8 Travel Trends Set to Be Huge in 2020
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Trends come and go in every industry out there, with travel and tourism being no exception. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here are eight travel trends for 2020 that you should definitely take note of.
Vegan Hotels
Whether veganism is something you love or hate, there is no denying that the vegan lifestyle is one that has been rapidly growing in popularity. The demand for vegan products is steadily growing, meaning that companies now have to cater for this.
Of course, veganism isn’t only about food…
The vegan lifestyle is one that makes use of no animal products whatsoever, and hotels all over the world are now adopting this concept throughout their business. There are more vegan hotels out there now than ever before, giving people so much choice when it comes to booking accommodation.
While vegan hotels can be found all over the world, here are a few that are worth taking a special trip to stay at:
- Villa Vegana Mallorca, Spain – one of the oldest vegan hotels in Europe, this villa is located within a gorgeous conservation area, offering up spectacular views. All the food served here is plant-based, with most of it coming from the hotel’s own permaculture garden, while toiletries, cleaning products and more are also completely cruelty-free
- Being Sattvaa, Indonesia – located in the tropical paradise of Bali, this hotel sits within miles of lush greenery. Not only is their vegan kitchen open throughout the day, but the hotel also offers everything from raw food retreats to yoga sessions to kayaking trips, helping you to make the most of your incredible surroundings
- Stanford Inn by the Sea, California, USA – located in beautiful meadow that overlooks the Mendocino Bay, Stanford Inn by the Sea is fully vegan, with a farm-to-table food concept. This is a hotel that provides the ultimate in comfort, with several fireplaces, an indoor pool, private yoga and massages, and so much more. As an added bonus, this hotel is pet-friendly too
Even if you aren’t vegan, just the experience of staying at a vegan hotel still makes this so worthwhile.
Undertourism
Overtourism is a problem that has been affecting many destinations all over the world. From Angkor Wat to Santorini to Mount Everest, many popular destinations are now having to exert some form of crowd control in order to protect their history, heritage and future.
Fortunately, more and more people are becoming aware of how their tourism footprint is negatively impacting certain destinations, which has led to undertourism becoming quite the popular concept.
What exactly is undertourism?
It is basically the opposite of overtourism – visiting destinations that are off the beaten path, places that the majority of tourists wouldn’t usually head to.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that you will be missing out on anything. Instead, your experience will likely be all the more richer and rewarding, as you will encounter so many hidden gems, rather than hoards of tourists.
Wondering which destinations would be suitable for an undertourist to visit?
Here are a few to choose from:
- Trieste instead of Venice – Trieste is a classy and elegant city overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, with gorgeous architecture, a fascinating history and delicious food
- Kep instead of Phuket – Rather than heading to Thailand, visit Kep in Cambodia instead for shimmering sandy beaches backed by lush jungles, and a thriving party scene in town
- Zaragoza instead of Barcelona – Boasting both historic and contemporary features, the mix of old and new that you will find in the Spanish city of Zaragoza is reminiscent of Barcelona, but with its own unique charm
- Kuelap instead of Machu Picchu – Kuelap is an Incan site that is actually older than Machu Picchu. This historic town sits about 1800 meters above sea level, and is one of the most captivating places in Peru to visit
All About Surfing
If you have been looking forward to the 2020 Olympic Games, then you likely already know that surfing is going to be counted as an Olympic sport for the first time in history. It should then come as no surprise that the sport itself is becoming more and more popular, partly due to all of the extra promotion it has gained because of the Olympics.
Not only that, but research has been emerging that points to surfing as being just as beneficial as yoga. Findings show that it can help with:
- Depression
- Insomnia and other sleep problems
- Post traumatic stress disorder
Sadly, most people do not live in an area where surfing is easily accessible, which is why surfing vacations and retreats are set to be huge in 2020.
If you like the idea of booking yourself in for a surfing retreat, here are some worth considering:
- Karma Surf Retreat, Portugal – this retreat combines surfing and yoga, with several different packages to choose from
- Surf Star, Morocco – located on a coast where there are numerous surf spots to choose from, this retreat is one that will also immerse you in local Moroccan culture
- Wanderlust Surf Adventures, New Zealand – designed for women, this surfing retreat will take you to some of the best surf spots in the area, while providing you with delicious food and therapeutic yoga sessions too
- Lumi Yoga and Surf, Hawaii – another retreat that combines surfing and yoga, Lumi is located on the island of Oahu. Spend some of your free time paying a visit to the OROGOLD Oahu Store to treat your skin to some of the luxury and relaxation that your body has been experiencing
Luxury Bunk Beds
Okay, so bunk beds may not sound very luxurious at first, but keep reading…
One of the more interesting trends to take over the hotel industry for 2020 is going to be bunk beds. This will make booking accommodation so much more convenient for families and those traveling in groups, especially when the bunk bed option is even more luxurious than the rooms with standard beds.
You’re probably thinking…
How can bunk beds be luxurious?
It all comes down to the way in which they’re designed…
Take The Siren hotel in Detroit for example – their Hideout room offers twin beds as extremely chic bunkbeds, complemented by custom furniture and vintage accessories. The Bunk room at Seattle’s Palihotel offers bunk beds too, along with all of the other creature comforts you would expect from a luxury hotel.
Transformative Experiences
Ever wished that you could do a little more to make a positive difference in the world?
This is a thought shared by many travelers, which is why more and more of them are now seeking out transformative experiences when they are on a trip.
This is an idea that can start off quite small…
No matter where you travel to, always try to support the local economy as much as possible by eating and shopping locally. Local hotels, rather than international chains, would also really benefit from your visit.
If you would like to take things a little further, here are some ideas:
- Sail around the bays of Vietnam on a kayak while collecting floating plastic
- Spend some time volunteering at an orphanage in any country
- Visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to learn more about these majestic creatures and support the sanctuary’s conservation work
Figure out exactly what it is that you are passionate about when it comes to making a positive difference in the world, and then work out how you can incorporate this into your next vacation.
Japan
The 2020 Olympics have already been mentioned above, with the new Olympic inclusion of skiing spiking a rise in the sport’s popularity.
Well, the Olympics has had yet another impact on the travel trends of 2020…
With the 2020 Olympics being held in Japan, the country has really stepped up its game when it comes to its tourism industry. Of course, Japan was already doing pretty well, but 2020 is set to be one of the best years to visit this island nation.
Where in Japan should you go?
Most people are flocking to Tokyo to check out the New National Stadium, which is just about complete. However, Japan has so much more to offer – it all depends on the type of vacation you are hoping to take:
- Osaka – a great city for soaking up Japan’s culture, with a range of different attractions, museums and one-of-a-kind activities
- Nara – home to cherry blossoms, shrines, free-roaming deer and an incredibly peaceful atmosphere
- Hiroshima – learn about this city’s tragic history while rejoicing in the inspirational way in which it has built itself back up
- Tottori – packed with gorgeous sandy beaches, and even home to a sand museum with sculptures made entirely from sand
- Kobe – the must-visit Japanese destination for foodies
If you really want to experience the very best of Japan, try combining your Japanese vacation with the “City Loops” travel trend mentioned above.
Trains Instead of Planes
As people are becoming increasingly eco-conscious, they are also understanding that flying can be so detrimental to the environment. Fortunately, there is often another option, which is why train travel has been growing in popularity, with this set to continue even further in 2020.
When you think about how a plane produces 285g of CO2 per every passenger kilometer, while a train produces just 14g, this in itself is a good incentive to cut back on flights in exchange for train trips.
Think that train journeys aren’t quite as exciting or exotic as a flight?
This is where you would be wrong. Thanks to the surge in demand, train companies around the world are now offering up luxurious train-based getaways, saving you a plane journey. Here are a few to look into:
- The Robos Rail, South Africa – this train, complete with a glass observation car, will take you around South Africa, showcasing everything from Namibian wildlife to the Victoria Falls
- Venice Simplon Orient Express, Europe – travel around Europe in style on this historic and elegant train
- The Eastern and Oriental Express, South East Asia – this stunning train will take you through the lushest parts of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
- Al Andulas, Spain – explore the beauty of several Spanish regions on the decadent Al Andulas
No matter where in the world you live, you are likely to find a train journey that excites you enough to stimulate that wanderlust desire.
City Loops
Visiting a new city in a new country is always exciting, but it is easy to sometimes feel as though you have missed out on everything else that your chosen country may have to offer.
Well, the city loops travel trend ensures that you will no longer feel this way…
Wondering what city loops actually is?
It refers to a multi-destination vacation, usually incorporating several cities in one trip. The reason why you would do this is pretty obvious – it gives you the opportunity to visit several different destinations, rather than just one.
You have two main options when it comes to booking a city loops trip; you can either do all of the legwork yourself, or opt for a travel operator that offers pre-organized city loops. Thanks to this becoming quite a major trend, more and more travel operators are now providing this option, and many of these trips are easily customizable.
Even if you do not usually take much notice of travel trends, these trends will no doubt inspire you when it comes to planning your next vacation. Whether this means incorporating some way of making a positive impact on your destination or trying to travel in a way that is as eco-friendly as possible, the travel trends for 2020 are looking to be extremely promising.