Getting Ahead of Trends

Dear Tammy: What’s hot in travel today? Every time there is something trending, I seem to be 10 steps behind it. I’d like to keep on top of the hip and popular before it becomes stale.

Tammy:

First, drop the word ‘hip’ because nobody really says that anymore. Seriously though, it’s very smart of you to want to stay on top of the trends in travel because they can add to your bottom line. Right now, think television and movies. Everybody wants to do what they see on TV or in their favorite flick.

For example, the “Real Housewives of Orange County” have viewers begging for trips to Dubai where they recently stayed on vacation in lavish accommodations.  

Not many shows are as hot as “Game of Thrones” is right now and there are trips dedicated to the characters and places where the scenes were filmed. Scenes have been filmed in Girona, Spain at the stunning Girona Cathedral, which was built between the 11th and 18th centuries. The Battle of Castle Black, a battle during the Conflict Beyond the Wall and the War of the Five Kings, was filmed in Northern Ireland. The towers of Winterfell were filmed at The Stangford Castle Ward Estate and the Castle Ward towers, also in Northern Ireland. One of the most striking locations is used as the Road From King’s Landing, which is filled at the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland. It is a romantic tunnel of these gorgeous intertwined beech trees.

There are organized tours for dedicated GOT fans where you can tour filming locations from other season as wells, such as Cushendun Caves which are thought to be more than 400 million years old, and Shane's Castle, a ruined castle near Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, all used as scenes in the show.

Last year was the 15th anniversary of the release of the first Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Travelers can tour The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London takes you into the world of Harry Potter or you can take a photo at Platform 9 ¾ at the Kings Crossing station in London, England.

If your travelers would rather watch “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” they will love a trip to Greece to see the home of the first Olympic Games, as well as the Acropolis & the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus and the Beehive Tombs.

The Kardashians celebrated their wedding in Ireland and there are packages to see this beautiful country and all of its castles.

That’s the trend now, but travelers are interesting and this can all change tomorrow or next week. 

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