What trends will shape travel in 2027?
Flight and hotel booking site Skyscanner has tapped into its annual survey of travelers to answer that question.
Next year, expect to see the next stage of ongoing trends like active and wellness travel and music tourism progress in totally new ways. Journeys based on visiting historical sites are also becoming more popular, as is traveling for hyper-local souvenirs.
Here’s a look at seven new trends that will shape how we travel in 2027, according to Skyscanner.
Gym-cations
A growing number of travelers are prioritizing their fitness routines during trips. Expect high-quality hotel gyms, local fitness classes, and healthy, protein-rich nutrition to all be in the spotlight for active travelers, according to Skyscanner. The site says that as part of the trend, 66% of Americans are now “more likely to book a hotel that offers nutritional breakfast options such as eggs, smoothies, overnight oats, and chia pudding.”
Sound Bound
Instead of traveling for huge tours and stadium concerts, music fans are opting for unique local venues with intimate settings as part of their travels in 2027. Think less huge arenas and more underground jazz clubs, warehouse concerts, and forest festivals, Skyscanner says. When booking trips to visit these unconventional venues, 36% of Americans say the genre of music is most important to the experience, while 15% say they would travel to see an artist that doesn’t visit their hometown.
Merch Tourism
Some travelers are planning trips around the souvenirs they plan to buy. But these aren’t expensive or traditional items, but rather hyper-local merchandise from grocery stores or unique luxury hotels. One popular example is travelers’ interest in securing Trader Joe’s tote bags: interest in content on the topic has jumped by 167% in the last year on TikTok, according to Skyscanner. Another 23% of travelers are proudest to buy a luxury hotel branded robe or hat.
Grand Odysseys
History buffs will shine in 2027, as visiting historical sites and learning about ancient civilizations are a growing impetus for trips next year. More than half of Americans have traveled to a destination because of a historical event or myth from classical civilization, according to Skyscanner’s data. The Odyssey film has also inspired more than a third of people to plan a trip, the site says. The trend includes learning about historical figures such as Alexander the Great, visiting sites like Pompeii and the Colosseum, and historic hiking trails like Corfu’s Cape Drastis Loop in Greece.
Together Trips
Joint bachelor and bachelorette parties, where a couple and their friends celebrate their impending nuptials on a trip together, are gaining steam for 2027. The trend is growing for a number of reasons: 50% of travelers said a joint trip would be more fun, 45% said it would save money, and 40% said it would be more convenient, says Skyscanner’s data. Among the most popular destinations for group travel are Frankfurt, Germany, and Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Currency Chasers
Travelers are becoming increasingly concerned about how far their money will go when visiting an international destination. Skyscanner says that 41% of Americans have changed their vacation destination for a place with a more favorable exchange rate. The trend is biggest among Gen Z and Millennial travelers, 72% and 54% of whom have switched destinations for a cheaper exchange rate, respectively. Expect destinations like Vietnam to be in the spotlight in 2027, with a budget-friendly exchange rate for Americans, alongside its natural beauty and powerful cultural draws.
Signal Severance
More travelers are planning to go off the grid next year, choosing remote locations and logging off Wi-Fi for a deeper reset. Travelers say they feel more present on trips when they log off, with 62% noting they feel closer to nature when they do so. It’s also about forging deeper connections: 57% of travelers say they would be able to connect better with themselves, and 58% say they would be able to connect better with loved ones when switching off devices on a trip. Skyscanner predicts the trend to pop up in places like Ohrid, Macedonia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
