These Are the 5 Travel Trends That Will Influence 2020

What are the travel trends you’ll see in 2020?

Let me get out my crystal ball and take a look. 🔮

🙄

Okay, we can all laugh at this.

Because we know how difficult it is to predict trends — travel or otherwise.

But there are some trends that have been evolving over the past few years so I’m going to go with those.

Because my crystal ball is broken — and I don’t feel like going out a limb.

However, I do want to mention these trends because I think they’re all good ones — positive trends.

I am also going to end with a sneak peek at what my year in travel may look like.

Ready?

 

5 positive travel trends

DNA travel — Connecting with your ancestors

Over the past few years, many folks have had their DNA tested through companies such as Ancestry and 23 and Me.

And as folks have gotten their results, there has been a deepening interest in genealogy.

This in turn has lead to some folks wanting to travel to the country where their ancestors came from.

I applaud this.

Especially for Americans and Canadians as we are all really ‘mutts’ — which I say with all the love in the world.

But I know my family is German, Irish, English and maybe a bit of who-knows-what from Europe.

If you know where even one of your great-grandparents might come from, then by all means travel to that region or town.

I think Americans in particular don’t have that connection to the past the way so many Europeans do.

And I’m a huge fan of history — especially that personal history.

I hope this trend continues.

 

The Greta Thunberg affect — Thinking about your carbon footprint

Oh, little Greta!

She is the wee one that I admire so much.

Such passion, strength and conviction in one so young.

Greta has many travelers thinking about how they are traveling — their carbon footprint, the impact on the environment.

I know I’m pondering this more and more.

I believe more airlines, tour companies, hotels, train companies, cruise lines — anyone in the travel industry — will begin to look at environmental impact.

Many companies already are.

And even countries are beginning to implement strategies and plans to be kinder to Mother Earth.

We need this to happen sooner versus later.

Keep your eyes on wee Greta!

 

Avoiding the crowds — Traveling off season or shoulder season

Traveling in shoulder season has always been what I’ve tried to do as much as possible.

Not that I don’t end up being somewhere in high season now and again.

I’m about to make my first trip to Europe in the off season — visiting Paris for a week later this month.

And I can’t wait to see this city without crowds.

Thankfully, more people are traveling in the off season or at least the shoulder seasons.

By visiting in these off peak times, you can help alleviate over crowding at popular destinations and reduce the environmental impact.

Plus it’s typically less expensive.

I am a huge fan of this trend.

 

Digging deeper — Visiting off the tourist track destinations

If I could pick a favorite travel trend — and I can because, well, why not — this would be it.

I love seeing travelers visit destinations that aren’t the usual places.

It warms my heart when someone tells me they didn’t drive around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland but instead did the Ring of Beara.

Here’s the thing: no matter where you go in [insert name of country here], you’re still going to have visited that country.

Just because you haven’t seen the Roman Colosseum in Rome doesn’t mean you haven’t been to Rome.

Just because you haven’t kissed the Blarney Stone or seen the Cliffs of Moher doesn’t mean you haven’t been to Ireland.

You’ve just experienced your Ireland or your Rome or your Germany or your Spain.

There are so many amazing places on this planet.

And yes, the ones that get the attention are pretty special.

But they’re not the only ones in that country or region or city.

There are so many magnificent spots on this globe that don’t get the social media love.

That doesn’t make them any less appealing.

In fact, I think it makes them more so.

Because you can go to these lesser-visited destinations and not have to share them with hundreds of your friends.

So I hope this travel trend keeps growing.

And I plan to continue my work on finding some cool, off the beaten path spots for you to experience.

You’re welcome! 😉

 

Women rock — Female travel

The last of the 2020 travel trends is the continued rise of female travelers.

Women are traveling more and more — on their own and in groups.

There are a lot of female centric tour companies focusing on bringing like-minded women together for a trip — adventure, education, wellness.

And many of these companies are also striving to work with women in the places they are traveling to.

It’s a big estrogen-filled love fest.

But I get it.

I’m a huge fan of supporting businesses run by women.

And I think there’s something to women coming together to travel without men around.

The dynamics are different and women tend to be good at empowering other women.

And for solo females, like myself?

Solo female travel also continues to grow.

About 84% of solo travelers are women.

Surprisingly, it’s older women — think Baby Boomer generation — who are traveling solo the most.

As a Gen X solo female traveler, I find traveling alone to be so empowering.

I do what I want, when I want.

It has made me more confident and taught me a LOT about myself.

So if you are a woman, get out there and travel.

Alone or with a group of like-minded ladies.

 

Where I’m going in 2020

I definitely need to get my crystal ball 🔮 fixed because I don’t have a plan yet!

I know.

So not like me.

Other than my upcoming week in Paris, I’ve got nothing.

Well, okay.

Not nothing.

In fact I have lots of somethings.

That’s the problem.

So here are some ideas for where I’ll travel in 2020.

 

Paris

As I mentioned, I’m about to travel to Paris for a week.

It may be a bit crazy with all the strikes and demonstrations but who knows.

Paris may be quite interesting at a time like this.

My plan is to enjoy the museums without crowds and to have a few nice meals — and some tasty vino!

I’m excited to go back to this city — one of the cities I really love.

 

Ireland 🇮🇪

Ireland is always a good idea.

Oh.

Wait.

That’s what we say about Paris.

Well, I’m saying it about Ireland because it’s true.

Recently some travel clients traveled to Ireland.

And about a month after they returned I got a short text from one of them saying:

Well I think returning to Ireland is an absolute must. I cannot stop looking at pictures I took, IG accounts, etc. I reminisce daily. 🥰

Yup.

I understand.

Ireland has a way of getting to you.

It grabs your heart.

And tugs at your soul.

So, yes, a trip to Ireland is most likely going to happen in 2020.

Beside, I have some more Slice Of guides I want to write and I need to revisit some destinations so I can give you the best information possible.

A trip to Ireland in the name of research?

I like it.

 

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

In 2017 I made my first and only trip to Scotland.

And I fell in love.

I’ve been longing to return so I am about 90% sure it will happen in 2020.

I’d love to travel to the far Northwest again, digging deeper.

Checking out some of the islands is also high on my list — Lewis & Harris, Islay, Arran, Orkneys and maybe even the Shetlands.

It’s time to learn more about this gorgeous country — to explore more mountains and moors, visit more towns and taste more whisky.

In the name of research, of course! 😉

 

Dolomites, Italy 🇮🇹

As much as I love Ireland, the Dolomites of Italy are my one true love.

I think if I had to spend the rest of my life in one part of the world, this would be it.

The peaks are stunning.

The towns are charming.

There’s good food and wine.

And warm and welcoming people.

I told Marco at Hotel Olympia in San Vigilio di Marebbe that I would return in 2020.

I plan to keep that promise.

Being in this area in autumn would be ideal.

I’d love to return to Castelrotto and hike in Alpe di Siusi again.

And I have always wanted to see Alpe di Siusi under a blanket of snow.

We’ll see…

 

Alps, France 🇫🇷

Yes.

More mountains! 🏔

Chamonix and the area around has been high on my list for the past few years.

So I’m putting the French Alps on my 2020 list.

I’d love to spend some time here in summer or early autumn — even just a few days.

I would love to explore the trails and wander the towns.

Fingers crossed this happens in 2020.

 

Christmas Markets, Germany 🇩🇪

For a new country, I’d love to visit Germany and specifically in early December as the Christmas markets get into full swing.

I’d also love to travel to the Black Forest — a mountainous, forested national park in the Southwest — at this time of year.

I want to visit the Black Forest. Period.

But traveling to this part of Germany and seeing the small town Christmas markets might be the perfect blend.

Again, it’s an idea.

Christmas markets in Germany are very, very high on my list so I’m feeling like this is going to happen.

Where in Germany is yet to be determined.

But I like the idea of the Black Forest region.

 

Others?

I would travel to most anywhere in Europe.

Norway remains high on my list.

The Alentejo region of Portugal is gaining ground.

All of Croatia.

Back to Slovenia which I just love, love, love.

A return trip to the Andalucía region of Spain.

The Peloponnese region of Greece — plus a few off the tourist track Greek Islands.

The Swiss Alps.

And the Alps of Austria — the hills are alive, with the sound of music!

When it comes to travel trends — which countries to visit — I let the Universe guide me.

 

What are the travel trends you are watching?

And where will you travel to in 2020?

Drop your comments below or send me an email!