The 2026 Travel Trends I’m Buying Into, and Where I’d Actually Go

September 22, 2025 by jordangassner

I’ll be honest, I tend to roll my eyes when I hear about the “latest travel trends”. It always feels like someone’s pushing corporate buzzwords on me, designed to sell package deals or push specific destinations. But something about this year’s changed my mind.

Maybe I’m at the point where I’m just craving something different. Or maybe it’s because these trends feel less like marketing and more like we’re all finally admitting we’re tired, overstimulated, and ready for trips that actually mean something.

According to recent research, 2026 is the year travel starts with “why” instead of “where.” We’re prioritizing purpose over place, seeking experiences that align with our values rather than just checking off bucket list items. And honestly? That resonates deeply with where I’m at right now.

So I did something I’ve never done before: I let these trends guide my 2026 travel wishlist. Not in a forced way, but by recognizing which ones genuinely spoke to me and then asking myself, “Okay, where would I actually want to go to experience this?” It’s helped me narrow down my thoughts and reprioritize what matters… at least for this year! So here’s what I’m buying into, and where I’d choose to go:

Trend #1: The “Whycation”

What It Is: Hilton has dubbed 2026 as the year of the “whycation,” where we start intentionally planning trips based on our emotional needs and motivations rather than just picking a destination because it’s trendy or looks good on Instagram.

Why It Matters: I can’t be the only one who’s opened Google Flights, stared at the screen, and thought “literally anywhere could be good?” Starting with your intention cuts through the noise and helps you choose destinations that’ll actually leave you feeling fulfilled rather than just exhausted. It’s about answering “why do I want to travel?” before “where should I go?”.

My Pick: New Zealand

If I’m being really honest about my “why” right now, it’s about returning to a place that holds profound meaning for me, but experiencing it through completely different eyes.

I first visited New Zealand in 2017. I’d been planning the trip for over a year, originally motivated by my love for Lord of the Rings and a desire to see Middle Earth in real life. But somewhere in the middle of my planning, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. He passed away two months later, just before my departure date.

Back then, I had almost canceled my trip half way through my planning stages. But he’d urged me to keep the trip, to go, to not let his illness take this from me. So I went. And it became something entirely different than I’d planned: a grief-soaked journey where every stunning landscape felt both beautiful and unbearable, where I was simultaneously running from loss and trying to process it.

Now, years later, I’d love to return. Not as someone fleeing grief, but as someone ready to see New Zealand for what it actually is: not just a backdrop for my pain or a fantasy realm from a beloved book, but a place with its own story. I want to revisit some of the same spots (the South Island lake view that made me cry, the icy glacier I hiked while emotionally numb) and also explore places I missed because of time restrictions (Rotorua, Marlborough).

I’m not going to New Zealand because it’s trending or because I haven’t been. I’m going because I have unfinished emotional business there, and I’m finally ready to return with intention rather than rawness and escape.

Trip Type: Longer, intentional journey (2-3 weeks)

Trend #2: Set-jetting

What It Is: According to Expedia, 66% of travelers say their trips have been influenced by places they’ve seen in movies or TV shows. “Set-jetting”, or visiting filming locations from beloved shows and films, has become one of the biggest travel trends, with searches spiking for destinations featured in streaming hits.

Why It Matters: There’s something magical about walking through a place you’ve watched characters inhabit on screen (goodness knows I’ve done it too many times to count). It’s stepping into a story you love, seeing if the real location lives up to the screen version, and experiencing that weird thrill of recognition when you round a corner and think “I know this place.”

My Pick: Newport, Rhode Island

This year, I’ve been obsessed with HBO’s The Gilded Age. The costumes, the drama, the commentary on old money versus new money, the jaw-dropping interiors. I’ve rewatched the latest season a few times now, just to catch any details I missed!

While the show films in various locations, the real inspiration for all that opulence is Newport, Rhode Island. The mansions here (The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff) were built by the actual families (the Vanderbilts, the Astors) that inspired the show’s fictional characters. These aren’t just pretty houses; they’re monuments to an era when America’s wealthiest families competed to outdo each other with increasingly elaborate “summer cottages.”

In addition to these, I’m longing to see Newport’s preserved character from the Cliff Walk where society ladies would promenade to the historic downtown shopping area. You can tour the actual ballrooms where real historical dramas unfolded, see the servants’ quarters, and understand the massive wealth gap the show depicts.

I’d love to do the full experience: tour the mansions (at least The Breakers and Marble House), walk the Cliff Walk at sunset, maybe catch a performance at a historic theater, and just imagine the dramatic atmosphere from the show.

Trip Type: Little treat trip (long weekend, 3-4 days)

Trend #3: “Readaways”

What it is: According to Vrbo, Pinterest searches for “book club retreat ideas” are up 265%, and literary-themed holidays are having a moment. People are dedicating entire trips to reading; booking coastal homes, countryside cottages, and quiet chalets specifically to unplug, unwind, and lose themselves in stories.

Why It Matters: In our productivity obsessed culture, a holiday dedicated entirely to reading is quietly radical. It’s also a perfect antidote to the overstimulation we’re all swimming in. No itineraries. No must-see attractions. Just you and a good book or two!

My Pick: Quebec City, Canada

While I know I’m not interested in joining an organized reading retreat (that feels a bit too structured for what I’m after), I’d love to plan a solo “readaway” to Quebec City in autumn.

I’m picturing mornings reading in cozy cafés along Rue du Petit-Champlain, the oldest commercial street in North America, watching the leaves turn impossible shades of orange and red. Afternoons would be spent exploring dusty bookstores in the Old Town, ducking into charming bistros for hot chocolate, and finding new reading spots in parks or along the Dufferin Terrace.

Quebec City exists at a slower pace. Plus, there’s something about reading in a place where the primary language isn’t your own that makes the experience feel even more immersive and escapist.

I’d bring a mix: a novel I’ve been meaning to read for a while and maybe a book set in Quebec or French Canada to layer the experience (I’m partial to starting Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache murder mystery novels). Pure escapism, beautiful setting, minimal FOMO about missing attractions.

Trip Type: Mid-length intentional trip (5-7 days)

Trend #4: Farm-to-Table Charm

What It Is: Farm-to-table isn’t just a restaurant buzzword anymore. It’s becoming a rising travel motivation. Expedia reports that 84% of travelers want to stay on or near working farms, while Hilton found that 34% plan entire trips around culinary experiences. We’re seeking that connection between land, food, and culture.

Why It Matters: There’s something deeply grounding about experiencing food at its source. Whether you’re staying at a vineyard, visiting farms, or taking cooking classes, there’s something deeply grounding and sensory about the farm-to-table source. It pulls us out of our heads and back into our bodies, bringing about a level of mindfulness that doesn’t require a meditation app and creating creates memories that a restaurant reservation alone can’t match.

My Pick: Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico

Valle de Guadalupe isn’t a traditional farm stay, but it’s Mexico’s wine country, which means vineyards and agricultural tourism with a sophisticated twist.

I’ve had Valle on my list for ages, and the culinary tourism trend made me realize why I’m so drawn to it. It’s not just about wine tasting (though that’s certainly part of it). It’s attractive for being onsite at small, family-run vineyards where you can see the entire process from grape to glass. Many places offer accommodations right on or outside the wineries, so you’d wake up to rows of vines and could walk through the fields at golden hour. And there’s spots offering cooking classes and other culinary experiences so you can get a well-rounded food and beverage experience.

What really excites me is the number of women-owned wineries in the region. Supporting female entrepreneurs while experiencing agricultural tourism feels perfectly aligned with traveling with intention. Plus, it’s close enough to the border to make it an easy girls trip! I’m already imagining all the long lunches at outdoor tables, afternoon walks around the vineyards, and conversations that stretch into sunset.

Trip Type: Little treat trip (long weekend, 3-4 days)

Trend #5: Rail Revival

What It Is: According to Forbes, travelers are increasingly choosing epic train journeys over short-haul flights, drawn to the scenic, slow-paced experience of rail travel and making the journey just as important as the destination. It’s about watching landscapes unfold through train windows, meeting fellow travelers in dining cars, and disconnecting from the rush of modern travel.

Why It Matters: In a world of budget airlines and airport security theater, train travel feels luxurious and civilized. You get legroom, you can walk around, you can actually see the landscape change. It’s travel as meditation rather than transportation as endurance test.

My Pick: Eastern & Oriental Express Through Malaysia

I’ve enjoyed every short rail experience I’ve had so far in my lifetime (the Georgetown Loop in Colorado, the Skunk Train in Mendocino, the Pacific Surfliner along the California coast, and too many to name in Europe!). And while I still have yet to do an overnight train journey, I feel like there’s something deeply romantic to long distance train travel that air travel seems to have completely lost! The rhythm of the tracks, the way meals are served at your seat or in a proper dining car, the fact that you’re watching the world go by… instead of being 30,000 feet above it! It all forces you to slow down and be present.

Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express is a multi-day luxury rail travel experience that I would love to have! Their “Wild Malaysia” route winds through rainforests, past limestone cliffs, and along coastlines, with stops that include visits to tea plantations and cultural experiences. And beyond the obviously stunning landscapes and the perfectly planned itinerary, I’m obsessed with their restored vintage carriages, observation decks, and dining cars where you can dress up for dinner!

Trip Type: Mid-length intentional trip (3-4 days for the train journey itself, possibly extended with time in Bangkok or Singapore on either end)

Trend #6: Road Trips Make a Return

What It Is: According to Hilton, 71% of Americans are planning to drive on their next vacation, while Booking.com found that 79% of global travelers are drawn to the spontaneity and flexibility of road trips over flying. The humble road trip is having a major comeback.

Why It Matters: Road trips are about reclaiming autonomy. No fixed departure times, no baggage restrictions, no security lines. You decide where to stop, when to linger, which random roadside attraction deserves an hour of your time. In a world where everything has become scheduled and optimized, that freedom is increasingly precious.

My Pick: Acadia National Park & New England Coast

Yosemite, Big Sur, the redwoods. I’ve done lots of outdoor adventures on the West Coast, but I have yet to experience East Coast nature in its full glory. A road trip through the upper New England coast feels like the perfect way to fill that gap.

The route I’m imagining: starting in Boston, spend a day or two exploring the city, then drive up the coast through New Hampshire and into Maine. Stop in Portland for the food scene (the craft beer and farm-to-table restaurant scene is supposedly incredible), continue up to Acadia National Park for a few days of hiking, then maybe loop back down through Vermont for fall foliage and small-town charm.

What appeals to me about this road trip is the mix of rugged coastline, dense forests, and quintessential New England towns. I want to catch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia (apparently you can be one of the first people in the U.S. to see the sunrise), hike the Precipice Trail, eat fresh seafood at harbor-side shacks, and explore those tiny coastal villages that look like they haven’t changed in decades.

The road trip format means I could be spontaneous! From detours to random lighthouses and stops at farm stands selling fresh apple cider and maple syrup, to spending an extra day somewhere if I fall in love with it. That flexibility feels especially appealing for a region I’ve never explored before.

Plus, timing it for fall means peak foliage season. That distinct Atlantic coastline is so incredibly different from the Pacific, and I’m more than curious to experience it firsthand.

Trip Type: Longer intentional trip (10-14 days)

Trend #7: Travel Written in the Stars

What It Is: Nearly half of people would change their travel plans based on spiritual guidance or horoscopes, while 39% time trips with moon phases or avoid Mercury retrograde, according to Booking.com. Astrologically-aligned travel is having a moment.

Why It Matters: I don’t actually believe in astrology in any serious way, but I also think there’s something fun and harmless about letting the stars guide a trip. In a world where we’re expected to have rational explanations for everything, sometimes it’s nice to just say “Mercury’s in retrograde so I’m staying home” or “my chart says I need water energy right now.”

My Pick: Aligning With My Big Three

Cancer Sun craves home, comfort, nostalgia, and emotional depth. To me, this would be a cozy cottage by the water, preferably somewhere with strong family or cultural ties. It’s giving Mendocino, but because I want to challenge myself to find someplace new, maybe the Scottish Highlands (if I had or coastal Ireland. Somewhere I can hole up with hot cocoa, blankets, and dramatic ocean views!

Aries Moon needs adventure or a physical challenge, but gets bored easily. This placement wants hiking, maybe something slightly exciting, definitely nothing too planned or structured. This is the part of me that would thrive in Iceland or on a roadtrip through New Zealand.

Scorpio Rising wants intensity, mystery, and transformation. This placement is drawn to places with heavy history, gothic vibes, maybe something slightly dark. This is Edinburgh during ghost tour season, or Salem during October, or visiting ancient ruins in Peru.

So if I were actually following my chart, I’d probably end up somewhere like the Isle of Skye in Scotland! it hits the Cancer need for cozy cottages and dramatic coastlines, the Aries moon would be satisfied by hiking the Cuillin Ridge or exploring fairy pools, and the Scorpio rising gets ancient castles, mysterious landscapes, and Celtic mythology.

Do I actually think the stars care where I travel? No. But is this a fun framework for choosing a destination when you’re feeling indecisive? Absolutely. And honestly, Isle of Skye sounds pretty perfect regardless of what my birth chart says.

Trip Type: Little treat trip (5-7 days)

Trend #8: Destination Dupes (With a Major Caveat)

What It Is: “Destination dupes” have been trending since last year. Visiting alternative locations that offer similar experiences to overcrowded hotspots. Think Albania instead of the Amalfi Coast, or Porto instead of Lisbon.

Why It Matters (and why I’m cautious): On one hand, I get it. Overtourism is a very real problem, and steering visitors toward less-trampled destinations can benefit both travelers and communities. But here’s my issue: we need to be really careful about framing entire countries and cultures as “dupes” for somewhere else.

Albania isn’t a cheap substitute for Italy. Penang isn’t “budget Singapore”. These places have their own rich histories, distinct cultures, and unique identities that deserve to be experienced on their own terms, not as second-tier alternatives to more famous neighbors.

My Pick: Andalusia, Spain

I’ve already explored northern and central Spain, but I’ve never made it south to Andalusia. And while some travel lists might position it as a “Morocco dupe” because of the Moorish architecture, that completely misses the point.

Andalusia isn’t a substitute for Morocco. It’s the place where Islamic and Christian cultures collided and merged for centuries, creating something entirely unique. The Alhambra in Granada isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is: one of the most extraordinary examples of Islamic architecture in Europe. The Mezquita in Córdoba is literally a mosque-cathedral hybrid, a physical manifestation of cultural overlap.

What draws me to Andalusia is how you can literally see the layered history the same way you can see Roman ruins, Moorish palaces, and Gothic cathedrals all in the same city. The pueblos blancos (white villages) cascading down hillsides. The flamenco culture that developed here. The food traditions that blend Mediterranean and North African influences.

If I wanted to experience Morocco, I’d go to Morocco (and maybe extend this trip across the Strait of Gibraltar to do exactly that). But Andalusia deserves to be visited for what it is, not as a proxy for somewhere else.

The destination dupe trend can be useful for managing crowds and budgets, but let’s make sure we’re not reducing entire cultures to cheaper versions of something else.

Trip Type: Mid-length intentional trip (7-10 days)

Trend #9: The Mystery Trip

What It Is: While not explicitly in this year’s trend reports, there’s been a growing appetite for curated mystery trips where someone else handles all the logistics and you just show up. It’s the antidote to decision fatigue and planning burnout.

Why It Matters: We’re all experiencing choice overload. The idea of a trip where you don’t have to research hotels, plan itineraries, or optimize every decision is increasingly appealing. It’s essentially the complete opposite of what the road trip trend is about: surrendering control in a world where we’re expected to control everything.

My Pick: A Historic Hideaway

Here’s where I’m fully embracing the trend: I’d love to book a mystery trip where I literally don’t know where I’m going until shortly before departure.

But here’s my caveat: I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t be happy on a cruise or a big group tour. What I really want is a curated retreat: someone books me an idyllic apartment or historic home in a place I might not have thought of, gives me a few optional experiences or tours I could do if I want, but otherwise leaves me to explore or simply exist.

Think of it like a wellness retreat but in a historic setting rather than a spa resort. I want to feel like I’ve stepped into a different time period or a fantasy realm… maybe a restored medieval township, or a centuries-old farmhouse in Tuscany, or even a stone castle in Germany where I can pretend I’m living in a different era.

The mystery element appeals to me because it removes my tendency to over-research. I can’t plan the perfect itinerary if I don’t know where I’m going. I have to just be present with wherever I end up.

I’m currently researching mystery trip companies that specialize in historic, intimate settings rather than party destinations or adventure tours. The idea of surrendering that control and letting someone else decide where I need to be feels almost exactly like the kind of radical trust exercise I need right now.

Trip Type: Mid-length intentional trip (7-10 days)

The Pattern I’m Seeing

Looking at this list, I notice I’ve naturally divided my travel into two categories: little treat trips (quick escapes, long weekends, spontaneous) and longer intentional journeys (the ones that require emotional preparation and deeper commitment).

The little treats (Newport’s mansions, Valle de Guadalupe wine tasting, Isle of Skye if the stars align) are the reset buttons. Quick doses of somewhere different when I need to remember the world is bigger than my inbox!

The longer journeys (returning to New Zealand with purpose, the Eastern & Oriental Express, the New England road trip) these are the ones that require me to show up differently and expand my “now”.

And here’s what’s interesting: none of these destinations were chosen because they’re trendy or because someone told me I “had to” see them. The 2026 travel trends didn’t tell me where to go, they just helped me articulate why certain places have been calling to me. They gave me permission to travel with clear intention rather than vague wanderlust.

Some years, travel might mean backpacking through Southeast Asia on a shoestring budget or saying yes to every adventure that comes your way. This year, for me, it means being selective. It means asking “why” before “where.” It means honoring what you need: some trips are about joy and spontaneity, while others are about processing, learning, and transformation.

The trends talk about this shift toward “the era of you“, and that’s exactly what this wishlist represents to me and where I’m at in life right now. And maybe that’s the real value of looking at travel trends. Not to follow them blindly, but to use them as a mirror. Which ones make you stop scrolling? Which destinations immediately come to mind? That’s probably where you need to be.