Planning a weekend trip in 2023 - key travel trends
So you’re just after the New Year celebration. Get your planner out and start charting your next trip around the world. It’s been a tricky two years and after the past year, we’ve actually seen the world of travel slowly opening back up again. The new year of travel promises a lot - from more personal itineraries and immersive experiences to wellness trips to travel that not only excites but protects the planet as we know it. 2023 we can’t wait to travel with you. Here are some trends that we wanted to share with you especially as you open up WKNDTRP and start planning a new weekend inside the app.
Booking habits
Travelers will opt for short term vacation rentals instead of large scale hotel chain stays because they feel it's more bang for their buck. As the cost of a luxury stay keeps rising, the value of booking a private property seems obvious given possibly the improved amenities, unique selling point in maybe the iconic or historic location, more space and of course the privacy factor. Short term rentals include Airbnbs, villas, boutique hotels and special privately owned establishments like castles.
They will splurge because they feel they need to compensate for the two years they have spent without travel and will travel no matter the cost if necessary.
However, it is not that travelers will not consider the budget at all. In 2023, travelers will more than ever be considering travel deals and book directly with the stay instead of going through a booking partner. They will also take part in loyalty programs if they see the value in it. In a way, travelers have become smarter and more prepared for the challenges they face when planning a trip. Interestingly enough, the accommodation providers, in this case the owners of the private establishments will also be affected by this sudden surge in demand and will require a hotel management app more than ever to efficiently run their business and tend to their growing customer base. Hence, mobile concierge apps like WKNDTRP will come in handy for these luxurious stays to ensure the quality of life of property owners who can still maintain a personal feel with their guests without engaging with guests 24/7 for basic Q&As about the property.
Conde Nast’s travel journalist Sarah Allard lends valuable insight to the changing nature of holiday itineraries thus far. In the past, travelers have struggled to travel at all with the pandemic and global economic crisis. But in the context of revenge travel in a post-pandemic world, there is a greater need to plan your weekend trips more detailedly, especially when the price point is higher. For those who never travel without an itinerary, itineraries have become much more education focused - if it is to acquire a particular skill such a style of cooking or understanding a country’s culture and learn about their history. For example, an itinerary that focuses on the traditional architecture of Japan not only takes travelers on a tour of the iconic buildings, stupas and temples but also allows them to engage with the legendary architects and ask questions about a building’s origins.
Hottest getaways
The type of destinations travelers are booking has also evolved with time. And the current aesthetic that is in high demand is vacations that promote relaxation. To nobody’s surprise, wellness destinations are still hot on the market right now as the global tourism industry slowly bounces back from an extended period of Covid-19 losses and the global inflation problem.
According to the most popular thought leaders in travel and tourism including but not limited to Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure and American Express Trending Destinations - these are the getaways that will trend in 2023.
Portugal
United Kingdom
Germany
France
New Mexico
Travel interests
Sustainable travel continues to gain momentum in 2023 with the few exceptions. Travelers still want to cut down on amenities and even luggage. However, the benefits of a city stay also call out to them from the no-frills holiday they are looking for. Let me explain. The eco-friendly low carbon footprint experiences of a bungalow or hut or yurt is a dream weekend trip in 2023.
Glamping is a vacation travelers love because they get to experience the back to nature aspect with high tech facilities like WIFI and professional holiday photography, sumptuous 5 star rooms, chef prepared meals and spa and immersive baths in bronze tubs overlooking the jungle and wetlands in close vicinity to the wild.
Another trend which continues on is the wellness retreats trend. As mentioned before, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the impetus to travel and have new experiences, specifically the need to embrace new cultures in new countries. Forecasts include wellness, spas, and even spiritual experiences and pilgrimages.
Conde Nast Traveler describe the phenomenon of wellness travel as that which benefits travelers at different levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs - especially in developing relationships (love and belongingness), expanding our knowledge of the world and creating memories (esteem) and of course spiritual aspect needed to become the best version of ourselves.Transformation retreats will be on the rise. Rising solo travel, meditation and yoga is part of it.
Weekend Trip is excited about another sub-section of travel in 2023. That is hobby-based travel. Hobby-based travel includes any and every trip travelers take with the sole notion of the novelty of that particular destination - the destination appeals to specific interests and hobbies they have and is sort of a “must-have” experience. Most of us underestimate the impact that Netflix has had on our lives but if we must be honest, television shows like Emily in Paris have affected the number of bookings to these idyllic filming locations in a phenomenon known as “set-jetting”. Instagram has also become a powerful driver of travel in recent times.
Hobby-based travel also includes artist-owned stays. The WKNDTRP app actually has a significant number of art hotels you can book today. Art deco hotels are special hotels that either house art galleries of historic or contemporary artists of our time or else incorporate art and creative mediums into the overall ambience and amenities. They are definitely not your usual hotel stay and go above and beyond to pique your creative interests. Here are a couple we love.
Wishing you happy travels this 2023. Get the WKNDTRP app. It will make your travels easy. We just added new getaways to the app - Munich and Buenos Aires - so be sure to check that out. Bon Voyage!