2020 travel trends are all about sustainable travel, solo travelling, off-season surprises, and culinary trips.
Wondering what to expect from the travel scene in 2020? Some trends will continue to grow such as food tours, solo trips, and sustainable travel. The 2020 travel trends will also involve upskilling travel is on the rise with many holidaymakers in 2020 looking to take more home than a tan and the alternative bucket-lists keep filling up.
2020 TRAVEL TRENDS – GOING GREEN
Sustainable travel is the buzzword for 2020 travel trends.
Resting in a small fishing village between mountain and sea, Gennadi Grand Resort in Rhodes is artfully designed with eco-sensibilities in mind. A synthesis of form, function and perfectly scaled structures in a nature-showcasing landscape, Gennadi Grand Resort operates under a BMS (Building Management System) comprising of leading innovative energy management technology. Slanted roofs simultaneously minimise sunlight reflection whilst optimising the microclimate conditions, with energy-saving glass panels, and forward-thinking recycling practices.
2020 TRAVEL TRENDS – PURPOSE LED TRAVEL
Consumption on its own isn’t cool anymore. Aiming to counteract the negative impact flying has on the environment, travellers in 2020 want to make those emissions count. Reconnecting with loved ones, soul-enriching experiences, supporting local communities and adding to the greater good is a major focus for travellers in the year ahead.
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi teaches guests and actively encourage them to participate in regenerating the coral reef and improving sea life as part of an underwater art installation and coral regeneration project – the Coralarium. Designed by acclaimed British eco-artist Jason deCaires Taylor, guests are led through the living installation by the resort’s resident marine biologist before planting their own coral as part of their effort to reinvigorate local sea life.
2020 TRAVEL TRENDS – OFF-SEASON SURPRISES
Among the 2020 travel trends are off-season surprises. Savvy travellers in 2020 know that certain hotspots are superior offseason.
Spring is the perfect time of year to enjoy the secluded coves and beaches of Ibiza before the madness of summer kicks off. Coastal paths are blooming with blossoms and the legendary beach bars are laid-back, not packed. Adding to the many reasons to go, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay recently launched a range of ultra-personalised experiences, allowing guests to discover ‘My-Biza’ in their own way. Curated picnics are delivered to scenic spots, and Bali-bed butlers can bring everything from iced towels to turmeric shots and fresh sushi rolls whilst guests admire unobstructed sea views. There are one-to-one diving expeditions with a marine biologist and bespoke yacht trips to showcase the island’s insider spots and prettiest bays. Nobu Hotel Barcelona opened last year and is the perfect destination for spontaneous traveller.
While tourist numbers subside and the flight costs fall, Mallorca’s balmy temperatures remain long into the Autumn. Stylish Zafiro Palace Hotels are tucked in different corners of the island, making these luxurious resorts the perfect base to explore some of the off-season gems such as nearby, family-run wineries. The cooler autumnal temperatures are inviting for cyclists and hikers alike as well as culture lovers who will be drawn to Palma’s La Seu Cathedral, steeped in eight centuries of history.
TRAVEL TREND – PERSONALISATION
Today, we personalise our grocery orders, potential partners vetted from the comfort of our sofas, and new music suggested playlists align with our tastes. Our world is personal, and we want travel to be too.
Personalisation extends to the spa at Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, which offers a bespoke, all-botanical PHYTO hair treatment designed to cleanse, condition and revive hair with a selection of products uniquely designed for each guest’s own hair type. A detailed analysis with a micro-viewer magnifies the hair up to 600 times, and guests can relax in the resort’s Oriental Thermae hydrotherapy circuit while their hair is beautifully restored.
TRAVEL TREND – TASTE TRAVELLERS
Epicures are on the move in 2020 as people are letting their palates lead the way. Travellers will increasingly revel in a portfolio of famous restaurants which are culinary destinations in themselves.
Worth flying for, in 2020 Velaa Private Island in the Maldives introduces a fine wine and dining events billed as the greatest meal in the world. Curated by the world’s most influential winemakers alongside a clutch of Michelin-starred chefs – guests will enjoy the finest wine labels alongside the globe’s most inspired cuisine. Further foodie focused, Velaa will introduce a culinary concept where guests have the opportunity to create their own tasting menus alongside the resort’s esteemed Chef Gaushan de Silva. Each day begins with the arrival of carefully selected ingredients from the resort’s exceptional network of suppliers; diners then select from a simple list of ingredients and wait for the magic to begin.
TRAVEL TREND – THE ALTERNATIVE BUCKET LIST
Tried and tested travel wonders are over, 2020 is about curiosity and a point of difference.
So, rather than visit the Great Pyramids at Giza, why not discover ancient Anatolia? Set just at the edge of the ancient village of Uçhisar, Argos in Cappadocia is a place that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. With panoramic views of the hot air balloons that drift across the sky each morning at sunrise, this 2000-year-old network of ancient ruins, caves and underground tunnels are home to the world’s most wonderful heritage-style retreat.
TRAVEL TREND – SOLO TRAVEL
Solo travel shows no sign of a slowdown. 2020 will see more solo travel than ever before, as people of all ages strive for adventure and embrace freedom.
Newly restored, the iconic Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap, reopened its doors last month with a series of curated solo journeys inclusive of everything from cruising on a Vespa through the ancient temple at Angkor Wat, art classes with Siem Reap’s illustrious local artists, and a Khmer Culinary Discovery tour lead by local foodie insiders.
TRAVEL TREND – UPSKILLING ESCAPES
With learning holidays more popular than ever, holidaymakers in 2020 are increasingly looking to take more home than a tan.
With this in mind, Nobu Hotel Marbella will offer guests the chance to learn sushi making from their Nobu-trained chefs along with iconic Nobu dishes such as Miso Black Cod. Visitors can learn how to mix music with a professional DJ in the famous LA Suite nightclub or become a masseuse at the world-class Six Senses Spa, and there is even a holiday workshop in content creation/ photography taught by an award-winning local photographer.
Those flying solo can go for gold with an Olympian in 2020. ‘Our Retreat’ (read our interview with the founder Lisa Carolan) offers a once in a lifetime experience to snowboard with two-time Team GB Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, who will host a six-day retreat in January 2020. Across the year, Our Retreat will host four, six-night Chamonix retreats which are ideal for solo travellers seeking adventure, where skiing and snowboarding is complemented by yoga, meditation, mobility sessions, and healthy, nutritious meals.
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