Look for These 4 Top Travel Trends in 2025, According to a Global Travel Survey

Travelers will be shopping — but not for souvenirs

Searching for local products travelers saw on social media could be a top 2025 travel trend. Photo: dekitateyo/Shutterstock

According to the study, shopping will be big in 2025. But rather than purchasing typical souvenirs, the study predicts that a big 2025 travel trend will be hunting for unique local goods, often driven by viral recommendations from platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Part of that may include visiting the types of shops tourists normally don’t go to, such as grocery stores or pharmacies, to buy items they can’t easily get back home, whether that’s rare bourbon in Japan, Dubai chocolates, or Michoacán mezcal.

According to respondents, 44 percent of travelers shop for local food and drink when they travel, and 39 percent make it a point to visit grocery stores while on vacation. Part of this is driven by an awareness of niche and local products thanks to social media, but it could also reflect what other travel surveys have found: Travelers are keen to make their tourism dollars matter and appreciate spending money at small businesses and locally-owned restaurants and shops, rather than the usual tourist stores and companies.

Travelers have done a 180 on all-inclusive hotels

All-inclusives are growing in popularity, partially for travelers who want an easy, stress-free trip. Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock

The “Unpack ’25” report highlights an evolving perspective on all-inclusive resorts. Once dismissed as predictable and uninspiring, all-inclusive hotels are experiencing a resurgence, largely thanks to a rebranding effort that caters to modern tastes and preferences. This trend, referred to as the “All-Inclusive Era,” shows that Gen-Z is especially drawn to all-inclusives, with 42 percent of respondents indicating they prefer the all-inclusive model due to its convenience and perceived luxury.

In the 1980s and 1990s, all-inclusive resorts often carried a reputation for being inauthentic and offering somewhat cookie-cutter experiences. All-inclusive resorts were typically associated with budget-conscious travelers who wanted a hassle-free vacation in the sun, but were willing to compromise on food, quality, and cultural experiences. But today’s all-inclusive resorts are no longer limited to generic offerings, and now include elevated experiences ranging from celebrity-chef-owned restaurants to wellness activities, unlimited scuba diving, and destination-based excursions that connect visitors with local cultures. Google trends shows that interest in all-inclusives has more than doubled in the last few years, and major brands like Hilton and Marriott are also investing in the all-inclusive sector.

Part of the reasons all-inclusives are likely to be a 2025 travel trend is the ease of finding them on social media, with #allinclusive bringing up more than 2 million results on Instagram and thousands of videos on TikTok bearing the hashtag with millions of views each. The report notes that the lack of planning stress (41 percent) and a sense of luxury (38 percent) are significant factors driving the popularity of all-inclusive vacations.

Pre-packaged vacations will be big in 2025

Pre-packaged vacations could be a major 2025 travel trend. Photo: Virojt Changyencham/Shutterstock

The Unpack ’25 report predicts that “one-click trips” — also known as packaged vacations — will be a top 2025 travel trend. Usually, the main draw is eliminating the complexity that accompanies travel planning, appealing to those who prefer convenience over customization.

Historically, packaged vacations surged in popularity during the mid-20th century. Companies like Thomas Cook pioneered pre-planned travel experiences, bundling flights, accommodations, and activities. In the 1960s and 1970s, they became quite popular with middle-class travelers who sought affordable, reliable experiences. But as online booking tools grew in the early 2000s, trip planning became easier from afar, allowing most travelers to plan their own trips. Prepackaged vacations (and professions who specialized in them, such as travel agents), fell out of favor.

The 2025 revival of packaged vacation concepts, however, has a digital twist: Social media influences travel decisions, from where visitors want to go to what types of activities are included in the package. And today’s vacation packages don’t involve traveling with camera-toting families for hours on end in a tourist bus. More and more packaged vacations include customizable experiences, like the ability to choose your own hotel or decide each day how active you want to be (or not). Packaged vacations are also readily available for customers to book directly via websites like Expedia or Viator, making finding a suitable trip easier than it’s ever been.

Goodbye, FOMO, and hello, JOMO

JOMO is all about solitude and personal wellness. Photo: Chay_Tea/Shutterstock

Say goodbye to feeling bad when you miss out on something fun, and say hello to unscheduled days and the chance to ignore your friends back home. The report thinks the search for  JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) will drive travel decisions in 2025, with a focus on finding quiet, secluded environments.

The report showed that 62 percent of travelers find that embracing JOMO helps reduces stress and reconnect with loved ones, underscoring a trend toward wellness and mental resets on vacation, rather than packing as much as possible into a trip. It reflects a shift in travel priorities, focusing less on social validation and more on personal fulfillment and mindful travel experiences. That means accommodations options like bungalows on remote beaches and islands, lakeside lodges, and forested retreats where visitors can unwind are likely to be more popular than ever in 2025. FOMO will be a thing of the past.

The report was sponsored by Expedia Group, which owns websites like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, and VRBO. The survey queried more than 25,000 travelers from 19 countries who plan to travel within the next three years. Though the survey didn’t share the exact methodology for reaching travelers or conducting the surveys, it did note that it was executed by Talker Research, which runs studies per international accepted market research guidelines.