Nothing ever stays the same in the world of travel; our tastes change, the planet evolves, and sometimes outside forces dictate how and when we do travel.
Over the last few years, we have seen a shift of seasons, with a move away from the Med during the hottest summer months and more travelling generally in what we have traditionally described as ‘the shoulder seasons’ – April, May, June, September, and October. Even the winter months now are far busier than they used to be.
There has also been a shift away from traditional beach holiday (especially in large resorts), to something that’s more meaningful, educational, and adventurous. That doesn’t mean a complicated multi-centre itinerary, but even just a single base that allows for something more than just a beach.
In 2026, we see that evolving further. Finding joy in destinations others miss or skip past, utilising many of the new and exciting air routes opening throughout the year (with more to come), or just tweaking what you already have with ways to make it more special. Here’s what we believe will be key things to look out for this year.
Costa Rica
Authentic Experiences
We really don’t like using the word ‘luxury’ because it means different things to different people. In its very nature, you could say that being able to travel is a luxury.
For many years, ‘luxury travel’ has been defined by the physical product – the aesthetic and facilities of a hotel, villa or cruise, which in a modern world sounds quite superficial. We all like a nice hotel, but what has become apparent as we travel more, we want to get more out of the trips we go on.
Having more authentic and meaningful experiences pushes that boundary a little further, and when done righ,t makes that holiday truly memorable. It doesn’t always have to be complicated or expensive either – sometimes it’s a local guide who shows you a side of a destination you would have never known, being in the heart of the community for a festival or celebration, but those ‘money can’t buy’ experiences are there too if you want them.
For example, many years ago I was on away with the North Carolina tourist board, and on our itinerary one evening in the middle of the Smoky Mountains was ’Songwriters in the Round’. It transpired that in what I would describe as a ‘village hall’, we had a trio of country singers from Nashville, one Grammy award-winning, sing for a group of about 40. Although that was nearly 20 years ago, it will be something I will always remember from my time in North Carolina.
Beyond The Bucket List
As more of the world is travelling, pressure on the most sought-after destinations continues to be problematic. The fees to enter Venice at popular times for example, or the number of people in Santorini during the summer which has now seen a restriction on the number of cruise ships arriving there.
With many of these ‘bucket list’ destinations becoming so busy that it’s unbearable for many, there’s beauty that can be found in the places that others haven’t found.
Bonus points will be on offer to name where the phone above was taken. Big clue – it’s not Venice!
I can only highlight the ‘Essence of Lombardy’ tour I went on with Magari Tours. I had never heard of the Imagna Valley north of Bergamo, but it proved to be an excellent tour to places tourists hardly ever go to – so you get the whole place to yourself – something I would highly recommend doing.
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Emerging Destinations
Following the pandemic, we saw everyone rush to ’safe’ destinations. The Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Mauritius and Maldives were all popular and welcomed us with open arms. As airlines in particular have rebuilt over the last three years, so has the thirst for pushing the boundaries in where we travel.
For example, a country I went to in 2024, Uzbekistan. In 2026, the number of flights from the UK to Tashkent the capital, will have doubled in that period, including some flights from Manchester for the first time. It will also allow for onward flights to many parts of Asia, allowing for an interesting and different stopover option.
Virgin Atlantic is also flying to Seoul in Korea from the spring, again with connecting options through its partner Korean Air – a great alternative to Japan, especially in the popular Cherry blossom season. British Airways has again added a couple of lesser-known destinations, including Morocco’s capital Rabat, and St Louis in America.
World Events
What happens politically around the world has an impact on where we travel. For anywhere that’s considered dangerous by the UK, we’re advised not to travel there by the FCDO (the Foreign Office), and often, travelling against that invalidates standard travel insurance policies. With an ever-volatile world, it can seem that even the most innocuous of travel advisories can have a major impact on us. Whether that’s the Houthi’s in Yemen controlling access to the Red Sea, or the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel or Ukraine. 2026 could be a year where more advisories than ever come and go – so having a diligent expert by your side is more crucial than ever.
More Paperwork
Following a patchy EES (Entry/Exit System) roll-out across Europe, which hasn’t been the greatest of successes, we’re expecting to see the new ETIAS travel authority later on this year. Similar to the American ESTA, Canadian ETA or New Zealand ETA – the ETIAS will be required for travel to European Schengen countries, cost approximately £20 and will be valid for three years.
We have also seen speculation from America that they will be strengthening their entry process, with a more thorough examination into our lives, including mandatory social media screening and a list of close contacts. Although this hasn’t been confirmed yet, it indicates the direction of travel, and we could see other countries following.
There are also more counties who require an online form filling in shortly before you are due to travel. Although relatively easy to fill in, it is a nuisance when abroad. Those include Singapore (only when arriving – not transmitting), Barbados, Antigua, Mauritius and the Maldives.
Solo Travel
As society changes, so has the way we travel – and that includes travelling on our own. Now that can be for a variety of different reasons, some obvious – but some might be when a partner doesn’t like travelling, or has different interests – or it could be something like a rest-bite from looking after a loved one. Or sometimes it could be born out of necessity.
However, it can be daunting, especially if you haven’t travelled before on your own – and sometimes it’s nice to have the back up either of having someone at the end of the phone to provide reassurance and help you every step of the way – or whether you prefer travelling as part of a small group.
It’s interesting to note that what it being offered is already changing – Riviera announcing that next year they are going to have a whole season in Europe where one ship will be dedicated to solo travellers. This one of the major hurdles of river cruising – the cost of single cabins!
