The 'Plot Twist' Trip
Have you ever booked a holiday that made your friends and family do a double-take? According to the research, this is about to become a major trend. An overwhelming 77% of travellers are interested in choosing a vacation that is completely out of character
for them. These 'plot twist' trips are about more than just visiting a new place; they're about discovering a new side of yourself. Nearly a third of travellers have even admitted to not posting about a holiday they felt was too predictable. The goal is to break routines and create a story no one saw coming, whether that means swapping a beach chair for a mountain trek or a quiet retreat for a bustling, unfamiliar city. It is a rebellion against the expected, driven by the desire for genuine surprise.
Vibe Check-In: Mood-Based Journeys
What if you chose your next destination based not on a place, but on a feeling? This is the core idea behind 'Vibe Check-In', a trend that sees 81% of travellers wanting to pick a destination based on the mood they want to feel. Instead of searching for 'beaches in Goa', you might soon be searching for 'a quiet, restorative escape' or 'an energising city adventure'. The destination itself becomes secondary to the emotional outcome of the trip. This shift is so significant that 76% of people would use a search tool that recommends places based on their desired emotional state. It marks a move away from travel as a checklist of sights to see and towards travel as a form of self-care and personal expression.
Trip to the Beyond: The Rise of Paranormal Tourism
Travel is taking a supernatural turn. A surprising 65% of travellers are now interested in paranormal, mysterious, or even spooky travel experiences. This isn't just about a casual ghost tour; nearly half of those surveyed (48%) are open to trips that allow them to 'connect' with someone who has passed away or explore spirituality and the afterlife. This trend, dubbed 'Trip to the Beyond', taps into a growing curiosity about the unknown. Destinations with haunted histories, eerie legends, and gothic architecture are becoming the main attraction. For these travellers, swapping cocktails for crypts is the new way to experience something truly unforgettable and reflect on life's bigger questions.
Social Currency and The All-Exclusive
Money has always been a factor in travel, but in 2027, it will become a key filter for who makes the guest list. Half of all travellers have reconsidered who to travel with due to different budgets, and 51% have experienced tension on a trip because of mismatched spending expectations. This has led to a rise in what Booking.com calls the 'All-Exclusive' trend, where trips are tailored to individual lifestyles and budgets. For instance, 61% of parents would like to travel without their children to spend more on themselves. Furthermore, 66% of travellers want packages where they can remove services they don't need, like an open bar they won't use, ensuring they only pay for what truly matters to their experience.
