore & travel to foreign lands!