When you think of luxury travel, what comes to mind? Likely private jets, spas, and high-end shopping.
The tides have changed in the world of lux travel. The old world of extravagant vacationing has to keep up with new trends.
That’s not to say that luxury travel isn’t still extravagant. If you have the money to spend on lavish getaways, they’ll still feel expensive. But many aspects of the trip have changed.
If you’re ready to plan a modern, on-trend lux vacation, keep reading. Here are the top five lux travel trends that are taking the world by storm.
1. Self-Development and Spirituality
The way we look at travel has changed a lot in the past decade. We’re no longer as concerned with brand names or status. Most travelers, high-income included, are seeking personal fulfillment.
Interest in self-development has lead to an interest in spirituality.
When we travel, we want to have experiences that show us new perspectives. Luxury travelers will pay more for trips that promise enlightenment.
This trend has meant an increase in trips to destinations with spiritual undertones. Indonesia, Morocco, and India are seeing more and more travelers. These locations offer an inside look at cultures that are deeply spiritual.
Lux travelers are choosing destinations that offer spiritual retreats and meditation. Yoga, clean eating, and therapeutic experiences are more valuable than shopping. These resorts will often hire renowned yoga teachers, mediation guides, and wellness instructors.
If a trip doesn’t enlighten you and create a sense of inner fulfillment, what’s the point?
2. Sustainability and Ethics
Millennials and Gen-Zers have made their mark on the luxury travel industry. These mountain-moving generations care about the environment, human rights, and ethics.
How do these values affect travel?
To be a desirable hotel for these travelers, you have to use sustainable products. Encourage guests to re-use their towels. Offer recycling and compost waste removal.
There also shouldn’t be extra packaging and plastic on room items. Hotels that make their environmental efforts known to their guests are more respected.
The same idea goes for trip planning. Lux guests can afford to visit all the animal sanctuaries they want. But, if those elephants and tigers are getting abused or mistreated, then no thank you.
Luxury travelers want to know that their vacation isn’t negatively affecting the locals or, the local resources and the planet.
3. Customization
There is no one-size-fits-all in luxury travel. We’re living in an age where everything is customizable.
Luxury travelers want to go on personalized vacations. This may mean using a travel curator to plan every aspect of the trip.
Once on location, guests want to be able to choose everything. Some hotels even offer guests a choice of toilet paper colors. Others provide on-demand meals serving anything under the sun.
High-end resorts are offering different room style more and more. Each traveler is unique and will want different things in their room. Hotels need to create different atmospheres in their room selection to please everyone.
4. Unique Experiences
Lux travelers want their trip outside the hotel to be unique.
Travel trends are moving away from collecting souvenirs and towards collecting pictures. Posting images of cool experiences are more coveted than collecting key chains.
The popularity of social media has played a part in changing the lux travel industry. Hoteliers need to know the hole-in-the-wall attractions as well as the main attractions. Guests are opting to skip seeing the Colosseum, and instead check out San Giovanni.
The old days of going to the spa are changing, too. Now, guests want unique and rare relaxation attractions. Think hot springs, hay baths, and cryogenic chambers.
Adventure travelers looking for luxury will want unique experiences as well. Scuba diving and zip lining aren’t enough to set them apart. They want secret beaches, insane slopes, and exotic safaris.
More and more lux travelers are opting for wilderness trips. They might stay in a yurt, teepee or go glamping (glamorous camping). These trips are more interesting to retell than staying in a resort.
5. Small Stays
The last lux travel trend to watch for is the move from big business to small business. Travelers are more interested in staying at boutiques and inns for their vacation.
Big hotel chains are contrary to most of these lux trends.
Large companies tend to have all the rooms look alike with little room for customization. The concierges know all the normal tourist attractions, but not off the beaten path ones. You can spend your entire trip not having spoken to a local.
What’s popular now are small inns and bed and breakfasts. The owners live there year round and have connections to the locals. Their recommendations of things to do are unique and customizable.
One game-changer in the hotel world is Airbnb. There are many luxury stays on the app that allows guests complete privacy and control. Plus, the homeowner can act as a local tour guide and personal concierge for the guests.
Lux travelers want to feel like they’re experiencing something rare and unique. They want to post it on their social media as a memento of their trip. Learning about the local perspective and way of life is important to them.
Interested in More Lux Travel Trends?
The world of luxury travel changes with the times. We’re becoming a society more interested in self-development and sustainability. Our travel choices reflect that.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the ability to drop lots of money on a life-changing vacation. The need for extravagance and luxury will always be there, but the way we want it will change.
When planning your next trip, consider how you can make it the best experience for who you are. Ignore what magazines tell you to do. Your vacation should be about experiencing a new world and growing.
Check out the blog for more tips, guides, and travel trends.
