Travel Trends for the New Year

Hard to imagine that 2026 is here already but nevertheless it is. And with a new year comes new trends and forecasts when it comes to leisure travel. Here are the things we think you need to pay attention to in the new year when it comes to planning your next vacation.

1. Airline Costs. Looking back at 2025, it was an interesting year when it came to aifare. If someone was traveling domestically, they probably saw airfare that was a little lower than 2024. Averages were close to that $350 per person mark depending on when and where you were traveling to. That was down a little from 2024 averages. Internationally we were seeing an uptick in costs but that really varied depending on so many factors. Areas that were more prone to some poilitcal instability saw lower costs while other areas saw increases. Popular destinations in Europe were seeing averages close to $1300 per person for a round trip coach fare. Time of year and destinaton will still be a huge factor when it comes to airlare pricing in 2026. Areas in Europe are still seeing high demand which should keep coach pricing above the $1000 per person mark, espeically if traveling during peak season. Poilitics will still continue to effect pricing here and abroad. We expect peak travel months to see fares close to $500 per person for domestic flights and over $1000 per person for flights to international destinations.

2. Hotel Perks. We are seeing a trend still towards hotels removing certain perks from their offerings such as wifi, housekeeping, gym access etc. This will make hotel costs seem more attractive until you check in and find out that if you want your room cleaned, that will be extra. Or a fee will now be charged if you want to use the onsite gym or to get wifi anywhere onsite. This will demand a lot more discernment when choosing your lodging.

3. Travel Insurance. Many have looked at travel insurance as a "waste of money." People feel that way a lot until a need arises. More and more travelers have now experienced a need for some form of travel insurance due to sickness or other issues that can cause your best-laid plans to fall apart. Airlines have made it easy to get "future travel credits" but that is not healing the hurt that most feel in their pocketbook when plans have to be changed at the last minute. More and more travelers will now be looking to add some form of travel insurance to their travel plans.

4. Private Transportation vs Public. More and more travel companies are offering some form of private transportaiton, especially in Europe. The old days of winging it once you are at your destination as far as how you will get between point A and point B are almost gone. Too many travelers have first hand experience of what it is like to be standing in long lines waiting on taxis or trying to figure out bus or local train schedules and are now looking for a driver to meet and greet them and take them directly to their next stop. This will effect the overall travel budget but it is far worth the cost, especially if you have ever had to wait for hours in a train station because you just missed the one you were supposed to be on.

5. Reservation-only Tourism. Many European cities are starting to implement a "reservation-only" visit system to where you will need a reservation in advance to get into some city-centers, museums, cathedrals etc or at the very least havce to pay some form of tourist tax upon arrival . This trend has been growing due to over-tourism in places like Venice or some Greek islands or even larger cities like Barcelona and Paris. Expect this trend to grow throughout 2026.

So there are our 2026 travel predictions for this year. With all of these trends, it is making it more and more important to plan your vacations with the help of professionals who keep up with all of these trends so you are better prepared for the trip ahead. Let us know your thoughts about these predictions. Maybe you are already experiencing some as you make plans to travel this year. We would love your feedback.