Top Ten Travel Trends & Headlines for 2024

Lots of changes are in store for travelers in 2024. Here are the top ten travel trends and headlines for 2024…

FYI: The average airline ticket to Europe in 2024 will be $650 for travel during non-peak times.

The National Park Service will offer FREE ADMISSION to all its parks for six days in 2024: 1/15 (Martin Luther King Jr. birthday, 4/20 (National Park Week), 6/19 (Juneteenth Day), 8/4 (Anniversary of American Outdoors Act, 9/28 (National Public Lands Day, and 11/11 Veterans Day.
Due to overcrowding issues, the National Park Service will begin requiring reservations at its most popular parks, including Arches National Park, Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Acadia National Park, and more. The restrictions vary according to park so check out their site to make sure you understand what you need to do before you go. Some are on a first come basis while others are by lottery.
The hottest travel trend in 2024 will be Wellness Travel (such as hiking, biking, yoga and meditation retreats). Spending for this specialty travel will exceed $1 trillion in 2024 and beyond (By 2027, it is expected to exceed $1.4 trillion), according to GW’s latest statistics. Wellness Travelers spend way more than average tourists–up to 41% more. The leading markets will be Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
In the U.S. the most in-demand wellness retreats will be Miraval Austin Resort & Spa b(where you will learn what a Himalayan Singing Bowl is), Ambiente (America’s first landscape hotel), Eupepsia Wellness Resort (250 acres in the heart of Shenandoah Valley), Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado (situated on a “spiritual vortex”), Habitas-on-Hudson (includes sound journeys), The Ranch Malibu (luxury boot camp), Carillion Miami Wellness Resort (offers more than 75 weekly wellness classes), and Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing (full range of Buddhist programs).
Another big money travel trend for 2024 will be Exorbitant Travel. Luxury tour operators will be upping their game with special offerings for clients with deep pockets. For example, Roar Africa will offer a 12-day “Greatest Safari on Earth” aboard a private jet that is limited to ten participants. The cost is $148,000pp. Aman is offering “The Grandest Tour”, which is a 21-night expedition to India, Greece, Bhutan, Tokyo and other select cities around the world. The cost for this worldwide adventure aboard a private jet is $178,888pp. Or you go join Ponant’s 20-night “Transarctic Quest for Two Poles” tour. It includes visits to both poles with a pricetag of $50,000pp. But the most expensive tour I’ve seen is Red Savannah’s “Couture & Crown Jewels. This includes a private viewing of the Crown Jewels, dinner at the Tower of London, and much more. The cost is $550,000pp.
Cruises will be insanely popular and I’ll be talking a lot more about them in my next post later this month.
Event tourism will be big. Paris will host the Summer Olympics with more than one million tourists expected to attend. Then there is the Paralympics. For the first time, the Tour de France will kick off in Italy before heading to Florence and beyond. April 4 will bring a rare Total Solar Eclipse. The T20 World Cup of Cricket will be held in the U.S. for the first time and in the West Indies. There is also Holy Week in Spain, Day of the Dead in Mexico, Diwali, and many more festivals, concerts, and special events worldwide.
Luxury rail trips are all the rage aboard the best trains in the world, such as the Eastern & Oriental Express, Blue Train, Rocky Mountaineer, The Ghan, Deccan Odyssey, Rovos Rail, Heritage Palace, Royal Scotsman, and Venice-Simplon Orient Express.
Frontier Tourism has been and will continue to be a popular travel trend. This is also known as Remote Tourism for those seeking uber adventures in remote (unspoiled) places, such as Antarctica, Arctic Circle, Sacred Valley, Patagonia, Mongolia, Bhutan, and Oman.
Old-fashioned road trips (short and long) will be huge. Roadies will seek out weird roadside attractions, unique things to do, state and national parks, and beaches. Gas is at its lowest price in three years, so it is a good time to go. And don’t forget about free admission days at national parks. Also, there are lots of free camping sites.

That is the Top Ten Travel Trends & Headlines for 2024 but there is a lot more travel news & tips to share with you. So stay tuned…but in the meantime, be sure to check out the helpful links provided below.