Travel tips to inspire your next journey

If you’re ready to hit the road (or the skies) in 2025, you’re not alone. According to Fidelity National Financial, a staggering 92% of Americans plan to travel this year. Americans say we want to travel more this year because we’re making up for lost time when Covid prevented travel, we have more time now, and we want a more immersive travel experience. Whether you’re after relaxation, adventure, or reuniting with loved ones, the options are more exciting than ever.

Travel trends

What’s new in travel for 2025? According to National Geographic, a lot.

Destination dupes

Want a similar experience to a trendy location but at a lower price? Consider swapping:

• Curacao for St. Martin (Soak up the sun and culture, not the prices.)
• Santorini for Paros, Greece (Enjoy a beautiful coastline with fewer tourists.)
• Hoi An, Vietnam for Kyoto, Japan (Retain charm, culture, and cuisine.)

Visit https://www.moneylion.com/learn/travel-dupes/ for more ideas.

Frontier tourism: the call of the wild

Travelers are seeking wide-open spaces and rustic experiences like horseback riding, sleeping under the stars, and campfire cooking. Whether it’s Montana, Patagonia, or the Australian Outback, remote locations are on the rise.

Accommodations: the future of staying in

• Subscription-Based Hotels: Just like streaming services, hotels are offering subscriptions for perks like discounts on food and late checkouts.
• Luxury Extras: Personalized monogrammed pillows, ski jackets, and champagne at check-in . . .Why not?

Transportation: getting there in style (or on a budget)

• Budget Long-Haul Flights: More travelers are opting for no-frills international flights to save money.
• Luxury Train Travel: Skip the airport hassle and travel by rail instead—save on a hotel by booking a private sleeper cabin.

Tech & travel: AI, TikTok & digital detoxing

• AI-Powered Itineraries: Let AI plan your trip based on your interests.
  TikTok as a Travel Guide: Viral videos are influencing travel trends more than ever.
  Digital Detox Getaways: Disconnect from devices at retreats designed to help you unplug.

Where to go: top destinations for 2025

Choosing your destination depends on your reason for travel. According to a Hilton Hotels report “Seven in 10 global travelers enjoy being active when they travel, with one in five leisure travelers planning outdoor adventures in 2025. One in four leisure travelers is planning to explore the world and different cultures in 2025, leaning into the Slow Travel trend—the act of traveling and immersing yourself into a destination for an extended time as a local to fully experience the culture.”

Keeping this in mind, Forbes suggests:

• Brisbane, Australia – Museums, beaches, and a lively nightlife
• Brittany, France – culture, scenery, castles
• Franschhoek, South Africa – A paradise for food and wine lovers
• Koh Samui, Thailand–   Jungle, Beaches and where “White Lotus”, season 3 filmed
• Moab, Utah – Perfect for hiking, biking, and outdoor adventures
• Nikko, Japan – Temples, waterfalls, and scenic hikes
• Macau, China – The “Las Vegas of the East” with a foodie twist
• Paros, Greece – Coastline full of beaches and coves.
• Sao Paulo, Brazil – Cultural offerings include museums, street art, fashion

Forbes recommendations include lodging recommendations.

AAA adds a few more destinations, and their site suggests top sights and activities for each location.

• Canada – Outdoors—hiking, kayaking, glaciers
• New Zealand – Vast landscapes
• Turks & Caicos – Uncrowded beaches
• Costa Rica – nature wonderland, animals
• Maldives – coral reefs
• Finland – Northern Lights

Travel & Leisure groups destinations by what travelers are seeking and they make some suggestions for activities, lodging, and dining.

Seeking Culture? Explore Budapest, Hungary; Bukhara, Uzbekistan; Charleston, South Carolina; Inverness, Scotland; Lisbon, Portugal; Luxor, Egypt, Thailand; or the Philippines.

Want to get in touch with nature? Visit Anchorage, Alaska; Bhutan; Deer Valley, Utah (snow);Fiji; Huaraz, Peru (glacial lakes, archaeological sites, horseback riding, trekking); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil (dunes, lagoons, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, kitesurfing, stargazing); or Yukon, Canada.

Calling all foodies. Harken to Colorado (Riesling grapes like cool weather); Crete, Greece; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; Slovenia (wine); Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico (wine); or Priorat, Spain.

For tranquil or energizing moments on the water investigate the Apostle Islands; Wisconsin (boating, fishing, camping), Barbados; the French Riviera; Iceland (via cruise); Nova Scotia, Canada; Tasmania, Australia; or Trieste, Italy.

Put your toes in the sand in Costalegre, Mexico; Grenada; Sanibel Island, Florida; Santa Monica, California; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; or Turks & Caicos.

Adventure seekers will enjoy Greenland; Kumaon, India; Nicaragua; Madagascar; or Osaka, Japan.

Cruise travel: worth it or not?

AAA reports 19 million Americans will cruise in 2025, a 4.5% increase from 2024.

Where are Americans cruising?

• 72% of U.S. cruise passengers are heading to the Caribbean
• 6% are taking cruises to Alaska
• 5% will cruise in the Mediterranean

While some travelers say rising costs for cruises are a turn off when they don’t feel they’re getting more in exchange, Frommer’s reports otherwise. They say cruise lines are taking measures to make trips more enjoyable, like longer stays in each port, and less crowded ships. None of these benefits come cheap, but maybe a higher price tag ensures a more relaxing experience?

Relocating abroad: where to live for the next few years

Want to make your adventure permanent? CNN Travel shares the following top expat destinations. Each comes with its pros and cons.

• Mexico – Affordable but safety concerns exist
• Spain – Great healthcare, dining, and nightlife options, as well as acceptance of an LGBTQ lifestyle, but limited career growth and an adjusted daily schedule due to siesta time and a later dinner time
• Netherlands – Balanced lifestyle and acceptance of LGBTQ lifestyle, but expensive, with a high-income tax rate (49.5%) on salaries over $81,000. Additionally, the weather is a turn off for some when it is grey, chilly, and rainy
• Germany – Strong job market, healthcare, and expat community, but bureaucratic hurdles
• Costa Rica – A nature-lover’s paradise with tax incentives, but the slower pace is too slow for some. Others are uncomfortable that the area is subject to earthquakes and tsunamis and home to 6 active volcanoes
• Portugal – Safe and affordable, but Americans not as welcome in some areas like Lisbon because locals are being forced out due to rising real estate prices
• Panama – Warm weather, easy access to North and South America, offers a lifestyle with a mix of relaxation and activity. Establishing residency only requires a visit once every 2 years, but requires an investment of $300,000 that must be held for at least 5 years and there’s no tax treaty with the U.S. This means claiming U.S. earnings for foreign income is difficult
• Italy – Lots of culture, great food and wine, good healthcare, welcoming to expats, but employment options aren’t great and obtaining housing is difficult
• France – Universal healthcare, stable economy, good work life balance including many public holidays, but income and social taxes up to 45%
• Singapore – Thriving job market, excellent healthcare and transportation system, and fine dining, but expensive and far from U.S.
• Portugal – Affordable, mild weather, good healthcare, and safe, but Americans not as welcome in some areas like Lisbon because locals are being forced out due to rising real estate prices

Travel smarter: shoulder season is the secret

A British Airways Holiday survey found that 45% of travelers plan to avoid peak seasons, opting instead for shoulder seasons when destinations are still enjoyable but less expensive.

• North & South America, Europe, Australia & New Zealand: March–May & September–November
• Caribbean: May–June & September–November
• Asia: Varies by country, but typically spring and fall offer the best balance
• Africa: April–May & September–October

Affording your travels

CNBC says international travel prices are down 4%, while domestic costs are up 12%.

Do these things to find savings:

• Be flexible with your travel dates for better deals.
• Use alerts and travel points to save.

Solo travel & group trips

If you’re traveling alone, but looking for safety or platonic companionship, that’s available too. There are groups for women only, both men and women, travelers over the age of 50, and travelers from 18-100. Women-focused travel groups include the Solo Female Traveler Network and Women Traveling Together. Other groups include The Good Life Abroad, Road Scholar, Senior Travel Buddies and Trip Together. A word of advice: Before booking, look at independent reviews for each company. And make sure they’re recent. Reviews vary over time due to things like changes in management and processes. Make sure you’re looking at recent data. Also, make sure you check out each company’s offerings. They’re not all the same. Choose a provider that aligns with your wants.

Where NOT to go.

Speaking of safety, there are several destinations the state department suggests avoiding. Currently, those include Afghanistan, Burma, Belarus, South Sudan, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Russia, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, and the Dominican Republic of the Congo.

The site’s other categories include “Reconsider Travel”, “Exercise Increased Precautions”, and “Exercise Normal Precautions”.

For safety, it’s a good idea to consult the site before making travel arrangements.

Final travel tips

• Real ID Reminder: Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a REAL ID to fly domestically in the U.S.
• Check out AAA’s handy list for what to do after booking a trip. It’s specific to cruising, but really pertains to other travel too.

Whatever’s drawing you toward travel, 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling year. Where will your journey take you?