2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - The Return of the Big Trip

After nearly three years of pandemic-related travel restrictions, 2023 is poised to be the year of the big trip. Pent-up wanderlust has travelers eager to make up for lost time with ambitious itineraries and bucket-list destinations.

According to a recent survey by American Express, 68% of travelers are planning to take a "revenge travel" trip in 2023. And these won't be quick weekend getaways or domestic jaunts. Travelers have their sights set on exotic locales and trips of a lifetime.

"I've had to postpone my around-the-world trip twice because of Covid," said John S., an avid traveler from Los Angeles. "As soon as I can get time off work, I'm booking that trip. I want to see the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower - all the places I've been dreaming about while stuck at home."

"We're skipping our usual summer week at the beach and doing a two-week tour of Italy instead," said Lauren T. of Denver. "The kids are old enough now for that kind of trip and we just feel like we need to do something big and adventurous after the pandemic."

According to travel expert Max Tremblay, 2023 will see travelers splurging on "extravagant flights and accommodation to make up for the trips they had to cancel." Tremblay predicts private villa rentals in exotic locales will be particularly popular with travelers seeking privacy and seclusion.

"Between remote work and saved-up vacation time, I can easily be away for a month or more," said Chris P., a software developer based in Chicago. "I'm planning a multi-country backpacking trip through Southeast Asia while still working part-time. Previously that would have been impossible."

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations Gain Popularity

After being cooped up at home for months on end, travelers are seeking adventure in 2023. This pent-up wanderlust is leading many to venture off the typical tourist track to uncover hidden gems and lesser-known destinations.

Popular spots like Paris and Rome will always be magnetic for travelers. But in 2023, expect to see more daring souls exploring off-the-radar locales that offer a taste of the unfamiliar.

"I've already done Europe's major capitals, so I'm planning trips to some places not everyone knows about yet," said Samantha R. of New York City. On her list are spots like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova.

"I've always wanted to visit Easter Island ever since I was a kid obsessed with ancient cultures," said James T. of Dallas. "It's obviously not easy to get to, but that's part of what makes it so appealing."

That's why tour operators specializing in these harder-to-reach spots are seeing demand skyrocket. Companies like Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, and Geographic Expeditions offer small group tours to adventurous locales with expert local guides.

"We've seen bookings for our more exotic trips increase by over 40% for 2023," said an Intrepid Travel spokesperson. "People want to get out there and see untouched places while enjoying the security of traveling with an experienced group."

And remote nature is calling as well in 2023. Travelers eager for open spaces and sweeping vistas are booking cabins deep in the Alaskan wilderness, treks to base camp at Mount Everest, and cruises to Antarctica.

"I need a break from all things digital and a reset for my soul," said Cindy L. of Denver, who is planning a two-week horse-packing trip through Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. "I'm ready to disconnect and be immersed in nature."

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Microadventures Replace Traditional Vacations

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a shift in how people approach travel and vacations. With continued uncertainty around planning larger trips, plus financial and time constraints, many are opting for microadventures in lieu of traditional getaways in 2023.

A microadventure is a short, local trip ranging from an overnight to a few days that lets you explore your own region. It satisfies the travel bug without requiring extensive planning or budget.

"I used to plan these elaborate, indulgent vacations to Europe every year," said Paula S. of Portland, Oregon. "But between unpredictable closures and restrictions, I've started doing more microadventures close to home."

Last year Paula spent a weekend kayaking and glamping along the Deschutes River an hour from Portland. "It felt so good to get out on the water and sleep under the stars," she said. "And way less stressful than an overseas trip."

"I pack up my truck with gear on Friday after work and drive an hour to my campsite," Mark said. "I get my mountain fix hiking all day Saturday, then sleep under the stars. Even just 24 hours in nature recharges me."

Samantha L. of Austin, Texas uses microadventures to uncover her state’s abundant outdoor offerings. “I’ll pick a town a few hours away, find a cool hiking trail there, and book a night in a funky vintage motel,” she said. “It satisfies my wanderlust between big trips.”

“Our family does little road trips to state parks just a tank of gas away,” said Katie S. of Kansas City. “We pack a picnic, go hiking, roast s’mores at night. The kids think it’s the most epic vacation ever.”

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Workcations Blur the Lines Between Business and Leisure

The rise of remote work has opened exciting new possibilities for business travelers and digital nomads. No longer tethered to an office, these road warriors are taking advantage of flexible work policies to combine business trips with leisure time. Enter the workcation - the latest travel trend sweeping the globe in 2023.

A workcation blends business activities like conferences or client meetings with ample time to explore a destination. “I tacked on a few extra days in Miami after a trade show last fall and got to hike in the Everglades, check out the Wynwood Arts District, and relax on South Beach,” said Paula R., a marketing executive based in Chicago.

Consultant Thomas S. extended a business trip to Singapore into a two-week workcation that let him meet with clients while indulging his passion for street food and nature walks in Gardens by the Bay. “Extending trips is a no-brainer when my firm lets me work remotely,” he said.

For digital nomads and location independent entrepreneurs, every trip can be a workcation. Michaela G. runs her boutique digital marketing agency from the road, building her schedule around exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations.

“I’ll map out cities that intrigue me, book accomodations with fast WiFi, and schedule client calls and deadlines around my adventures,” she said. Michaela spent a month workcationing in Portugal last fall, wandering cobblestone streets in Porto by day and delivering projects from her rented seaside villa by night.

While workcations offer tantalizing perks, they also come with potential pitfalls. “You need iron time management skills,” said legal consultant Leah S. She warns against letting leisure activities creep into work hours. The lure of a white sand beach when deadlines loom can wreck productivity.

Digital nomad Cody M. emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating plans with clients and colleagues. “Letting people know your schedule minimizes surprises when you take that Tuesday morning scuba diving tour instead of attending the typical stand-up meeting,” he said.

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Wellness Travel Gets a Reboot

After two years of collective trauma and anxiety, wellness is finally getting its due. Travelers are eager to hit reset and focus on mental and physical health in 2023. But forget restrictive spas and joyless bootcamps. The new wellness travel 2.0 is all about balance and soul-nourishing experiences.

"My old idea of wellness travel meant surviving on wheatgrass shots in a militant fitness camp with zero fun," said Sonia K. of Boston. But after barely exercising and bingeing Netflix all through quarantine, her mindset has evolved.

"I still want challenging hikes and yoga classes, but now I also want to enjoy delicious local cuisine with zero guilt and appreciate the culture around me," she said. Sonia recently booked a long weekend visiting the volcanic hot springs and farm-to-table restaurants of Costa Rica's Arenal region.

This shift towards wholistic wellbeing is also leading travelers towards more exclusive, immersive experiences. At luxury retreat Black Tomato's new Sicilian outpost The Canvas, guests practice yoga atop ancient Greek ruins and indulge in lavish farm-to-table meals, massage included.

Adventure outfitter ROAM offers active roaming tours integrating challenging hikes or biking with yoga, while their new Wellness AF series doubles down on spa treatments, healthy gourmet meals, and unique wellness encounters like shaman-led sound healing ceremonies.

Group adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel has also responded to rising demand for wellness experiences. Their new Retreats portfolio features transformative journeys like practicing meditation and yoga at an ashram stay in India or studying Japanese mindfulness while soaking in sacred onsen hot springs.

Luxury tour provider Abercrombie & Kent has created an entire Travel Well series devoted to wellness. Itineraries fuse fitness, spa therapies, nutrition and mindfulness practices across exotic destinations from Iceland's Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to Cambodia's Angkor Wat temples.

"After spending most of 2020 isolated and anxious, I'm craving travel that leaves me feeling healthy, renewed and inspired," said Alicia M. of Denver, who recently returned from an Abercrombie & Kent wellness journey in Peru combining yoga, organic meals, and visits to ancient Incan spiritual sites.

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Travel Hacking Catches On with Mainstream Travelers

Travel hacking - the art of maximizing points and miles to score free or heavily discounted travel - has long been an obsession of a small, hyper-devoted community. But in 2023, this formerly niche pursuit is catching on with mainstream travelers lured by the promise of lavish trips on a budget.

"I used to think travel hacking was only for people who treat it like a full-time job. But when I saw friends booking dream trips using points I realized anyone can do this," said Paige R. of Sacramento. Last fall Paige opened a new credit card, earned the signup bonus, and booked an open-jaw ticket to Thailand flying business class for just $60 out of pocket.

"I was shocked at how easy it was to rack up 200,000 points with a new card," said Henry F. of St. Louis. He and his wife Meghan recently drank Dom Perignon while soaking in an overwater villa hot tub in Bora Bora - paying a few hundred dollars for a vacation that would have cost $5,000 or more.

A key driver of this trend is travelers' renewed zeal for extravagant trips after two years stuck at home. With money tight post-pandemic, maximizing points helps splurge on bucket-list experiences. "With a little strategy, I can fly first class overseas and stay in 5-star hotels that would blow my normal budget," said Lily H. of Austin.

Post-pandemic flexibility has also fueled travel hacking's popularity. With remote work allowing longer trips, travelers can maximize points earned from extra nights on the road. "Working as a digital nomad, I'm taking slower trips with lots of stopovers," said Michael B. of Denver. Strategic routing with layovers helped him fly around the world in first class and stay in high-end Hyatts for six months using points alone.

Travel companies are also incentivizing travel hacking in 2023. Many airlines have revamped loyalty programs to attract new members, while credit card companies offer record-high signup bonuses ideal for scoring that special trip. Travel hacking marketplaces like Points.com even let you buy, gift or transfer points between programs.

Meanwhile online communities make travel hacking accessible for newcomers. Reddit groups like r/churning and blogs like Point Me to the Plane and The Points Guy feature tutorials, deal alerts and inspiration to help anyone supercharge their travel with points.

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Solo Travel Goes Mainstream

Once seen as a fringe activity for the intrepid or eccentric, solo travel is firmly entering the mainstream in 2023. No longer just the purview of backpackers and adventurers, solo trips are increasingly popular across demographics as travelers prioritize meaning, flexibility and investing in themselves post-pandemic.

Solo travel offers the ultimate freedom and spontaneity. “I don’t have to compromise on anything - I can be totally selfish with my itinerary,” said Paula G., a New Yorker who embarked on her first solo trip to Portugal last fall. Without needing to accommodate a group, Paula could meander cobblestone streets aimlessly, savor leisurely meals reading a book, or befriend locals and fellow travelers on a whim.

Traveling alone also fosters invaluable self-discovery. “Solo travel teaches me to be comfortable in my own skin,” said James R. of Denver, who challenges himself with regular solo adventure trips. “I’ve gained resilience and confidence navigating new places independently.” After a solo motorcycle tour of Vietnam, James returned home feeling empowered by overcoming unfamiliar terrain and situations independently.

Solo trips also satisfy a growing appetite for transformative, even spiritual travel. “I’m at a point where I crave more meaning from my journeys,” said Sonia V. of Austin. She recently embarked on a solo ayahuasca retreat in Peru, drawn by the promise of healing and self-discovery she felt unlikely in a group context.

While solo travel was once daunting, especially for women, shared accommodation concepts like hotels and hostels with modern single rooms reassure rookie soloists. “I loved staying at cool, social hostels where I could meet fellow travelers,” said Katie R. of her solo Europe trip. She appreciated the safety and built-in community.

Travel companies now actively cater to solo travelers as well. Tour operator Intrepid Travel has seen solo travel bookings grow 130% over 2019 levels. They offer small group tours across exotic locales for solos craving camaraderie. Adventure outfitter ROAM offers a Solo Explorers Club pairing singles on active group adventures.

2023 Travel Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve and Plan Your Dream Trips - Sustainability Becomes a Key Factor in Trip Planning

With climate change threatening beloved travel destinations, sustainable travel has become a priority for conscientious jetsetters in 2023. Travelers increasingly factor sustainability into trip planning, seeking eco-friendly transport, green accommodations and meaningful cultural encounters that minimize harm to local communities and environments.

"I used to plan trips based solely around what I wanted to do and see," said Marco D. of San Francisco. "Now I carefully research options to ensure I'm supporting sustainable businesses and having a positive impact." On a recent trip to Costa Rica, Marco chose an eco-lodge relying on solar power and collected rainwater, ate at restaurants serving locally sourced food, and booked tours benefiting wildlife conservation.

Travelers are getting creative finding carbon-offsetting options as well. Rather than abandoning air travel altogether, flyers are using carbon calculators to estimate emissions and invest in offsets. Annie S. of Austin paid to have 17 trees planted after a flight to Belize to absorb an equivalent amount of CO2. "It's a small way I can take responsibility for my impact," she said.

When possible, travelers are swapping planes for cleaner options. Emily G. took the train from Los Angeles to San Francisco to start her California trip. "Traveling overland was way more scenic while cutting my carbon footprint," she said. And vintage modes of transport like sleeper trains are making a comeback, letting travelers rediscover the romance of the journey.

Accommodation choices further reflect the sustainability focus. Eco-conscious companies like Solar Hotel in Sweden, which runs on renewable energy, or Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji, championing marine conservation, are booked up months in advance. Platforms like BookDifferent.com let you filter specifically for sustainable properties.

Travelers also increasingly choose destinations providing meaningful connections versus superficial experiences. "As a Black traveler, I look for spots that let me engage with the local Black community," said Tabitha A. of New York City. She opted for a Civil Rights history tour in Atlanta over generic city sightseeing.

No longer a niche concern for ecotourists, sustainable travel now influences the decisions of the everyday traveler. "I'm voting with my wallet to support companies doing business responsibly," said James T. of Portland, who researches tour operators' eco-credentials as rigorously as Yelp reviews.