Seven travel trends that will define 2027

What do fantasy-inspired escapes, nostalgic holidays and a new kind of boys' trip have in common? They reveal how our changing attitudes to everything from technology to personal relationships are influencing where we go and what we want from our holidays.

From seeking deeper connection to embracing otherworldly destinations, here are the seven travel trends to watch in 2027.

Next year, travellers will increasingly be seeking out places that feel like another world, whether that's spectacular stargazing spots and ancient ruins or landscapes steeped in myth and folklore. According to Booking.com's 2027 travel predictions, 65% of travellers surveyed expressed interest in paranormal travel experiences, including haunted histories and supernatural encounters; while Pinterest Predicts 2026 noted a surge in searches related to mystical landscapes, with "Scotland Highland aesthetic" up 465% and "ethereal places" up 45%.

Travel PR firm Lemongrass suggests that the growing popularity of "romantasy" fiction – which blends romance and fantasy – is helping fuel interest in these otherworldly escapes. But the appeal goes beyond beautiful scenery; it's about escaping the everyday and stepping into another world.

"Everywhere we look in our cultural research, we see people seeking awe," says cultural futurist Jasmine Bina, CEO of Concept Bureau. "They want to feel connected to something bigger than themselves, to surrender to something that totally envelops them."

Try it: Visit Zermatt, a Swiss Alpine village surrounded by dramatic peaks, considered by fans to be the real-life Velaris, the secret city in Sarah J Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

The traditional boys' golf weekend is getting a makeover, with a new generation of group holidays challenging stereotypes about how men travel.

According to Lemongrass' 2027 trends report, men's trips are seeing a growing focus on emotional wellbeing, with retreats designed to encourage connection, self-reflection and more open conversations about masculinity. Citing research from Bupa UK, the report notes that 50% of men have struggled with mental health difficulties, set against a backdrop of changing conversations around loneliness, burnout, work-life balance and financial uncertainty. Group trips can provide an opportunity for these discussions, as explorer Levison Wood notes in the report: "What I have learned is that men often speak most honestly when conversation is not the main purpose. They talk while walking, making camp, sharing food or dealing with a challenge together."

"I see this trend growing, especially for men," says Bina. "Therapy and self-reflection have seeped into every part of life. We're at a point in culture right now where the definition and permissions of masculinity are greatly expanding." 

Try it: Both Sides Retreats offer men the chance to reconnect with their sense of purpose in the UK.

In 2027, travellers are looking to recapture the carefree joy of childhood, swapping grown up responsibilities for the simple pleasures of being a kid again.  

According to Expedia, 57% of travellers surveyed are likely to book an "un-adulting" trip in 2027 – rising to 71% among Gen Z and millennials. Travel companies are responding with experiences designed to appeal to this sense of nostalgia and adventure. Walt Disney World has introduced an adults-only lounge at Epcot and offers late-night theme park events, while Universal Studios Japan has launched an adults-only Halloween Horror Nights overnight experience. Elsewhere, adults-only resorts and cruises promise care-free escapes where the practicalities are taken care of.

"We increasingly see people having less shame and embracing the things they truly love," says Bina. "I see it less as shirking responsibilities and more about looking for extreme escape. When you talk to people that go on adult-only trips to theme parks, they'll tell you that those places make them feel safer and more optimistic, like there's order in the world again."

Try it: Ride the waterslides at Jamaica's Princess Senses The Mangrove Resort, an adults-only all-inclusive resort with water-park access where you don't need to think about anything beyond having fun.

As AI becomes part of everyday life, travellers are increasingly seeking something technology can't provide: human connection. While 40% of Americans now use AI for tasks such as travel planning, industry research suggests that shared experiences and meaningful interactions are becoming more important.

According to Hilton's 2027 Trends Report, 60% of travellers surveyed are more drawn to water-based wellness activities when they can share them with others. Meanwhile, Skyscanner has seen a rise in large-group bookings. Human connection is worth paying for, says Priceline: in their recent survey, 66% of Americans said they would pay extra for exceptional personal attention.

"Everything has become synthetic," says Bina. "Deepfake AI, bosses sending ChatGPT nonsense to their teams, misleading packaging – we are surrounded by the uncanny and the unreal. Connection is scarce, and in high demand."

Try it: Evermore Resort in Orlando, Florida, has partnered with social scientist Kasley Killam to develop its "relational wellness" approach, with activities, shared dinners and suggested conversation starters designed to help groups and families strengthen their bonds.

For a growing number of travellers, holidays aren't just about switching off; they're about discovering new interests and switching on your brain. While learning holidays are nothing new, the latest trend puts a greater emphasis on hobbies and the pleasure of play. 

According to Hilton, Gen Z travellers are nearly twice as likely as baby boomers to want to return home with a new interest they can continue pursuing, while holiday rental platform Vrbo has seen rising demand for "hobby hubs" – properties suited to everything from crafting retreats and photography weekends to antique hunting jaunts. 

"This is a really beautiful incarnation of our overall cultural shift toward play," says Bina. "Hobbies get us into our bodies and into flow states in a way that modern, commercialised wellness perhaps never could." 

Try it: Learn Spanish while walking the Camino de Santiago with Responsible Travel, combining mornings language lessons with afternoon hikes through northern Spain.

The minibreak is getting even shorter. In 2027, travellers are increasingly embracing one-night getaways, whether it's to attend a concert or sporting event, celebrate a milestone or simply enjoy a quick escape. 

According to Hotels.com, 79% of travellers surveyed plan to book a one-night stay in the coming year, rising to 83% among Gen Z and millennials. Searches for one-night getaways have also increased by nearly 10% year on year. Dubbed "trip snacking", these bite-sized breaks offer a quick reset between holidays, with 71% of respondents saying they help tide them over until their next trip.

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Against a backdrop of rising living costs and economic uncertainty, the appeal of a shorter, potentially more affordable escape is easy to understand.

"Short trips are part of a broader trend toward minification, like little treat culture, tiny homes and microweddings," says Bina. "It's economically driven but also well suited for peoples' increasingly busy lives. Smaller doesn't mean less – it actually means the opposite. When something is truncated, we need it to be that much more intense in order to satisfy our desires."

Try it: Book a microbreak through Staycation, a platform offering hotels for 24 hours, 48 hours or even just a few hours across Europe.

In 2027, the ultimate status symbol may be an experience that nobody else can replicate. From one-off cultural events to rare encounters with people and places, travellers are seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. FINN Partners calls this "unrepeatable travel", experiences whose value lie in their rarity and authenticity rather than their price tag. Bina says that this is all about how the idea of status is changing.

"Columbia University professor Silvia Bellezza says we gain status in culture by creating distance from the norm, and for a long time, money was that distance," says Bina. "If you had enough money to travel to revered hotspots, your wealth equalled distance. But now that anybody can fake wealth on social media, money doesn't provide distance anymore. So the new status comes from unrepeatable experiences, a way of creating distance by the way of access and knowledge that nobody else has." 

Try it: Cruise the Nile during the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027, when Luxor will be in the path of totality. Specialist voyages will bring travellers together with scientists and astronomers to witness the rare celestial event.

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