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Holiday Vacations guided tours include airfare from more than 100 conveniently located U.S. airports, great hotels, delightful meals and interesting sights. Our expert Tour Directors are quite simply the best in the industry. They handle all travel details to ensure that your vacation is happy and carefree.

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" London, Normandy, Paris was a fabulous trip, especially the year of the 75th anniversary of D-Day! That was our 7th trip with Holiday Vacations. Loved every one of them. The national parks are well worth seeing, as were Hawaii and Cuba. "

– Judy Kelly D. - Via Facebook

" My third trip with HV was to Austria and Germany in 2014. This included the bucket list of experiencing OKTOBERFEST. Looks like I’m doing a beer commercial with the Alps as a backdrop. Also notice my pinkie extended. This is due to 2 years of charm school (REALLY). Thank you HV for all the amazing memories. "

– Katie H. - Via Facebook

" Jackson Hole, WY while on the Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons trip last year. We just completed our 6th trip with Holiday Vacations last month and are now discussing which tour we will take next. Only way we wish to travel and Holiday Vacations tours are the best! "

– Elaine G. - Via Facebook

" Athens, Greece at the Parthenon. My first trip. Everything about it was great! "

– Yvonne C. - Via Facebook

" October 2019 trip to Italy—Venice, Florence and Rome. This was taken in front of the Coliseum in Rome. Such a fantastic, memorable trip! Looking forward to our next adventure with Holiday when we go to Iceland in October. "

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Activity levels.

Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.

Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

Very Active

Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

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Vacation packages can save a lot on your 2024 vacation, as discounts may be available when booking multiple aspects of your vacation at once, such as the hotel and the flight. Flights and hotel packages can include a car rental at your destination. Check our package deal today on Expedia!

How much do vacation packages cost?

The exact cost of a vacation package varies based on various factors such as destination, accommodation quality, flight class, and even the time of year you visit. The type of vacation you embark on can also affect cost with options like family packages and all-inclusive packages . You can search for your specific price range, too, with plenty of vacations under $1,000 , for example. 

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If you're looking to save, be sure to set filters for any budget limitations you may have in your search. Additionally, you can sort by price to automatically put the cheapest options first in your search results. Weekend getaway packages can be relatively inexpensive as well if you are looking for cheap getaways. 

How to vacation on a budget?

Budget-friendly travel is easy when you book with Expedia, as we can help you keep prices low via search filters, but that's not all. There are general trends to keep in mind regarding prices, such as travel packages generally being cheaper during the off-season of your vacation destination. Additionally, the higher the quality amenities you opt for, the higher the price typically is.

How to get great vacation deals?

Vacation deals are common with Expedia, as we offer plenty of discounts on great packages, with packages already being a deal compared to booking hotels and flights separately.

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Where should I go on vacation?

Booking a Hawaii vacation package is especially popular with all sorts of travelers, whether it's families or couples, and Disney World packages have much to offer for families. Consider the kind of vacation you're looking for to determine the perfect destination. 

What are some of the best vacation spots?

Top vacation spots include cheap Caribbean vacations and European vacation packages . With rich culture, history, and stunning natural beauty, a vacation package to these destinations can provide an unforgettable adventure. 

Where to go on a vacation in the US?

Staying in the US still offers easy access to great vacation places with Vegas packages and a Grand Canyon vacation being popular choices among other options. Whether you’re seeking the thrills of the Vegas Strip or the majestic views of the Grand Canyon, browse your options today.  

Where to go on vacation on a budget?

Cheap vacation ideas can still take you to a variety of great cheap vacation destinations, including Yellowstone vacations and Glacier National Park vacations . Parks and outdoor experiences tend to be free, so national park vacations are excellent for a budget-friendly trip. 

What are some great all-inclusive vacation packages?

All-inclusive vacations to the Bahamas and all-inclusive vacations to Cancun are some of the best options available, putting you in a Caribbean paradise. However, all-inclusive vacations are more varied than you might think, with worldwide options. 

What are the best destinations for a family vacation?

Traveling with kids means you'll need to find fun for the whole family, and Orlando vacation packages can put you and your little ones in the world's theme park capital. Of course, a vacation package to Anaheim offers a similar experience on the West coast. 

Where should I go on vacation this summer?

If you're looking to embrace the season, head to the beach with a summer vacation package to Destin . Of course, you may be more interested in escaping the heat with something like a vacation package to Vancouver . 

How to find cheap beach vacations?

In your search, you can apply search filters for beach trip packages and sort your results by price to see the cheap vacation options first. With those standards, you can find amazing cheap trips with beach vacation packages like vacation packages to Panama City and vacation packages to Myrtle Beach . 

What are some great couples' vacations?

Traveling with your partner means a more romantic adventure, which is easy when you book vacation packages to Honolulu . However, you can always opt for the classics and get a vacation package to Paris . Even a simple 3-day cheap getaway can be suitable. 

What are the best destinations for a luxury vacation?

One of the best destinations for luxury is a Las Vegas vacation package , as the city was essentially designed to make visitors feel luxurious. Of course, a Lake Tahoe vacation package can be just as fulfilling as a more outdoor-oriented experience. Golf vacations also tend to be quite elegant. 

How to find great Christmas vacation packages?

To find an excellent package for a Christmas vacation, simply put your travel dates into the search and discover what's available. Vacation packages to New York and vacation packages to Chicago are trendy around Christmas. 

Where to get ski vacation packages?

Ski vacation packages are readily available on Expedia, including vacation packages to Aspen , vacation packages to Vail , and packages to other notable ski resorts. Check out the deals now and book your next ski vacation today.  

Can I cancel my vacation package with Expedia?

Yes, you can cancel your vacation package via your itinerary page on Expedia or by contacting customer service. Remember that some packages are fully refundable, but the details vary based on each unique booking. A fully refundable package may depend on how far out from the travel dates you're canceling and what airline you are travelling with.

Why should I book my vacation package with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes it easy to plan your entire vacation in advance. Vacation packages with airfare included can also feature a rental car and even activities in some cases, with discounts typically coming with booking more than one aspect of your trip at a time. One Key members will earn  OneKeyCash  with every eligible booking that you can use to save on future eligible bookings. Membership is free, sign up today!

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• Travel Tips

15 Holiday Travel Tips for a Less Stressful Festive Season

These holiday travel tips will help you navigate the most wonderful (and hectic) time of year.

picture alliance/Getty Images

Traveling during the holidays may bring you joy, but it's not without its challenges. It usually means you’re off to see your loved ones or heading to the vacation destination of your dreams to end the year right. But so are millions of other people, which can make for a rather stressful experience in airports and train stations or on the road.

Along with the crowds (not to mention trying to book flights during one of the most popular travel periods), other potential complications include transporting gifts and food and dealing with bad weather. But fear not — we’re here to help. Here are 15 tips that will help you navigate the intricacies of holiday travel, so you can spend less time worrying and more time celebrating.

China News Service/Getty Images

Set price alerts and book flights early.

If you’re planning to fly for the holiday season, it's best to book your tickets as early as possible. As  Travel + Leisure previously reported , the prime time to book flights for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is typically in September. If you're still waiting to score the best deal, set up price alerts on sites like  Skyscanner , then click “buy” when the price is right for you.

Reserve your rental car ahead of time.

Car rental prices can fluctuate a lot. For this reason, it's smart to reserve your vehicle early (preferably with a company that allows free cancellations) and keep your eye on any price drops. If you're looking to save money, explore opportunities to get a discount through frequent flier and membership programs. You can also lower your bill by renting a car from a non-airport location, opting for a smaller or manual transmission vehicle, and forgoing pricey add-ons like GPS navigation and satellite radio systems.

Be flexible on dates (and airports).

If you have some flexibility on when you travel, expand your search to include a few days either side of your ideal departure and return dates. Certain days around the holidays, such as the Sunday after Thanksgiving , are notoriously busy, so picking a less crowded day to fly can help you save big on airfare. Another way to reduce costs when flying? Choosing to fly out of a large airport with more flights at competitive prices.  According to travel booking site Going.com , big hubs like Los Angeles International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked among the best for scoring a deal.

Consider less-visited destinations.

If you’re visiting family or friends, you can’t change where they live, so ignore this tip. However, if you’re thinking of setting off on vacation, try broadening your horizons. Looking for some fun in the sun over the holidays? Rather than going to ultra-popular destinations like Cabo, try alternative locations with fewer crowds and potentially more affordable options. For example, you could head to the equally alluring Todos Santos , just an hour's drive from Cabo San Lucas. There, you’ll find a slower pace in a town with more bohemian flair, and plenty of vacation rental options for you and your crew to keep costs down. The same goes for winter ski destinations. Forgo the big ski mountains for lesser-visited spots that may not come with all the bells and whistles but still have all the powder stashes you’re after.

Book with points.

The holidays are the ideal time to  use those points  you’ve been racking up all year long on your credit card. And we know you’ve likely got points waiting because, according to a rather shocking Lending Tree study , a whopping 70 percent of U.S. rewards credit card holders have unused rewards in the form of either cash back, points, or miles. Note that some credit cards and loyalty programs may have blackout dates or other restrictions around the holidays, so check your policy in advance.

Choose direct flights.

Winter is an unpredictable season that comes with snowstorms and delays. Try to always book direct flights to lessen your chances of missing a connection along the way. And if you’re in close enough proximity to your destination, forgo planes altogether and opt for a train or bus instead. 

Splurge on lounge access.

Since airports are generally busier during the holidays, you'll want to arrive at least two hours before your flight. Rather than trying to find a seat in the crowd while waiting to board, use this as your excuse to splurge on entry to an exclusive lounge. First-class flights usually include lounge access, but those in economy can often upgrade, purchase a pass, or  check their credit card  to see if it's an included perk. Better yet, try  Priority Pass , a yearly service that can help you access some of the  best airport lounges . 

Pack gifts in your carry-on.

Losing a checked bag, to put it bluntly, sucks. Now, imagine losing a checked bag filled with all the gifts you so diligently purchased for your nieces, nephews, aunts, grandparents, and more. To safeguard against this, pack your presents in your carry-on. Even better, if you're able to travel light, avoid checking a bag altogether. That way, you'll reduce your chances of losing anything along the way. Plus, you'll be able to leave the airport faster because you won’t have to wait forever at the baggage carousel.

Know the rules about flying with holiday items.

If you're traveling with gifts, leave them unwrapped. Otherwise, if your wrapped gift raises any red flags with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), they will be forced to unwrap it at security, undoing all your hard work. You could also avoid this hassle by shipping your gifts ahead of time. You'll also want to be cautious when flying with food items since some liquids, such as large quantities of gravy or cranberry sauce, aren't allowed in your carry-on. Consult the " What Can I Bring? " section of the TSA website and pack your solid food items in clear containers for easy inspection at security.

Have a backup plan in case things go wrong.

It’s Murphy’s Law: Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That’s why it’s a good idea to have backups on backups when it comes to holiday travel. This starts with opting in for travel insurance, which can be bought through airlines or various providers. Check with your credit card provider first to see if it’s already included in your purchase. If not, you'll want to look at all the options — including “cancel for any reason” policies and standard options that cover everything from canceled flights to lost baggage — to find the one that fits your needs.

Next, try to create an alternate route to your destination in case your flight gets canceled. See how far the drive is, check bus and train routes, or have an entirely different plan B option for your holiday celebration (like a staycation) so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

If you’re driving, be sure to get a tune-up.

Driving in the winter can be just as stressful as flying. Not only do you have to think about the various weather patterns, but you also have to contend with millions of others on the road. And the last thing you need is your vehicle breaking down at an inopportune time. Get a quick tune-up before setting off for your holiday trip.

Make use of all the apps.

You know what’s great about living in the 21st century? All. The. Apps. This holiday season, use every app in your phone’s arsenal — from apps for finding last-minute flights and hotels to your favorite streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, HBO, etc.), along with map apps to keep you on track. Download movies, add your flight info to your phone’s wallet, and keep directions handy so you’ll be prepared for everything and stay entertained even on long-haul flights.

Check the opening hours at your destination’s attractions.

You’re not the only one on holiday break. So are hospitality and attraction workers. Before heading off to your must-see destinations, take note of holiday hours. Businesses will often have condensed hours or closed days to ensure their staff gets time off, too. 

Make reservations at all the restaurants you plan to visit.

We’ve said it before and we'll say it again: Traveling during the holidays requires planning. That applies to restaurants, too. Have a spot you’re dying to try? Make reservations for the holiday season so you have a guaranteed place to eat. 

Be ready to tackle stress and spread joy instead.

Hopefully, all that preparation will help keep you calm while traveling this holiday season. If you need a little help relaxing, try downloading a few meditation apps, such as Headspace or Calm , to use during your journey. This way, you can breathe through any stress and anxiety and focus on staying positive for yourself, your family, and all your fellow travelers just trying to get to their destinations. 

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As U.S. Reopening Approaches, Travelers Take Their Marks

The end of the U.S. ban on international visitors has kicked off a surge in travel both foreign and domestic. Here’s what to expect for the holiday season and beyond.

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By Concepción de León

When the Biden administration announced that vaccinated foreign travelers would be allowed to enter the United States starting Nov. 8, it was as though a starting gun had been fired.

Skyscanner , a travel booking site, saw an 800 percent spike in bookings the day after the announcement. In the week after the administration confirmed the date travelers could arrive, Expedia , the online booking site, saw a 28 percent increase in searches for U.S. hotels from Britain and a 24 percent increase from France.

And not only international tourism was given a boost. Experts said that the U.S. reopening signaled to American travelers that they could leave their homes this coming holiday season , too. Searches for outbound international travel on the booking application Hopper, for instance, have increased by 24 percent since the announcement, the highest uptick since the spring.

“There’s just something about the fact that we’re lifting our borders that changes the perception of travel right now and makes people much more comfortable and confident in doing so,” said Misty Belles, a spokeswoman for Virtuoso , a network of luxury travel agencies and advisers.

Though the travel industry continues to face staffing and regulation challenges, the process of traveling is becoming smoother. Coronavirus tests are easier to book, and the process for checking documents at airports has been streamlined. But most important, travelers are becoming accustomed to the uncertainty, planning for rather than dreading it. If you’re traveling this holiday season, here’s what to expect.

Start planning now.

Traveling during the pandemic requires both long- and short-term planning to secure flights and accommodations while leaving room for last-minute changes in regulations, flight schedules or coronavirus infection rates.

Travelers are either “booking for tomorrow or they’re booking for next year,” Ms. Belles said, adding that many travelers “want to get away, but they’re kind of pushing it to the last minute just to make sure nothing changes.”

Waiting can be expensive, as prices have increased across the industry and may continue to do so as international travel rebounds, Ms. Belles said. Travel agents also say that many top resorts, such as Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico; the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii; and The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., are booked for the holiday season, and that those who wait, particularly families with children, will have a smaller selection of places to stay. The app Hopper estimated that domestic airfare over Christmas would likely match 2019 prices, while international airfare is currently cheaper but likely to increase by December.

Still, Willis Orlando, a travel expert at Scott’s Cheap Flights , a service that tracks and emails flight deals to subscribers, said that travelers have an opportunity to snag low fares now, particularly on international flights, as airlines continue to scramble to match supply with demand, which has fluctuated according to travelers’ sentiments about the virus or announcements of country reopenings.

“It’s not going to be long-lived,” Mr. Orlando said. “I think once the rest of the world opens up, those planes will get back to flying the old high-demand routes, but for now, it’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Be prepared to adapt.

Ariel Vinson, 31, a digital content manager for a consumer packaged goods company in San Diego, went to Alaska at the beginning of October. It was her second trip there this year, and she is contemplating moving there.

But her trip was extended when she got Covid-19 a week in. She ended up having to stay an additional week, before flying home on Oct. 24.

“That was a wake-up call for me,” she said. “I don’t think it’s going to stop me from traveling, but I think it’ll make me think about my behaviors during travel,” such as masking outdoors or being more cautious when interacting with strangers, which she had become more comfortable with since getting vaccinated this spring.

Sandra Torres, 32, who manages vendors at a biotech start-up in the Chicago area, said that the couple of times she had traveled by air this year, “the flights themselves were changed multiple times.” A coming November trip to Hawaii, booked in the spring, was changed a month out, with one leg ultimately canceled. She had to rebook with another airline. A planned birthday trip to Tokyo, in February 2022, was recently canceled by the airline.

“It does make it harder to plan things,” Ms. Torres said. “I’ve learned to be more flexible, to be more open. Even if you book things ahead of time, you might still have to change them.”

She added that she’s learned to “have more of a cushion, both financially and just around logistics and departure times.”

You may experience limited services.

The experience of travel continues to be affected by staffing and other challenges. Your hotel’s restaurant may be closed, for instance, and daily room cleaning is only available upon request in many places.

“That part of the business requires a lot more staffing than just the standard hotel operations,” Chip Rogers, the president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association , said of hotel restaurants. “That’s where hotels are having to cut back, because they just don’t have enough people.”

Rental cars remain in short supply, and prices are high, in some cases double or triple prepandemic rates. Many concessions and businesses in airports are still closed, and airlines have canceled hundreds of flights in the last several months, including recent cancellations by Southwest Airlines and American Airlines .

As a result, customer satisfaction has dropped in both the rental car and airport industries, according to recent studies by the data and analytics firm J.D. Power.

Martina Johnson, 35, and her husband, Leslie, 40, who work in marketing and digital advertising in the greater New York City area and document their travels on social media , are planning to spend a couple of weeks visiting family in the Midwest leading up to Thanksgiving .

But they decided to drive there rather than rent a car, because the prices were prohibitive. In the past, Ms. Johnson said, they paid $50 to $75 for a weekend car rental, while the price now would be closer to $300. For two weeks, the price would have been nearly $2,000.

“The price of rental cars is ridiculous,” she said. “We want the flexibility without worrying about the cost.”

Ski and beach vacations are most popular.

People are still gravitating to outdoor travel, with the most popular destinations being domestic beach locations or the Caribbean and Mexico.

Megan Moncrief, the chief marketing officer for Squaremouth , a travel insurance company, said that eight of the company’s 10 most popular international destinations were Caribbean countries.

“The Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos and the U.S. Virgin Islands had never been top destinations during the holiday season, but they are this year,” she said, because those places have largely stayed open when other countries closed their borders.

Ski destinations are also seeing increased interest, said Natalia Sutin, the vice president of revenue management at Vacasa , a vacation rental management company.

“People look for a festive atmosphere, and guests are looking to make up for ski trips from last year,” Ms. Sutin said. In a recent Vacasa survey, 61 percent of respondents said they were replanning a ski trip that they had intended to take last year but canceled.

Demand for ski destinations on Vrbo , a vacation rental company, is also up more than 40 percent this winter compared to the same period in 2019 , and up 31 percent compared to 2020.

Victoria Neff, a 34-year-old assistant director at an education and technology nonprofit in Boston, is spending Christmas in Aspen, Colo. She said she booked her flight and rental car ahead of time because she “was worried about availability” and knew demand would be high.

Cities are preparing to welcome international travelers.

The resumption of international travel to the U.S. on Nov. 8 is particularly important for cities, which derive significant revenue from and are a main attraction for foreign visitors.

“It’s so desperately needed in your gateway markets like New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C.,” said Mr. Rogers of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “Those are markets that really depend on international travel, and those are also the same markets that have been hurt so bad during the pandemic.”

While only 3 percent of hotel bookings nationally come from international travelers, they account for 15 percent of hotel revenue because they stay longer and spend more money.

In Los Angeles, where international travelers were a quarter of overnight visitors and made up 50 percent of overall spending in 2019, bookings and search interest spiked after the reopening was announced, said Adam Burke, the president of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

“We’re now seeing an acceleration of the recovery process,” he said. Tourism Economics , a global travel data company, is projecting 1 million more visitors to Los Angeles by the end of the year and an additional $1 billion in revenue from international travelers.

British Airways and its vacation-booking arm, British Airways Holidays, said that the desire to see friends and family for the holidays was driving a surge in searches for destinations in the United States, particularly in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago. Searches for Thanksgiving were up 2,000 percent this week over the previous week, the company said in an email, and searches for the days before Christmas were up 900 percent.

For domestic travelers, visiting the country’s urban centers could be cheaper than in the past. Expedia found that accommodations in cities are 10 to 35 percent cheaper than in 2019.

Parents are becoming more comfortable traveling with children.

The survey by Vacasa, the vacation rental management company, found that parents with children under 5 were more likely to say they were planning travel than non-parents, 65 percent compared to 41 percent. And road trips continue to be popular, with 72 percent of travelers saying that they will drive to their destinations.

“We do see that family travel is the trend this year,” said Ms. Sutin of Vacasa. “Most people are traveling with their spouse, children or immediate family.”

Katie Cherico, a travel adviser for In the Know Experiences , a New York City-based agency, said that among her clients, families’ decisions around travel depend on their children’s ages. Those with children under 12, who until recently have not been eligible for vaccination, have been sticking to domestic or nearby resort destinations, like Puerto Rico, while those with vaccinated children 12 and over feel more comfortable traveling internationally. Immunization with the Pfizer vaccine was approved for children 5 to 11 by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday and, if approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may be rolled out as early as this week. That is likely to boost traveler confidence just as the adult vaccine did in the spring.

Stephen Scott, a Chicago-based travel adviser for Protravel International , added that cruises remain difficult for families with children under 12, because many cruise lines require that passengers be vaccinated and do not make exceptions for children. But these restrictions may be eased on Jan. 15, when the industry will no longer be required to follow federal Covid-19 rules, the C.D.C. said in a statement.

Holiday travel behaviors are shifting.

Covid-19 safety concerns are still top of mind for travelers, keeping them close to home or preventing them from staying with relatives. While most people traveling for Thanksgiving, for example, are staying with family this year, the number is still lower than in 2019, dropping to 73 percent from 83 percent, according to a recent survey by the market research company Morning Consult . Only 57 percent of people stayed with family in 2020, suggesting fears surrounding Covid-19 are lessening but still present.

Lindsey Roeschke, the firm’s travel and hospitality analyst, said that more than a quarter of survey respondents intended to stay masked during Thanksgiving, and that they may be choosing not to stay with family to minimize the need for masking. She added that millennial parents, the group most likely to have young, unvaccinated children, planned to spend more on accommodation than other groups.

Vaccination rates could also be affecting people’s decisions to stay with or travel to visit family. In a survey by The Vacationer , an online resource for travelers, one in three Americans said they were unwilling to celebrate the holidays with people who had not been vaccinated.

Ms. Torres, the traveler who has had to deal with changing plans, said her family members’ vaccination status was part of the reason she decided to stay home in Chicago for the holidays. She typically would have taken a trip to Mexico or El Salvador to visit relatives over Christmas and New Year’s, but because of a lack of vaccine accessibility in those countries, several family members have not been fully vaccinated, and she decided not to risk it.

The record number of pet adoptions during the pandemic is also influencing how people are traveling. Pet-friendliness was the top search priority for travelers in a new survey of 1,000 Americans across the U.S. by the analytics company Zeta Global .

“People are more interested in pet-friendly hotels than they are in clean hotels,” said David Steinberg, the company’s chief executive. “It’s probably not even a metric that would’ve been on the radar two years ago.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the last name of a traveler spending the holidays in Aspen and the location of her employer. She is Victoria Neff, not Ness, and her company is located in Boston, not Concord, Mass. 

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Concepción de León is a travel reporter based in New York. More about Concepción de León

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Mediterranean Coastal Journey Spain, France & Italy

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Holiday Travel Tips

Holiday travel often includes visiting loved ones or taking a vacation. Whether you’re seeking a winter wonderland or escaping subzero temperatures, follow these travel tips for a healthy and safe holiday travel season.

Before Travel Tips

Check CDC’s destination pages for travel health information . Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines . Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and get a seasonal flu vaccine. In the United States, CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine before the end of October

Prepare a  travel health kit  with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination. Include your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in your travel health kit and take enough to last your entire trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Depending on your destination you may also want to pack a mask ,  insect repellent , sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card.

During Your Trip

Choose safe transportation. Always wear a seat belt, and children should ride in car seats. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among healthy travelers. Be alert when crossing the street, especially in countries where people drive on the left side of the road. Find out other steps you can take to stay safe on the roads.

Protect yourself from the sun. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher when traveling. Protecting yourself from the sun isn’t just for tropical beaches—you can get a sunburn even if it’s cloudy or cold. You are at the highest risk for UV exposure when you are traveling during summer months, near the equator, at high altitudes, or between 10 am to 4 pm.

When traveling in cold weather or climates, wear warm clothing in several loose layers.

Consideration for Warm Weather Travel

If you are traveling in hot weather or in a hot climate, wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Your chances of getting heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or other heat-related illness during travel depend on your destination, activities, level of hydration, and age. Travelers who relax on a beach or by a pool are unlikely to get heat-related illness. Learn how to prevent heat-related illness .

Avoid bug bites. Use insect repellent and take other steps to avoid bug bites. Bugs, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme. These bugs are typically more active during warm weather.

After Travel

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare provider and tell them about your travel. 

If you need medical care abroad, see Getting Health Care During Travel .

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St. Petersburg   Travel Guide

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Why Go To St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg stands at the geographic and cultural borders of the west and east. While the city's appearance was influenced by the intricate and ordered architecture of Western Europe, it is still infused with a vibrant and persevering Russian spirit. St. Petersburg largely owes its dualistic nature to its founder, Peter the Great, an unabashed lover of all things European. In the early 1700s, Peter commissioned the city's streets and architecture to resemble his favorite western cities.

And the results of the czar's great experiment? A grand European-style city, replete with long boulevards, narrow canals and grand public squares. It's also an epicenter of distinctly Russian culture, as the place where literature and music greats like Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev all found their voice. Moscow might be known for its luxury and decadence, but St. Petersburg offers compromise between the expensive tastes of Russia's capital and the often-overrated (and just plain crowded) cities of Western Europe.

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Best of St. Petersburg

Best hotels in st. petersburg.

• # 1 in Grand Hotel Europe
• # 2 in Hotel Astoria, a Rocco Forte Hotel
• # 3 in SO/ Saint Petersburg

Best Things to Do in St. Petersburg

• # 1 in Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace
• # 2 in Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
• # 3 in St. Isaac's Cathedral

St. Petersburg Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit St. Petersburg is from mid-June to September. Although it's expensive, St. Petersburg's near 24 hours of sunshine and White Nights celebrations during the summer months are not to be missed. Summers are generally cool but pleasant, with low temperatures dropping to the 50s and highs hovering around 70 degrees, so be sure to pack accordingly. Traveling to St. Petersburg in the winter is rare; days are short, and temperatures will dip well below freezing into the teens.

Weather in St. Petersburg

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Bring your Russian dictionary English is widely spoken in major hotels and restaurants, but you'll find very few English speakers outside the tourist districts. You'll hear Russian and see Cyrillic almost exclusively, so it's best to be familiar with the alphabet before your trip.
• Carry change for restrooms While St. Petersburg once had reputation for inadequate, ill-equipped public restrooms, the city has improved its facilities. However, use of restrooms in some public spaces, such as parks and shopping malls, may require a small payment (around 30 rubles or 50 cents).
• Breathe easy Thanks to legislation passed in 2013, bars, restaurants and public transportation are now nonsmoking spaces, making secondhand smoke less of an issue for visitors. However, public sidewalks are another story.

How to Save Money in St. Petersburg

• Invest in a St. Petersburg Card With the St. Petersburg Card , you'll enjoy free admission to more than 80 museums and tours, including the Peter and Paul Fortress , Peterhof and the Russian Museum , among others. Plus, you can use the card to pay your fare on public transportation. St. Petersburg Cards can be purchased in two-, three-, five- or seven-day increments.
• Book early Making your hotel reservations up to a year in advance – especially if you intend to visit during June's White Nights celebration – can save your wallet some pain.
• Protect your pockets As in many large cities, pickpockets are prevalent in St. Petersburg. Keep a close eye on your belongings in crowded areas, such as Nevsky Prospekt and the metro.

Culture & Customs

English is spoken in major hotels and restaurants, but you'll find mostly Russian speakers in the more local areas like the market or small inns. Some helpful Russian greetings include the informal "hello" ( priv-EYET ), the formal "hello" ( ZDRA-stvooy-te ), the informal "goodbye" ( pah-KAH ), and the formal "goodbye" ( Dah svih-DA-nee-ye ). Saying "thank you" ( Spa-SEE-ba) is always nice as well.

The ruble is the official currency of Russia. One U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 64 rubles. Plan to check the current exchange rate before your trip. While you might want cash for some purposes (purchasing metro tokens, for instance), you'll find that most restaurants, stores and hotels accept credit cards. Currency exchanges in airports generally offer less favorable rates than banks. ATMs are common in Russian cities, so your debit card might work (though you should check with your bank before you go regarding fees and exchange rates).

Tipping for service is common practice in Russia, and tips of around 15% are typical.

What to Eat

While it's true that visitors can still find classic Russian culinary staples like borscht, stroganoff, cabbage stew and caviar on menus around the city, travelers will also enjoy more contemporary dishes as well. And fortunately for visitors, food prices are more reasonable in St. Petersburg compared to Moscow .

You'll find hundreds of culinary hot spots in St. Petersburg, especially along Nevsky Prospekt, ranging from luxurious eateries to sprawling, local markets. If you're looking for an affordable snack on the go, try a Russian crepe, or blini. This Russian pancake is usually stuffed with butter, caviar or other fillings and is a treat for the adventurous foodie. You'll find it at street vendors around the city. To acquaint yourself with local produce, meats and cheeses, pay a visit to the Kuznechnyy Rynok (Kuznechny Market) a favorite among tourists for its honey vendors and plentiful souvenirs.

If you're craving a classic Russian meal, consider Literary Café on Nevsky Prospekt, which once played host to the likes of Pushkin and Dostoyevsky. For a more modern take on Russian fare, head to Hamlet + Jacks for dishes like Baltic herring and Siberian venison. And for Georgian cuisine, Phali Hinkali is a top spot thanks to its hearty dishes. If you're celebrating a special occasion, or just want to treat yourself to a memorable meal, critics and travelers suggest making a reservation at Palkin , which is known for its elegant dining room and fusion of Russian and French cuisines. Other well-reviewed eateries include Probka (Italian), Bekitzer (Israeli) and Etnos Café (Georgian).

St. Petersburg has a mixed reputation when it comes to safety, but most agree that it has improved from the chaotic time immediately following the fall of the Soviet Union. Discrimination against ethnic groups, specifically individuals of Asian or African descent, is still reportedly an issue in Russia, as is discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Government officials warn against traveling alone at night to avoid violent confrontations.

In October 2019, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory urging increased caution in Russia because of possible terrorism and arbitrary enforcement of laws. However, these mainly applied to specific areas (such as the North Caucasus for terrorism and occupied portion of Ukraine for abuses by authorities). With respect to St. Petersburg specifically, the State Department noted possible delays in services for U.S. citizens because of reductions in diplomatic personnel. According to the State Department, you can be detained by Russian police for not having your passport with you (police in Russia do not need to show probable cause to stop, question or detain you). Plan to carry your passport with you at all times. Visit the State Department's website for more information.

When walking around, you'll also want to be very careful when crossing roads, as drivers don't always yield to pedestrians here. Use crosswalks and only cross when vehicles have come to a complete stop. Several travel sources advise tourists not to drink the tap water in St. Petersburg due to the antiquated pipes and high metal levels in the tap water. To avoid illness, only drink filtered or bottled water.

Getting Around St. Petersburg

The best way to get around St. Petersburg is by public transportation; otherwise, you can walk around Nevsky Prospekt, the main thoroughfare. There's an extensive bus and metro system with lines that run throughout the center and into the city's outskirts. The tram or trolley is best for short journeys through downtown. For trips to the suburbs, try the metro system. Rental cars are available at the Pulkovo Airport (LED), but acquiring the proper driving documents can be a hassle. Taxis are also a prevalent (though, at times, unsafe) way to move around.

From the airport, a taxi can cost anywhere from 600 to 1500 rubles (or about $9.50 to $24), depending on your destination. Taxi Pulkovo is the preferred company; you'll see Taxi Pulkovo stands in the arrivals area of the airport. However, several recent travelers have been overcharged for taxi trips between the airport and the city. Many recommended relying on smartphone apps instead to ensure a fair price.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Acquiring a visa to travel in Russia is a bit more complicated and expensive than visiting other countries. Every foreign traveler entering Russia must have a Russian-based sponsor (like a hotel, tour company, university or relative). In addition to a valid U.S. passport, you must also obtain a travel visa from a Russian embassy or consulate prior to arriving in Russia. If you plan to stay in Russia for more than seven days, you have to register your visa and migration card (the white paper document given by the border police on first entry to Russia) with the Federal Migration Service. Tourists visas start at $160 per person. You can apply for a visa up to 90 days before your intended visa start date. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department  website .

St. Petersburg is built around a network of rivers and canals, with many of the city's top attractions located on the banks of the water.

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Things To Do

Best hotels.

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St Petersburg

Planning a trip to Saint Petersburg? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

Saint Petersburg

• General information
• What to see
• How to get to St Petersburg
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad... under any of its names, it's an elegant city with an eventful past . Built by Peter the Great in the early 18th century as a display of the power of Imperial Russia to the world , it's an important artistic and cultural center thanks to the wealth of monuments  and museums  that tell its story.

The City of Tsars and the former Russian capital, Saint Petersburg is also intrinsically linked to the water, earning it the nickname " Venice of the North " for its impressive number of canals and bridges . Lavish palaces, exquisite gardens, and some of the world's best museums complete the city's offering for locals and tourists alike.

Relive the elegance of Imperial Russia by visiting Saint Petersburg's fairy tale chateaux: Peterhof Palace , the Winter Palace , and Catherine Palace await you in all their glory. For a well-deserved break after sightseeing, stop in at a local restaurant to indulge in Russian specialties: caviar, vodka, and beef Stroganoff anyone?

From May to June, the White Nights make Saint Petersburg even more magical, with impossibly beautiful sunsets bringing almost-endless summer nights to a close.

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Saint Petersburg and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city, before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Saint Petersburg  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Hotels in St. Petersburg - reserve here for the best prices!

Why is our Saint Petersburg travel guide the best?

Introducing Saint Petersburg is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers , and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of April 2021. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

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Visitor Information in St. Petersburg

For visitors from out of town, the city and its major attractions are all staffed with knowledgeable and helpful workers that can provide the latest and most curate information. St. Petersburg visitor information centers can be found at all major airports, metro stations, shopping malls, museums, and galleries, as well as at local community centers like libraries and schools. Many of these centers also sell tickets to major events being held in the area and can provide recommendations on where to go for sightseeing, dining, and entertainment.

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The biggest travel trends for 2024

By Sarah Allard

If 2022 was all about a return to travel, then 2023 was the year we went further than ever before. Travellers took to the skies, rails, roads and seas to tick off major bucket-list moments, with Arctic adventures, luxury yacht cruises and even the first tourist trip into space .

In 2024, travellers will be putting what’s important to them front and centre of their plans, valuing deeper experiences that leave a positive impact, time spent with loved ones and wellness moments that last well after checkout. We’ll be choosing destinations carefully, slowing it down to enjoy the silence and the stars, indulging in our love of food in new and interesting places, and immersing ourselves in wellness practices that help us live longer.

These are the 20 travel trends likely to guide how we see the world in 2024.

Astro tourism

1. Astro tourism

What’s the trend? Astronomy, of course, is a field of study that has been around since the dawn of civilisation, and the act of gazing up at the stars has long been a source of soul-soothing wonder. Today, the more society falls deeper into an ever-expanding virtual world, the more we feel a need to broaden our horizons in the real universe. Astro tourism, or star bathing, is the act of travelling with the aim of catching sight of astronomical phenomena – disappearing to lands devoid of any pollution, crowds and traffic, where we can focus solely on the skies above and while away hours gazing at the stars, planets and constellations overhead.

Why will it matter in 2024? Increasingly, wellness-centric hotels and spas are creating the space for guests to gaze upwards, watching for comets, spying constellations and identifying patterns in the glittering expanse. In the UK, Port Lympne has opened the Lookout Bubble, a glass dome allowing guests to sprawl out on king-sized beds and study the stars. Further east on the Arabian Gulf, Zulal Wellness Resort is surrounded by the expanse of the Qatari desert – the ultimate destination for pollution-free astromancy, with dedicated workshops and stargazing sessions for families and children looking to learn more about the cosmos. Safari company Desert & Delta organises trips for travellers looking to soak up the stars across Botswana and Namibia, where guests can sleep in tents at remote locations such as the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest salt flats, and spend nights with uninterrupted star vistas. Similarly, Tswalu is a South African safari camp with star beds set on a sleep-out deck in the Korannaberg mountains. And 2024 happens to be a big year, astronomy-wise, from mind-boggling eclipses to spectacular meteor showers – plus, scientists are predicting the best displays of the northern lights in 20 years, according to the Guardian , as we approach the next solar maximum (the sun’s peak of its 11-year activity cycle). Olivia Morelli

2. Eco diving

What’s the trend? A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centres, and having a more positive, regenerative impact on the ocean once there.

Why will it matter in 2024? In 2022, UK marine ecology charity The Reef-World Foundation found that 95 per cent of divers wanted to book with sustainable operators, but struggled to do so. In response to this, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (Padi) launched its Eco Center accreditation on World Earth Day (22 April) 2023, with the United Nations Environment Program and Reef-World itself. The steps required to earn this green status are so rigorous – including sharing evidence of conservation activities and a real reduction in environmental footprint – that Padi advised operators to allow at least 12 months to hit the criteria, taking us to… Earth Day 2024. After an initial figure of just 11 worldwide, there are now 100, and Padi has set a goal to reach 660 by 2030 – a 10th of its membership. “South East Asia currently has the highest density (more than 20), along with the Caribbean ,” says Julie Andersen of Padi. So what does this mean for divers and their trips? “The type of conservation work done and reported on depends on the Eco Center,” Andersen explains. “Those in the Caribbean offer coral replanting programmes, key for regenerating coastlines. In Baja, Mexico , they’ve developed citizen science courses, collecting data for whale conservation.” There are also a number of new Padi courses being launched for any diver to take anywhere, including the Global Shark and Ray Census in August 2024, as well as the relaunch of the Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course before December. Becky Lucas

3. Home swapping

What’s the trend? Increasingly, discerning travellers are looking to stay away for longer stretches, while the rise of remote jobs post-pandemic means that working and living abroad has never been more appealing. The catch? Forking out on hefty accommodation fees while you’re at it. Enter home swapping: the perfect solution to guarantee yourself a (free) home abroad while you offer up your own in exchange – for weeks or even months at a time.

Why will it matter in 2024? As the cost of holidaying continues to climb, home swapping is an affordable alternative to splashing out on expensive hotels or Airbnbs. And while the concepts of couch surfing and house exchanges have existed for decades, several slick new platforms are redefining what home swapping looks like today. Twin City, which operates in cities as far-flung as Lisbon and Los Angeles , has curated a community of 1,100 plus carefully vetted users in just eight months. For an annual subscription fee of £150, members can find Twins to connect with through the platform, and are encouraged to exchange local recommendations for their city as well as their homes, enabling members to feel as if they’re swapping with a trusted friend rather than a stranger. Meanwhile, Kindred, a home-swapping platform where members rack ​​up credits for each night that they exchange homes, raised $15 million in funding this year to expand operations across the USA and Europe, and currently has 10,000 plus homes in more than 50 cities. Members simply pay a cleaning and service fee for each stay, while the cost of the stay itself is free. Or skip out on membership fees entirely and head straight to TikTok, where Gen Z appears to be spearheading the home-swapping movement on social media. Inspired by cult film The Holiday , trending tags #houseswap and #homeswap have garnered more than 23 and 20 million views respectively, with users utilising the platform as a means to advertise their homes, discover like-minded peers to swap with and document their adventures along the way. Gina Jackson

4. Train stations are the new food destinations

What’s the trend? Train stations around the world are usually passed through as quickly as possible, having not been designed for commuters to stay and hang out. Nowadays, as travel delays increase and visitors want more local experiences, it pays for train stations to welcome travellers with shops, restaurants and bars for them to explore. In an effort to create a more dynamic visitor experience, historic train stations are being revamped, with bespoke food and drink offerings as an integral part of the redesign.

Why will it matter in 2024? As train stations are renovated to accommodate more travellers and update old infrastructure, local restaurants and bars are being added to attract more customers. In 2023, the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York City became home to The Irish Exit, a bar from the team behind the acclaimed Dead Rabbit, and Yono Sushi by trendy BondST, plus outposts of beloved NYC restaurants Pastrami Queen and Jacob’s Pickles, with Mexican hotspot La Esquina coming soon.  Platform 1 a new bar and restaurant that opened in November underneath Glasgow Central Station . The cave-like space, with its historic brick arches, serves street-food-style dishes and craft brews made in the on-site microbrewery, plus there’s an outdoor beer garden. As part of its renovation, Toronto’s Union Station launched Union Market in May 2023 with favourite local food retailers Manotas Organics, Chocolatta Brigadeiro’s, Patties Express and Kibo. Meanwhile, in Somerset, Castle Cary station is in the process of a revamp, with nearby hotel The Newt creating a creamery, cafe and co-working space, which is set to open in 2024. Also on tap for the next few years is the completed renovation of 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, with plans for a 20 per cent increase in concession space that will focus on local purveyors. Devorah Lev-Tov

5. Sports tourism

What’s the trend? No longer the domain of lads on tour keen to sink as many pints as possible with one eye on a football game, sports tourism has evolved in the past few years with a new generation – and type – of sports fan emerging thanks to glossy TV documentaries ( Formula 1: Drive to Survive , we’re looking at you). Now, we’re taking our fandom out of the house and following a host of different sports in destinations across the world, planning holidays that hinge around seeing games, races and other activities in exotic locales, and extending trips on either side to see the sights too.

Why will it matter in 2024? A little event known as the Olympic and Paralympic Games anchors the 2024 sports calendar. It kicks off in Paris in late July and runs until early September , during which time more than a million tourists are expected to check in across the French capital. The games have inspired city-wide projects such as the €1.4-billion clean-up of the Seine, which , all going well, will allow public swimming in the river for the first time in a century. Elsewhere, the Tour de France starts in Italy for the first time in 2024, with competitors speeding off in Florence before heading to Rimini on the Adriatic coast and then north to the Apennines through Emilia-Romagna. New bike routes in the area have been released by tour operators such as Ride International Tours and Ride Holidays for cycling enthusiasts keen to join in the fun. Sarah James

6. Coolcationing

What’s the trend? For the vast majority of folk, summer holidays used to be about following the sun, seeking the heat – watching the mercury climb and hitting the sands. With the intense, record-breaking temperatures of recent years, however, many are considering travelling in the opposite direction: booking "coolcations" in temperate destinations, which also benefit from being less crowded.

Why will it matter in 2024? Rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis have resulted in the hottest recorded summer in the UK – just over 40℃ in July 2022 – while 2023, with a sweltering summer in much of Mediterranean Europe, North America and China – is on track to be the hottest year ever. Little wonder that many travellers are thinking again before booking literal hotspots such as the South of France and Sicily in July or August. A survey for luxe travel network Virtuoso found that 82 per cent of its clients are considering destinations with more moderate weather in 2024. Destinations such as Iceland, Finland and Scotland, according to Intrepid Travel, along with Latvia, which is surging in popularity. “We’re seeing an increase in those holidaying further north,” says Andrea Godfrey of Regent Holidays. “Scandinavia and the Baltics are both getting noticed more: they offer a more pared-back style of holiday but have some lovely beaches, and forests and lakes for both relaxation and adventure activities.” Cooler temperatures are particularly well suited to family travel too. “We’re getting far more enquiries from families for destinations that offer summer sun but also respite from the high temperatures being experienced in beach resorts across the Med,” says Liddy Pleasants, founder of family specialist Stubborn Mule Travel. “Kayaking in Norway, with its midnight sun, for instance, and cycling or hiking in Slovenia, which is also very good value.” Time to ditch the SPF50… Rick Jordan

Gig tripping

7. Gig tripping

What’s the trend? For years, athletes and wellness gurus were the big headliners at retreats. But rock stars are, well, the new rock stars of travel. Call it the Swift Effect. Destination concert business is up more than 50 per cent, led mostly by Taylor Swift, says Janel Carnero, a travel advisor at Embark Beyond. In the USA, tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour cost thousands and were still impossible to score. Music fans are realising they can pay less and have a more memorable experience by seeing their favourite pop icons perform in say, Amsterdam or Milan . Tours from performers such as Pearl Jam, U2, Doja Cat and Madonna will anchor trip itineraries, while music festivals (Glastonbury sold out in less than an hour) will be major catalysts for travel.

Why will it matter in 2024? New music festivals, including Untold in Romania's Cluj-Napoca, are introducing travellers to undiscovered destinations, says Alexandrea Padilha of Fischer Travel. And it’s no longer just about the music, says Carnero. “It’s the social aspect of sharing experiences with friends,” she adds. Hotels and travel companies have taken note and are creating the equivalent of backstage VIP experiences for guests. Global adventure collective Eleven has recently introduced Music with Eleven. The programme’s dedicated team of music-industry insiders (including Chris Funk, guitarist from the Decemberists) custom design itineraries that might include sitting in on a recording session at Flóki Studios, just outside the Arctic Circle at Deplar Farm in Iceland. And Rhythm & Sails hosts musicians on its catamarans. The company’s music director, Anders Beck of the jam band Greensky Bluegrass, curates the line-up of artists who perform sessions onboard and in ports as you island hop around the Caribbean . Jen Murphy

8. Resorts will help you biohack your health span

What’s the trend? Longevity is the latest wellness buzzword thanks to best-selling books such as  Outlive  and the hit Netflix documentary  Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones . Between 2021 and 2022, venture-capital investment in longevity clinics more than doubled from $27 million to $57 million globally, according to analysis from longevity research and media company Longevity.Technology. Now, the science of extending life and optimising health has become the focus at hotels. Blue Zones retreats are the new boot camps and even sybaritic resorts are offering the latest biohacks. Poolside vitamin IV anyone?

Why will it matter in 2024? Since the pandemic, feeling good trumps looking good. “People have become aware of the critical importance of developing a more proactive, preventive approach to health on all levels,” says Karina Stewart, co-founder of Kamalaya, a wellness retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand . This means a new willingness to go beyond diet and exercise and embrace sci-fi-sounding bio-regenerative treatments such as ozone therapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers, both on offer at Kamalaya's new Longevity House. Luxury hotel brands are embracing the trend too. Six Senses Ibiza recently teamed up with biotech company RoseBar to offer guests full diagnostic testing. Maybourne Hotel Group is collaborating with wellness tech pioneer Virtusan to help guests boost performance. And Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea administers treatments such as stem cells and NAD+ (aka the fountain of youth) through its partnership with Next Health longevity centre. At 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kauai, guests are welcomed with a B12 shot instead of bubbles and the resort’s new wellness-specific rooms come with recovery-boosting mod cons including infrared light mats. If the trend continues, the secret to longevity may be as easy as taking more holidays. Jen Murphy

9. Peak season gets the cold shoulder

What's the trend? There’s been a dramatic recent increase in shoulder season travel to Europe’s most popular destinations (particularly France , Spain , the UK and Italy ), which is set to continue in 2024. Luxury travel specialists Original Travel has launched new shoulder season itineraries to locations traditionally in demand during the summer – including the crystalline seascapes of Sardinia and Corsica – after seeing 14 per cent more bookings for September 2023 than for August 2023. Pegi Amarteifio of Small Luxury Hotels of the World shares similar insights. “Comparing phone reservations in 2023 against 2019, we’ve seen a 33 per cent increase for March to May and a 58 per cent increase for September to November , a pattern reflected across our other booking channels too.”

Why will it matter in 2024? A combination of social, economic and environmental factors is driving this trend into 2024. The cost of living crisis means a heightened focus on value. For 62 per cent of respondents to Booking.com’s 2024 travel trends survey, this is a limiting factor for 2024 travel planning, so much so that 47 per cent of respondents are even willing to take children out of school for cheaper off-peak travel. Shoulder season travel is also becoming more attractive due to rising temperatures, and more feasible due to flexible working. Layered on top of these practical considerations is an emotional motivation too: travellers are craving authenticity more than ever, seeking a tranquil, local feel when abroad, rather than Where’s Wally beach scenes. Toyo Odetunde

10. Private group travel

What’s the trend? The post-pandemic desire to gather friends or family and embark on a shared holiday experience shows no sign of abating – in fact, it’s on the increase in luxury travel, as people appreciate the benefits and savour the moment, from 3G family groups to 50-something empty-nesters keen to rekindle life-long friendships. Just don’t take Succession ’s family outing to Tuscany as a role model.

Why will it matter in 2024? “While some predicted group travel would peak post-pandemic, we’ve seen it have a lasting, positive impact with private group bookings continuing to be a dominant trend,” says Tom Marchant of Black Tomato, for whom group travel now accounts for 30 per cent of bookings. The company has just launched its See You in the Moment series to cater for the demand: it uses a mood board of over 35 experiences themed around key flash points, from The Meal (a backcountry feast served on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, for example) to The Challenge (rafting down the Apurímac in Peru, perhaps), all designed to create lasting memories. For Scott Williams, meanwhile, multi-generational travellers are thinking big: why take one house when you can take a whole estate, such as Meli on Paxos in the Greek Islands, which sleeps 17? Other groups are taking to the water, with Red Savannah reporting an increase in bookings for Turkish gulets, Egyptian dahabiyas and Indonesian phinisis. Scott Dunn have seen an increase in bookings amongst groups of friends, with 30 per cent of respondents in a recent survey saying they were planning trips for 2024 that included ski trips to France, adventure travel in South and Central America, and beach breaks on Antigua and Barbados. Empty-nesters are also a growing force, with groups of couples in their 50s to 70s hiring villas in the shoulder season for cultural weeks away, and all-female groups – mainly aged between 50 and 65 – who are proactive in wanting to renew long-term friendships. “We had one repeat group that included several cancer survivors,” says Sarah-Leigh Shenton at Red Savannah. “A hammam afternoon in Turkey was a deeply bonding experience and they’ve since travelled to Jordan and Sicily together.” Rick Jordan

11. AI aims to be your sidekick

What's the trend? Early last year, after OpenAI’s ChatGPT broke the record as the fastest-ever growing consumer app, travellers started playing around with AI chatbots to get inspiration on where they could go. More recently, major travel booking platforms have started to integrate AI chatbots into the booking experience. But if 2023 was the year of AI chatbots wanting to plan your trips , 2024 will be all about how AI aspires to be your travel sidekick. A wave of new AI-powered features and products aims to support travellers on the ground – all while raising concerns around the potential negative impacts as AI becomes more widely integrated with our travels.

Why will it matter in 2024? AI will start to make more real-time interventions in our travels in 2024. One practical example is live translation , which Samsung plans to launch on its 2024 Galaxy devices. Imagine calling somewhere you want to visit to get information without worrying about whether staff speak the same language as you. Another example is greater AI personalisation in popular apps you already use. Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has recently touted the company's increasing use of personalised AI algorithms , which will learn about your habits and make suggestions based on what you’re doing. For the true early adopters, real-time travel interventions could also mean ditching your screen entirely and clipping a screenless personal translator and travel assistant to your chest. This is the unusual idea behind the new talking and projecting AI Pin from Humane , a start-up backed by investors including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, that promises to function a bit like the universal translator from Star Trek . Will anyone want to actually wear the pin or will it go the way of previously hyped devices such as Google Glass? It certainly raises a host of ethical questions about privacy and data protection. Yet the more that AI products successfully help in addressing on-the-go problems, the more travellers will come to rely on them too. JD Shadel

12. Skip-gen travel

What’s the trend? Skip-gen travel describes when grandparents holiday with grandchildren, in other words, "skipping" a generation. “In the past few months, I've had around twice as many enquiries as usual for grandchild/grandchild bookings,” says Clio Wood, founder of family retreat company &Breathe . “There’s been a rising trend of grandparents taking their grandchildren away,” agrees Ollie Summers, Head of Sales at bespoke operator Scott Dunn . “Often to places that have a sentimental meaning to them.”

Why will it matter in 2024? Several travel agencies have created itineraries to cater specifically for this demand in 2024. “Skip-gen safaris are emerging as a micro-trend from the UK, reflecting a niche traveller group now well established in the US luxury market,” says Liane Goldring of Mahlatini Luxury Travel . “The grandparents are usually in their 70s and still active enough to fully embrace a fully guided safari adventure.” Original Travel, meanwhile, has relaunched its Bonding Holidays Collection , featuring trips focussed on discovering something new together, such as its 14-day Family Ranching itinerary in the American West. Some of this growth can be attributed to big-ticket lockdown promises coming to fruition. Now, amid the UK’s cost of living crisis, parents are also keen to make the most of the time and childcare support of their typically baby boomer, more comfortably retired parents. Plus, the global ratio of living grandparents to grandchildren is higher than ever, thanks to a combined increase in life expectancy and drop in the number of children per person. We’re even said to be living in the "the age of the grandparent". Don’t expect this trend – or your grandparents – to slow down anytime soon. Becky Lucas

Glamorous train travel

13. Train travel gets glam

What’s the trend? Rising climate consciousness has fuelled a rail travel revival, the luxury train niche is reaching new heights of popularity, extravagance and ambition. Travel booking platforms are reporting growing demand for luxury rail trips , where the journey is, yes, the destination. In fact, new design-forward train lines increasingly rival the finest hotels for the culinary experiences and bells and whistles on offer.

Why will it matter in 2024? A new wave of rail lines and itineraries launching in 2024 puts an emphasis on deeper immersion into the culture and landscapes of the destinations, which are more and more off the beaten track. Responding to growing demand for luxury train travel among its user base, specialist platform Railbookers plans to launch arguably the most geographically extensive and expensive luxury train itinerary around. With prices per person starting at $113,599, the 80-day Around the World by Luxury Train voyage will cross four continents and 13 countries. Beginning in August , the slow journey will string together existing luxury rail trips including Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper and India’s Maharajas Express from Delhi to Mumbai. In Asia, the previously paused Eastern & Oriental Express is making a grand comeback starting in February, with carriages getting an upscale revamp and its legendary route being retraced through Malaysia's landscapes. Meanwhile, Japan is a hot destination for its scenic train journeys such as the exclusive Train Suite Shiki-shima , which quickly closed applications for its 2024 trips due to demand. And in Europe, six new train lines will commence or terminate in Rome under Accor's La Dolce Vita umbrella, with suites designed by starchitects Dimorestudio, building on the cultural legacy of the famous Orient Express . JD Shadel

14. Restaurateur-owned hotels

What’s the trend? Restaurants and hotels are the two linchpins of the hospitality industry. And naturally, the two are often intertwined on one premises. Until recently, though, most hotels weren’t started or owned by restaurateurs. Yet as food-focused travel keeps increasing, with people hankering for the next hot reservation and planning entire trips around discovering a culture through its food, it makes sense that restaurateurs are adding hotelier to their CVs – and ensuring their new properties have impressive food offerings. We’d be remiss not to mention Nobu, which began as a restaurant in 1994 and in 2013 launched its global hotel brand, as a harbinger of the trend.

Why will it matter in 2024? Just as design brands (RH, West Elm) have opened hotels in recent years, now restaurateurs are getting in on the action. In the USA, restaurateur and 12-time James Beard award nominee Sam Fox has just launched the Global Ambassador in Phoenix, Arizona, with five restaurants. Santa Barbara’s Good Lion Hospitality is relaunching Petit Soleil , a Californian wine country boutique hotel, with a new bar and restaurant slated for next spring. The Lafayette Hotel & Club was debuted last summer in San Diego by Arsalun Tafazoli, founder of a local hospitality group that operates 16 bars and restaurants. The hotel has five restaurants and bars, with two more opening by the end of the year. In Dallas, Harwood International, which owns a dozen or so restaurants in the area, opened Hôtel Swexan in June. In the St Gallen region of Switzerland two hotels were recently added to beloved restaurants: the revamped Mammertsberg  and  Gasthaus Traube . In Slovenia, AS Hotel is a new place to stay launched Sebastjan Raspopović, son of chef Svetozar Raspopović-Pope of renowned restaurant Gostilna AS in Lublijana. Aside from a restaurant by Raspopović-Pope, the hotel has an eatery by Michelin-lauded chef Ana Roš. Finally,  R48 , and its lauded Chef’s Table, was opened in Tel Aviv last spring by R2M Hospitality Group, which also runs restaurants CoffeeBar and Herzl 16. Devorah Lev-Tov

15. Silent travel

What’s the trend? In an age of overstimulation, silence might be just what we need from our travels in 2024. Offering a chance to restore and reset, silent travel represents a more mindful kind of trip, one that doesn’t leave you needing a holiday to recover from your holiday. Silent meditation retreats are an increasingly popular wellness trend, but silent travel also encompasses secluded nature resorts, sleep retreats , quiet hotels , silent walking tours and even silent disco and concert experiences.

Why will it matter in 2024? Saturated with stress and screen time, many of us are looking for ways to disconnect. The silent walking trend that recently took TikTok by storm reflects a growing impulse to escape the noise of our tech-fuelled lives and embrace the quiet, with promising implications for wellbeing. One 2015 study suggests silence may help to stimulate brain development, while another found that two minutes of silence during or after relaxing music increased the music's calming effects. With the Global Wellness Institute forecasting a 21 per cent increase in wellness tourism in the next two years, what better counter to the chaos of our always-on lives than silence? Silent travel is also part of a move towards more sustainable tourism. Quiet Parks International , for example, offers unique nature experiences in dedicated quiet spaces, reducing noise pollution for the surrounding wildlife. Silent travel opportunities abound in 2024. Kick off the year with a silent retreat in Portugal (with Innate ) or Italy (with Mandali ). More adventurous silent-seekers can trek the peaceful Japanese Kumano Kodo trail, or explore Finland’s Arctic landscape with a Silence & Nature Tour . For a tailor-made silent experience, Black Tomato’s Blink camp offers luxury accommodation in the world’s most remote settings, while its Get Lost programme promises to help you find yourself by getting lost in a far-flung location. Tasha Kleeman

16. Urban gardens

What’s the trend? Never mind the biophilic office and those pot plants you forget to water: whole cities are going green as architects and planners create leafy microclimates amid the grey concrete to help keep us cooler, connect communities and even feed us.

Why will it matter in 2024? Having trees and gardens in our cities is a pretty good idea. King Nebuchadnezzar certainly thought so, which is why his Hanging Gardens of Babylon made it into travel’s first-ever bucket list – the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – back in the 2nd century BC. Nowadays planting trees creates much-needed shade, stores carbon and increases biodiversity, but it also makes our cityscapes so much nicer. While Valencia, an early adopter of urban greening with its 12km-long Turia Garden in 1986, is the 2024 European Green Capital, France is busy planting trees like there’s no tomorrow: go to Paris for the 2024 Olympics and you’ll spot budding new forests growing in Place du Colonel-Fabien, Place de Catalogne and in the Charonne district, while Bordeaux’s Grandeur Nature project includes urban cooling islands, micro-forests and rain gardens. All of which will doubtless be discussed at the ISHS Green Cities 2024 symposium, hosted by RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, England, in September. Meanwhile, on Cyprus – an island that experienced temperatures of 44℃ in 2023 – the new Salina Park opens in time for summer shade in the seaside city of Larnaca. In Brazil, Rio’s Hortas Cariocas is a groundbreaking achievement that will be completed by the end of 2024: the largest urban vegetable garden in the world, connecting 56 community gardens across favelas and schools. And in London, the £1-billion Google building in King’s Cross will show just what can be done with one structure. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the "landscraper" – only 11 storeys high but stretching out longer than the Shard is tall – is hoped to provide a blueprint for future urban projects: running along the rooftop is a multi-level garden, with wildflowers, lawns and decked seating areas, set with more than 55,000 plants and 250 trees. Can you dig it? Rick Jordan

17. Back-of-house tours

What’s the trend? Greener hotels giving us a look behind the scenes to show us – not just tell us – they're sustainable. We don't mean a look-see at solar panels or composting, but heart-lifting experiential tours that help us appreciate why it matters to support socio-economic uplift through tourism. In South America, Blue Apple Beach invites visitors to get up close and personal with the community work it does in Colombia through its impact fund. Founder Portia Hart wanted more than token-gesture carbon offsetting, where locals themselves could decide how money was spent. In Africa, guests of the Bushcamp Company contribute to initiatives through the Luangwa Conservation and Community Fund. A popular excursion in Zambia is visiting the boreholes that are installed with outreach funds. Each pump provides fresh drinking water to hundreds of people a day, and visitors who spend time with those gathered get a very tangible insight into how such provisions funded by hospitality can literally change lives in regions most affected by a warming planet.

Why will it matter in 2024? Transparency is on the up as the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive comes into force and greenwashing is coming close to being officially outlawed. A year of droughts, floods and heatwaves also reminds us we need to make better-informed choices in our travel planning – and all the better if we can also get a crash course in the science and sociology of positive impact. Experiences that go beyond explaining responsible practices, but demonstrate a deep respect for communities on the climate-change frontlines and help make their challenges relatable to visitors are especially helpful. Juliet Kinsman

18. Wild feasting

What’s the trend? Have you ever noticed how food always tastes better outdoors? But in today’s modern world many of us are more used to eating a sandwich while staring at a screen. Wild feasting describes the trend for beautifully curated culinary experiences in natural environments with the incorporation of hyper-local and foraged ingredients. In Sweden, for example, you can tap into a network of do-it-yourself outdoor restaurants where you book a table in a scenic location, search for nettles, birch leaves, lingonberries and trumpet chanterelles, and then cook them on an open fire according to a recipe card provided by a Michelin-grade chef.

Why will it matter in 2024? A greater range of wild feasting opportunities will give urbanites a chance to properly connect over food. Leading the way is Noah Ellis, founder of the UK's Nomadic Dinners. “Since launching in 2018, we experienced compounded year-on-year growth for our feasting and foraging experiences,” he says. In 2024 he will be hosting a new series of fire feasts, including one set among the bluebells. Also tapping into the zeitgeist is TikTok star Alexis Nikole Nelson (aka the Black Forager) who will publish a book about wild food in 2024. And don’t forget, 2024 is the last year you will be able to eat at Copenhagen ’s legendary, foraging-focused restaurant Noma before it turns into a test kitchen and closes to the public. Another innovator is Holmen Lofoten’s Kitchen On The Edge Of The World series in the Norwegian Arctic Circle, where guests can participate in four nights of wild feasts cooked by top chefs. In 2024, these will include Lennox Hastie, José Pizarro and Heidi Bjerkan. Ingunn Rasmussen, owner of Holmen Lofoten, says: “Now, as when we were little kids, gathering around a bonfire in the wilderness, sharing stories, feasting under the stars in these magical, remote surroundings is one of the absolute highlights, both for our guests and for us.” Jenny Southan

19. Plan-free travel

What's the trend? Saying no to endless scrolling to plan every inch of a trip, and saying yes to spontaneity instead. The power of the algorithm-spawned era of Fomo travel is waning, with those once secret spots made Insta-famous becoming tired and cookie-cutter, and the drive to plan a trip around them losing momentum. The rising counter movement is travel with no plans at all.

Why will it matter in 2024? The plan-free appeal is going one step further in 2024. Booking.com recently reported that 50 per cent of UK travellers want to book a surprise trip in 2024, where everything, even the destination, is unknown until arrival. And it’s possible to do it via travel companies such as Black Tomato, whose Get Lost service offers customers the ability to simply select a preferred environment – polar, jungle, desert, mountain or coastal – and leave its team decide everything else. “While we launched Get Lost several years ago, post-pandemic we’ve seen a notable and rising uptick in bookings and enquiries,” says Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. Journee offers a similar surprise element, with travellers only finding out where they’re going at the airport. The service, which includes a full itinerary and access to a team via Whatsapp, is particularly popular with solo female travellers, while overall demand has grown so much that the London -based brand recently launched trips in the USA. Lauren Burvill

20. Frontier tourism

What’s the trend? To go above and beyond. Or below and under. As crossings of the tumultuous Drake Passage to Antarctica rack up millions of TikTok views and traffic jams form on Everest, canny travellers are seeking more individual, less obvious experiences that combine thrill-seeking with more meaningful self-empowerment.

Why will it matter in 2024? One person’s frontier is another’s backyard, of course, so frontiers are entirely subjective here. For some, this could mean being the first to camp under the stars in a remote landscape, or hike an ancient pilgrimage trail that’s been off the map for centuries. It’s still possible to bag a rare place on a Kamba African Rainforest Experience in the Republic of the Congo, being one of just 12 people to explore a game park the size of Belgium. Black Tomato, meanwhile, is designing an intrepid new expedition to the remote Mitre Peninsula in Argentina, along with a trip in Peru navigating the Sacred Valley of the Incas by raft. “This sort of adventure goes beyond bragging rights and is more akin to self-empowerment and the gratification of pushing our own horizons,” says Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. The Ultimate Travel Company is also heading to Peru, a country repositioning itself for luxury travellers, with stays at Puqio, its first tented exploration camp,, in the remote Colca Valley in the Southern Peruvian Andes. Wilderness camping is also pegging out fresh terrain in Kyrgyzstan, with yurt stays on the steppes trending for 2024, according to Wild Frontiers, as is Mongolia ; while Albania, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Empty Quarter of Oman are all on the radar for an increasing number of travellers. And while the space-age pods of White Desert have already sold out for New Year’s Eve 2024 and 2025, latter-day frontiersfolk can take the path less travelled and explore the frozen continent’s southern coast (99 per cent of visitors go from South America to the northwest) with The Ultimate Travel Company’s new Ross Sea cruises, seeing the Ross Ice Shelf and Transantarctic Mountains. Don’t forget to pack your penknife. Rick Jordan

What next for travel and tourism? Here's what the experts say

In many countries, more than 80% of travel and tourism spending actually comes from the domestic market. Image:  Unsplash/Surface

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Stay up to date:.

• In 2020 alone, the travel and tourism sector lost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs globally.
• But as the world recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel and tourism can bounce back as an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient sector.
• Two experts highlight some of the key transformations in the sector going forward during the World Economic Forum's Our World in Transformation series.

The Travel & Tourism sector was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving not only companies but also tourism-driven economies severely affected by shutdowns, travel restrictions and the disappearance of international travel.

In 2020 alone, the sector lost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs, impacting the living standards and well-being of communities across the globe. Moreover, the halt in international travel gave both leisure and business travellers the chance to consider the impact of their choices on the climate and environment.

Amid shifting demand dynamics and future opportunities and risks, a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient travel and tourism sector can be - and needs to be - built.

The World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021 finds that embedding inclusivity, sustainability and resilience into the travel and tourism sector as it recovers, will ensure it can continue to be a driver of global connectivity, peace and economic and social progress.

We spoke to Sandra Carvao , Chief of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Liz Ortiguera , CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Thailand (PATA), and asked them to highlight some of the key areas of risk and opportunity in the sector during an episode of the World Economic Forum's Our World in Transformation series.

Have you read?

Travel & tourism development index 2021: rebuilding for a sustainable and resilient future, towards resilience and sustainability: travel and tourism development recovery, how can we really achieve sustainability in the travel sector, what are some of the top global trends you're witnessing currently in the travel and tourism sector.

Liz Ortiguera: Given the extended lockdown that we had on travel with the pandemic, vacation for friends and relatives (VFR) is now a high priority for people who haven’t been in touch for a long time thanks to the pandemic. So, people are reconnecting. And that kind of links to the second trend, which is multi-purpose or blended travel. Never before, particularly now that we can connect digitally through Zoom, has the ability to work from anywhere enabled travellers to cover multiple purposes, like visits with friends and multiple business trips. So, we'll find that the duration of travel and the length of stay is longer. And third is the continued high focus on safety and wellness which is top of mind for travellers due to the pandemic. All travel is wellness-related now.

Sandra Carvao: I think there is a bigger concern with sustainability, which is very welcome in our industry. Consumers, particularly the younger generation, are much more aware of the impact they have, not only on the environment but also socially and on the communities they live in. We've also seen an increase in expenditure per trip, so I think people are very eager to go outside, and they're staying longer. And on the other side, I think there are some challenges: we’re seeing a rise in late bookings because restrictions can change at short notice and that’s having an impact on the decisions of travellers. This is putting pressure on the industry in terms of planning and anticipating fluctuations in demand.

Social media surveys have shown that travellers who have immersive experiences are more likely to post about them, which is good for the industry.

What is community-based tourism and why is it important?

Sandra Carvao: One of the positive impacts of the pandemic is that people are looking for local experiences and are spending more time with communities. So, the concept of community-based tourism is obviously one that puts the community at the core of every development, ensuring that it's engaged and empowered and that it benefits. At the UNWTO, we worked with the G20 and the Saudi presidency back in 2020 and produced a framework for tourism development in communities, which states that communities need to be part of the planning and management of tourism activities. We need to go beyond traditional definitions of community to a point where the industry leans on partnerships between the public and private sectors and communities.

Liz Ortiguera: In July 2022, PATA is hosting a destination-marketing forum and one of the key themes is community-based tourism. The purpose is really to put the community and authenticity-in-culture activities at the heart of the travel experience. There are benefits for all stakeholders. One is that travellers can have an authentic experience. They're not in overcrowded, touristic locations and they experience something new and unique within the community. These experiences are designed in partnership with communities who get the benefit of financial inclusion, and if activities are designed properly, the reinforcement of their cultural heritage. Governments also engage in economic development more broadly across countries. Another interesting trend is creative tourism, which means you create an experience for tourists to participate in, like a dance lesson, or a cooking lesson. Social media surveys have shown that travellers who have these kinds of immersive experiences are more likely to post about them online and that's good for the industry.

It is important to emphasize that virtual experiences, while they are a fun tool, can never replace visiting a destination.

How is technology and innovation helping to leverage cultural resources?

Sandra Carvao: One interesting trend we’re seeing is that more and more people are booking trips directly, so communities need to be supported to digitize their systems. Education and upskilling of communities are important so that they can leverage digital platforms to market themselves. From the tourists’ perspective, it is important to emphasize that virtual experiences, while they are a fun tool, can never replace visiting a destination.

Liz Ortiguera: People have been living virtually for more than two years. Amazing innovations have emerged, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, and all kinds of applications and tools. But the important thing is the experience. The destination. Real-world experiences need to remain front and centre. Technology tools should be viewed as enablers and not the core experience. And when it comes to staff, technology can really democratize education. There’s an opportunity to mobilize a mobile-first approach for those who are on the frontlines, or out in the field, and can’t easily access computers, but need to get real-time information.

How is the sector dealing with labour shortages and re-employment of the workforce?

Liz Ortiguera: Labour shortages are much more dynamic in North America and in Europe. But it’s having a knock-on effect on Asia. If, for example, their air carriers are limited by staff and they have to cancel flights, which we're very much seeing out of Europe, seating capacity then becomes a limiting factor in the recovery of Asia Pacific. That's the main constraint right now. And compounding that is the rising price of fuel. But people in the Asia Pacific are keen to get reemployed.

Sandra Carvao: Labour shortages are a priority for the sector in countries around the world. Many workers left the sector during the pandemic and the uncertainty that surrounded the measures taken to contain it left many people unsure of whether the sector would recover. It is time to address things like conditions, scheduling, and work/life balance, all things which have been top of mind for workers during the pandemic. As the sector recovers, we need time to bring new hires on board and to train them to take over where those who switched jobs left off.

Are we seeing a growing trend towards domestic tourism?

Sandra Carvao: We’re talking about 9 billion people travelling within their own countries. And in many countries, for example in Germany, more than 80% of the tourism spending actually comes from the domestic market, similarly in countries like Spain and even smaller economies. Whenever it's possible to travel again, domestic markets tend to be more resilient. They kick off first mostly due to perceptions of safety and security issues. As the world economy recovers from the pandemic, there is a good opportunity for nations to rethink their strategy, look at the domestic market in a different way, and leverage different products for domestic tourists.

When it comes to sustainable tourism, how quickly could we mainstream eco-friendly modes of transportation?

Sandra Carvao: Transport is one of the key contributors to energy impacts and tourism. But it's also important that we look at the whole value chain. The UNWTO together with the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme just launched the Glasgow Declaration, which includes green commitments from destinations and companies. We’re seeing a strong movement in the airline industry to reduce emissions. But I think, obviously, technological developments will be very important. But it's also very important to look at market shifts. And we can't forget small islands and developing states that rely on long-haul air travel. It’s important to make sure that we invest in making the problem much less impactful.

Liz Ortiguera: 'Travel and tourism' is such a broad encompassing term that it’s not fair to call it an industry: it is actually a sector of many industries. The pandemic taught us how broad the impact of the sector is in terms of sustainability. There's a big movement in terms of destination resilience, which is the foundation for achieving sustainability in the journey to net-zero. We now have standards to mitigate that impact including meetings-and-events (MIE) standards and standards for tour operators. There are multiple areas within our industry where progress is being made. And I'm really encouraged by the fact that there is such a focus not just within the sector but also among consumers.

This interview was first done at the World Economic Forum's studios in Geneva as part of 'Our World in Transformation' - a live interactive event series for our digital members. To watch all the episodes and join future sessions, please subscribe here .

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Fact sheet: 2022 national travel and tourism strategy, office of public affairs.

The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy was released on June 6, 2022, by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo on behalf of the Tourism Policy Council (TPC). The new strategy focuses the full efforts of the federal government to promote the United States as a premier destination grounded in the breadth and diversity of our communities, and to foster a sector that drives economic growth, creates good jobs, and bolsters conservation and sustainability. Drawing on engagement and capabilities from across the federal government, the strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in travel and tourism across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia.

The federal government will work to implement the strategy under the leadership of the TPC and in partnership with the private sector, aiming toward an ambitious five-year goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 90 million international visitors, who we estimate will spend $279 billion, annually by 2027.

The new National Travel and Tourism Strategy supports growth and competitiveness for an industry that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, generated $1.9 trillion in economic output and supported 9.5 million American jobs. Also, in 2019, nearly 80 million international travelers visited the United States and contributed nearly $240 billion to the U.S. economy, making the United States the global leader in revenue from international travel and tourism. As the top services export for the United States that year, travel and tourism generated a $53.4 billion trade surplus and supported 1 million jobs in the United States.

The strategy follows a four-point approach:

• Promoting the United States as a Travel Destination Goal : Leverage existing programs and assets to promote the United States to international visitors and broaden marketing efforts to encourage visitation to underserved communities.
• Facilitating Travel to and Within the United States Goal : Reduce barriers to trade in travel services and make it safer and more efficient for visitors to enter and travel within the United States.
• Ensuring Diverse, Inclusive, and Accessible Tourism Experiences Goal : Extend the benefits of travel and tourism by supporting the development of diverse tourism products, focusing on under-served communities and populations. Address the financial and workplace needs of travel and tourism businesses, supporting destination communities as they grow their tourism economies. Deliver world-class experiences and customer service at federal lands and waters that showcase the nation’s assets while protecting them for future generations.
• Fostering Resilient and Sustainable Travel and Tourism Goal : Reduce travel and tourism’s contributions to climate change and build a travel and tourism sector that is resilient to natural disasters, public health threats, and the impacts of climate change. Build a sustainable sector that integrates protecting natural resources, supporting the tourism economy, and ensuring equitable development.

Travel and Tourism Fast Facts

• The travel and tourism industry supported 9.5 million American jobs through $1.9 trillion of economic activity in 2019. In fact, 1 in every 20 jobs in the United States was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. These jobs can be found in industries like lodging, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation, transportation, and education.
• Travel and tourism was the top services export for the United States in 2019, generating a $53.4 billion trade surplus.
• The travel and tourism industry was one of the U.S. business sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and travel restrictions, with travel exports decreasing nearly 65% from 2019 to 2020. 
• The decline in travel and tourism contributed heavily to unemployment; leisure and hospitality lost 8.2 million jobs between February and April 2020 alone, accounting for 37% of the decline in overall nonfarm employment during that time. 
• By 2021, the rollout of vaccines and lifting of international and domestic restrictions allowed travel and tourism to begin its recovery. International arrivals to the United States grew to 22.1 million in 2021, up from 19.2 million in 2020. Spending by international visitors also grew, reaching $81.0 billion, or 34 percent of 2019’s total.

More about the Tourism Policy Council and the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

Created by Congress and chaired by Secretary Raimondo, the Tourism Policy Council (TPC) is the interagency council charged with coordinating national policies and programs relating to travel and tourism. At the direction of Secretary Raimondo, the TPC created a new five-year strategy to focus U.S. government efforts in support of the travel and tourism sector which has been deeply and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full strategy here

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Travelling, Tourism, Holidays IELTS Speaking Test with Answers

42 min read

Updated On Nov 22, 2023

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This article contains the  Travelling, Tourism, and Holidays  Speaking sample answers.

IELTS Speaking consists of a short discussion between the examiner and the candidate. You will be asked a series of questions on common topics. You have to state your opinion or experiences.

Given below are the actual IELTS Speaking Part 1 stuff based on  Travel  questions and answers, followed by Speaking Part 2 and 3 on the same topic. When speaking, your tone will clarify and convey meaning.

Aiming for a high Speaking score? Take a look at the expert tips and tricks below!

Speaking Part 1

1 do you like travelling.

Yes. Travelling just changes your mind and refreshes you and makes you forget the busy work schedule. When you start enjoying yourself for some time, you get charged up.

2 Whom do you often spend the holiday with?

I often spend my holidays with my cousins at my grandma’s place in Hyderabad which is the capital of Telangana state. We enjoy each other’s company.

3 Have you done much travelling?

Yes. I have. Places which I visited have a very rich heritage and are colourful like Jaipur which is also known as the pink city, Hyderabad which is also a great metropolitan city, Nagpur famous for its oranges, Delhi famous for its shopping centres and food, Punjab famous for its lively atmosphere and etc.

4 What kind of places have you visited in your life?

I have visited almost every type of place where people enjoy their life, places where people have a lot of opportunities to express their creativity, places which are well known for their educational facilities etc.

5 When you visit new places, what do you like to do?

Whenever I visit a place the first thing I do is search about the history or past of that place ,then record the experiences I get there. I write about what I did , what I liked etc. I just jot down in my travel diary so that whenever I open and read it I can relive those memories.

6 Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?

I prefer travelling in a group as it’s always safe and most affordable. Also when we go on a trip as a group we are bonded with different type of people and make a lot beautiful ,sour and sweet memories.

7 Do you often travel abroad?

I haven’t travelled abroad yet. First I want to tour all places within my country.

8 In which seasons do you prefer to travel?

I prefer travelling in winter because the weather and atmosphere remains cool and soothing and it feels good to travel when it’s cool and soul-satisfying.

9 What is the best season to travel in your country?

The best time to travel in India is in the span of November to February when it is mixed weather. In this period it’s cold and dry simultaneously.

10 Would you say your country is a good place for travellers to visit?

Yes , definitely. India is considered to be one of the best countries to travel to because of its rich and diverse culture. The way the people in India welcome others with such a warm heart is tremendous to be felt.

11 What would you recommend a foreigner to visit in your country?

Each and every place in my country is significant for a particular thing. I would rather suggest a foreigner to tour all over India because there is not even a corner here that isn’t unique.

12 What places would you like to visit in the future?

I would like to visit New York and also Switzerland. These are my most favourite and desired destinations because of their scenic beauty and also the people who are very generous and sweet.

13 How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?

On normal days I don’t spend much time as you know I’m pursuing my studies and working simultaneously. So it is really difficult to travel on normal days.

14 What do you do while you are travelling?

When travelling in a car I just sit back and enjoy the scenery. When on the train I really prefer sleeping and if I’m travelling by flight I would prefer reading a novel with my music on.

15 Do you think your hometown is a good place for a holiday?

Yes , definitely. My hometown is the best place to visit on a holiday as it has the best scenic views and a lot of places to roam around. Also my hometown is kind of famous for its delicious food and shopping areas.

16 Are you planning any vacations at the moment?

Yes, I am actually planning a vacation at the moment. I’ve been considering taking a trip to South Korea, which is known for its unique food and beautiful landscapes. I believe it would be a great opportunity to unwind, explore a new culture, and take a break from my daily routine.

17 Can you easily find your way around new places?

I would say that I’m quite adept at finding my way around new places. I enjoy exploring unfamiliar destinations, and I usually start by researching the area before I arrive. I rely on maps and navigation apps on my phone, which are incredibly helpful. Additionally, I often ask for directions from locals, which not only helps me find my way but also allows me to interact with people and learn about the local culture.

18 Can you tell me about the kind of things that you usually do on holiday?

I spend most of my time with my family members because my holidays are the only time I am available to them. I also pay visits to my extended family members. We as a family love to talk a lot, play games, watch films and go shopping.

Speaking Part 2

Describe a tourist attraction you once visited.

You should say

• When you visited it
• Where is it situated
• Whom you went with
• and say what about it you like the most

Sample Answer 1

I love to visit places, but due to my busy schedule, I am unable to go out on a lot of trips on holidays. Before the global pandemic started, I visited Sikkim with my family. I don’t clearly remember the exact date ,but it was in the month of May, 2019. It was summer, but the weather was very soothing there. Sikkim is  one of the smallest states of India situated in the North eastern part. Since my childhood I was drawn towards mountains more than I was towards the sea. Mountains always used to be peaceful and calm and I think that is the most attractive part of it. We started our journey from Pelling which is a small town in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, at the foothills of Mount Khangchendzonga. The town is filled with monasteries and waterfalls. Pemayangtse Monastery is another equally important Buddhist shrine in Pelling. I visited the place the same day I visited Khecheopalri Lake,Rimbi fall, Kanchenjunga falls  and Singshore bridge. It is the second largest suspension bridge in Asia. The next day we visited Rabdentse Ruins and in the evening we were off to Ravangla. Unfortunately it started to rain so we were unable to visit anything but Temi tea garden on our way to ravangla. The next day we were off to Gangtok. We stayed there and went out on alternative days for sightseeing. We visited Tsomgo lake, Seven Sisters waterfall, Banjhakri falls, Rumtek monastery. The days we were not sightseeing, we used to spend quality time in the Gangtok “mail” which they used to call their shopping markets. We were unable to visit Nathula Pass as it started to snow heavily. We visited Yumthang-the valley of flowers and the flower shows of Gangtok. The beautiful snow capped mountains, the waterfalls, the monasteries, the lakes, the people and everything was so serene and beautiful. Sikkim increased my love for mountains ever since. I had a memorable trip which I will relive forever.

Vocabulary for Cue card

•  Suspension: hanging Eg: The suspension bridge is beautiful
• Sightseeing: visit places of that area Eg: She was going sightseeing before she left.
• Relive: to live again Eg: She was reliving her old memories.
• Monasteries: Buddhist Pilgrimage  Eg: The north east is full of monasteries.

Sample Answer 2

The Colosseum, one of the few intact Roman Empire constructions, stands today as a testament to ancient Rome’s architectural and engineering prowess. It is also a significant source of tourism.

I visited it with my family during a trip to Italy. I have always been very interested in the history of Rome, so I was excited about this visit. The Colosseum is a Roman amphitheatre open to the general public. It was built solely for the amusement of the Romans, and there were numerous games held there during the week in ancient times. It was famed for hosting exotic animals, chariot races and gladiatorial combat. We did the underground tour of the Colosseum. Our guide told us how the lower levels would be flooded with water to simulate naval battles during the shows. She also gave us great detail in terms of the architectural structure and cultural importance of the site. I learned a lot and was amazed by the sheer scale of witnessing it in real life as opposed to photos. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you have the opportunity.

Describe a beautiful place you once visited

• when you went to this place
• where it was
• whom you went with
• and say why you liked it so much.

Sample Answer

I happened to have a trip to Darjeeling a few years back. I don’t exactly remember the perfect date, but it was soon after my class 10 board examination. It was a trip conducted by my school authorities which can be classified as an excursion. Darjeeling is one of the prettiest hill stations in India located in the northern part of West Bengal. It’s all about magnificent views of snow capped Kanchenjunga, streams flowing down the mountain slopes, lovely tea gardens, landscapes with firs, pines & ferns, and all that combined with friendly people and modern yet colonial charm. We took a train from kolkata to NJP station. From there we took a bus that was pre-booked by our tour guide manager. There were fifty students and 8 teachers,along with our tour guides. We were served our lunch packets on the bus. We visited the beautiful himalayan railways aka toy trains. It was so beautiful to get a city ride on a toy train by the side of the mountains, stopping at every beautiful spot. The majestic view of the mountain on one side and the busy lives of people in the city was something worthy of watching. We also visited Batasia loop, Tiger Hill,ropeway,Himalayan Mountaineering Institute , the zoo,Rock Garden and several other places. We stayed there for about a week. On the evening of the fifth day, we were given permission to buy things from the shopping area of Darjeeling. As it was an excursion, it’s needless to say about the amount of fun I had there with my friends. On the sixth day we were off to the NJP station recalling the very new memories and sadness of the ending of our much-awaited trip. We bid our goodbyes to the most beautiful place of our dream, but the art of heaven, named as Darjeeling, will remain cherishable in our heart and brain forever. 

• Majestic: having or showing impressive beauty or scale. Eg: The sight was majestic in its own way
• Excursion: a long trip held by the institution Eg: our school held an excursion to hyderabad.
• Relive: to live again Eg: She was reliving her moments with her grandmother.
• Art of heaven: very beautiful Eg: The sketches she makes are like art of heaven

Describe a short trip that you usually make (or, take) but dislike

• where you travel from and to
•  how often you make this trip
•  why you make this trip
•  and explain why you dislike this trip

Since I study in Bhubaneswar and stay in Kolkata, the trip from home to college is often the trip I dislike to make. The journey from Kolkata to Kalinga is the most disliked journey I have to take every now and then. 

I return to Kolkata whenever I get a long holiday in my college and whenever I want to spend some quality time with my family. 

Being born and brought up in  a bengali family, you are bound to be home-sick. And I’m no exception. Just everytime I get a chance, I pack up and return home. So, I have to make the trip back to Bhubaneswar when the holidays are over.

Whenever I return home, my mother pampers me so much that I always feel reluctant to return to the college hostel and live on my own. Though good food is available in the hostel, it is no match to the home-cooked food. So, whenever It’s time to return to the hostel, the thought of doing everything on my own is the very reason why I dislike travelling. But there’s one more reason too. I have to travel alone most of the time and since this is long, I often get bored by the monotonous journey. I usually travel in 3 tier AC, and the people travelling are on a trip to Puri with their family, which makes me want to return. They are all to themselves, and being a grown up it seems awkward to reach out and start a conversation. Thus the dislike becomes stronger each time.

• home-sick: loving to stay at home. Eg: She was home-sick.
• homeland: a place where u grew up Eg: Nadia is my homeland .
• Pamper: give special care Eg: She often pampers her sisters.

Describe a trip that took longer than you expected.

• when it happened
• where you were travelling to
• whom you were travelling with
• and explain why it took longer than you expected.

A few years ago, we were on a  road trip to Digha. It was my elder sister’s Bachelorette party.  There were ten of us, out of which five were her friends, and 5 were cousins. We booked a ten-seater van to travel. It was air-conditioned. If I can recall, it was in 2018. 

The first few days flew swiftly. Then, the west winds started. Bengalis call it Kalboishakhi. Storm, rain, and sea never go well together. Beaches were a prohibited place, and we were instructed not to leave the hotel. Thus, we were stuck inside the hotel room and were all to ourselves. The return trip was canceled, and our journey got delayed. But it was the best time of the year. We had parties and were gossiping, recollecting memories, and even were on movie marathons. 

We were supposed to return after a week. But we returned after 15 days. Even though the situation was challenging, we were having a good time. The weather was scary near the sea. No tourists were out.  But I loved the journey even though it got longer than expected. 

So when we returned, we had a lot to plan and organise for my sister’s wedding. But keeping in mind the storm and the sea, we were buckled up for whatever work stress that was about to hit. 

• Bachelorette: a celebration one gets before they get married Eg: She went to a Bachelorette party with her brother. 
• Kalboishakhi: the Western storm from Bay of Bengal that hits West Bengal during Summer Eg: There’s a possibility of kalboishakhi in the next week
• Buckled up: gather up what you dropped; gather courage Eg: She buckled her up for the upcoming competition 
• Delay: got late Eg: The train got delayed because of the rain.
• Movie marathon: watching a series of movie in a single sitting Eg: The friends were having a movie marathon . 

Describe a trip that didn’t go as you had planned/expected

• where were you travelling to
• who was travelling with you
• what didn’t happen according to plan
• what did you do there
• and explain how you felt.

Last year we were on a trip to Puri.

It was a trip with my family members. We hadn’t been anywhere for a long time, so we decided on taking a short trip to freshen our moods. My father always has this habit to pre-plan all the places according to the days.

One day, we went sightseeing in Chilka and several other places nearby. It was a long day planned till evening. It was all according to plan until my father decided to take the advice of our driver. He was a localite and knew every road and turn. He was well accustomed to the history of the temples and the places. He suggested we visit a few temples that were really beautiful. He also added that the history of those places was very intriguing. 

We returned 3 hours later than we had planned but the journey there was worth the time, we lost. We visited 3 temples, and the driver took us to a small village near Kalinga. We saw handloom works and several other things that will forever stay in our memories.

It was an unnoticed, not so famous village. The people were so humble. We wouldn’t have visited the place if he hadn’t suggested it to us. I had fun, and so did my parents. If I visit Puri next time, I will revisit the place.

• Sightseeing : places inside an area to visit Eg: She went sightseeing .
• Humble: good and polite Eg: She was a humble girl 
• Localite : local area person Eg: He was a localite.
• Intriguing:  arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity  Eg: The friends were having an intriguing conversation. 

A bicycle, motorbike or car trip you would like to go on in the future

• Where would you like to go
• How would you like to go there
• Whom would you like to go with
• And explain why you would like to go there by car, motorbike or bike

The thing that troubles me more often than not when living in the city is that majority of people are riding motorbikes rather than cars. As a result, most people don’t know how to drive a car, including me, which also annoys me, since I have always wanted to take a road trip across the country. A road trip by car from the south to the north of my country would be tough and adventurous  because hundreds of  marvelous destinations are waiting to be explored. However, it is worth  taking risks  and  stepping out of your comfort zone  to truly  experience  what life  has to offer when your legs can still carry you rather than to regret later in your life.

“If you wanna go fast, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.” It might be fun if you were a lone traveller  and didn’t enjoy  getting lagged behind your schedule. But, the adventure could be more colourful and unexpected, when you’ve got company, especially during a long journey like the one I prefer. Hence, my choice would be to pick up a close friend or two who share the same vision, the same  eagerness  to  capture the beauty of nature. We would start from the south where we are living and move north. On the go, we could stop by our favorite beaches a little longer than other places because there isn’t anybody who doesn’t have time for juicy coconuts and white sand paradise. Traditional cuisine  would also be our  utmost priority whenever we reach a new place as the best way to live like a local is to eat like a local. A car is our best choice because it would give us room to  comfortably  converse with  each other and  shelter  from  inclement weather  during our journey if any. It is not only about the destinations but also about the time I would love to spend with my dear friends as we would share the same space in a four-wheel vehicle  along the road; and  at the end of the day , it’s the people that matter.

• more often than not: usually Eg: More often than not, people get confused with this map.
• take risks: to do something that might be dangerous Eg: You have to take risks to win .
• have to offer: have something available to be used or appreciated Eg: She has to offer prayers to God .
• get lagged behind: get fallen behind Eg: The yellow car got lagged behind.
• cuisine: style of cooking Eg: She likes Chinese cuisine.
• utmost: greatest; most extreme Eg: Knowledge is of utmost importance .
• inclement: not pleasant; cold, wet, etc. Eg: The inclement  weather is not safe for flights.
• at the end of the day: in the end, finally Eg: At the end of the day your hard work pays off.
• shelter: protect or shield from something harmful, especially bad weather Eg: The birds are in search of a shelter.

Also check :

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• Common English words in IELTS Speaking

Describe an unforgettable trip you have had

• When and where you went
• Who you went with
• What you did there
• And explain why you think it was enjoyable

Well, it has been two years since I had my very first motorbike trip with my colleagues to one of the most ancient villages situated in the Northwestern part of our country. And I have to say that it was the most memorable trip that I’ve ever had.

Our group with 3 people made a decision to visit a village because we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city  and  get off the beaten track.  Moreover ,  the village was fairly typical of the countryside in our country, so we wanted to get an insight into  the lifestyle of local people there.

We set out for a day trip quite early. I’m always a night owl , not an  early bird , so leaving the city at 5 a.m made me feel like I was deprived of sleep. However, I was  over the moon  shortly after  embarking on the trip to the village. This was because on the way to get there, we had a chance to get  the magnificent views of breathtaking landscapes  which is totally different from the city we are currently living in.  After a long drive, we got to the  picturesque village  which made me feel   deliriously happy. We rented some bikes to cycle around the village to  feel the vibes  of the village. After that,   we visited some 400-year-old ancient house and had a look at communal houses where the local people gathered for festival celebrations or public meetings. Then we had lunch and the food was scrumptious .  In the afternoon, we joined a cooking class with the villagers who were extremely friendly and  clever at making traditional cakes. The highlight of the trip to the village was going to the paddy fields to help the farmers harvest the crop. It was once-in-a-lifetime  experience which we really enjoyed. My friend was  like a dog with two tails while I was also  on cloud nine . We relished everything in the village from the fresh air, cozy ambience to beautiful landscapes such as small houses or paddy fields. We hoped that we can have a longer trip to the countryside down the road if we had more spare time.

• made a decision: Making an agreement to something Eg: She made a decision.
• get away from the hustle and bustle of the city: go to somewhere peaceful Eg: She wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city
• get off the beaten track: get distracted Eg: She got off the beaten track
• fairly typical of: things of the same type Eg: It’s fairly typical of her.
• get an insight into: to gain some knowledge about  Eg: She got an insight into the matter
• set out: begin a journey Eg: She sets out for the journey
• night owl: stays up all night Eg: She is a night owl
• early bird: wakes up early Eg: He is an early bird
• deprived of: devoid of Eg: She is deprived of medicines. 
• over the moon: very happy and delighted Eg: She is over the moon  for her success
• embarking on: to begin a journey Eg: She embarked on a journey to Delhi.
• the magnificent views of breathtaking landscapes: very beautiful sight Eg: She is awestruck by the magnificent views of breathtaking landscapes.
• picturesque village: Beautiful village Eg: It’s an picturesque village
• deliriously happy: very happy Eg: She is deliriously happy.
• feel the vibes: sensing the energy Eg: I can feel the vibes of winning.
• Scrumptious: delicious Eg: The meal was scrumptious. 
• Once-in-a-lifetime: happening once in your entire lifetime Eg: One should visit NYC at least once-in-a-lifetime.
• like a dog with two tails: used to emphasize how delighted someone is. Eg: She is so happy that she is like a dog with two tails
• on cloud nine: very happy Eg: She is on cloud nine today.
• Ambience: Surrounding and atmosphere Eg: The ambience is very appealing.
• down the road: down the memory lane Eg: She went down the road and realised how innocent she had been.

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Speaking Part 3

1 do people in your country like to travel.

Yes, people in India like to travel. India is a colossal country to travel around. There are so many beautiful and adventurous places here. Hence people of India are athirst to travel from one place to another. Indians are always keen on discovering the daring and quixotic moments through travel. Nowadays, Indians mostly travel with friends wherever they get a vacation or a weekend

2 How has travelling changed, compared to several decades ago?

With the growing population and economic growth, India has changed especially in regards to travel. People now travel for uploading travel blogs, pictures or everyday travel videos on social media.The mode of transportation has improved a lot, as travel now is cheaper, comfortable and faster. Nowadays content creators go to places, find stuff and share in social media which is phenomenal. Now travel has become so easy that anyone can go for a long vacation.

3 When do people travel (as tourists), whom do they usually go with?

People usually travel with family friends or loved ones for a weekend to a neighbouring country or for a family vacation or for long travel. There is something within us that triggers us to pack our bags and visit a new place. Tourists mainly visit India, especially the southern part of India, during April – May and December for experiencing the crystal blue waters and soft white sand beaches. Tourists usually visit India with family and friends. Some people come with their loved ones to spend their most adventurous moments of life.

4 Do you think travel can (or, does) change people’s ways of thinking?

I think travel has made people better communicators. It has allowed people to be more patient. Through travelling, people can get to know a lot more about the world around them. Travel increases the desire to meet new people and pushes one to explore all kinds of amazing, admirable things. You become a well-rounded person just by experience. Travelling focuses on a greater sense of empathy and we also gain knowledge about diverse cultures. Interaction with people is another pathway to revitalize our minds. I think travelling really develops a personality. They become less judgemental, more stable, more open-minded, find themselves more optimistic, and don’t panic often.

5 What are the disadvantages of not travelling?

There are many disadvantages of not travelling to a new place. Many educational and health benefits will be missed. We will be unable to learn new cultures and languages. Memories for a lifetime will really pass over. You will not be able to deal with the stress, if you don’t take a break and travel. Also, you cannot sense and appreciate independence. You cannot boost confidence within yourself. You cannot realize your passion if you are not physically exploring places.

Travelling in cities

6 how do most people in your country travel to work.

Most of the people in India own a vehicle. It could either be a two-wheeler or four-wheeler. And the ones who don’t have a private vehicle travel through public transport like metro, buses, or by local trains. Sometimes they travel by subways too.

7 People in cities used to like living downtown but now they prefer to live in the suburbs. Can you explain why?

In suburbs there is a lot of free space available. Also in most suburbs, there is an element of peace and people lead a normal life. But in cities, the places have become more and more compact with population increase. One more advantage of suburbs is that the cost of living is low.

8 What is the impact of vehicles on people’s lives?

Owning a private vehicle is very common nowadays. It makes our life easy as we can travel at our convenience. People have started travelling from one city to another. Vehicles have made their life comfortable. People have also become a bit lazy as they tend to take vehicles even for shorter distances and also a lot of fuel is burnt in this process.

9 Do people in your country prefer to walk or take a car for short trips?

People in India mostly prefer taking a walk if it is a very short trip like walking to the nearby grocery shop. Walking is also essential for a person to maintain proper metabolism. Walking is preferred because firstly it is, of course, environmentally friendly and also it boosts up our immune system ,energy, and also keeps our heart healthy and fit

10 How can big cities deal with the problem of having many people crowded in the same place?

We can help people by providing them with valuable and good sources of information to plan a visit. E.g., Help schedule the time of travel. We can also improve the infrastructure in an area that can reduce overcrowding in the particular region. We can also encourage corporate companies to build technology parks in the suburbs and villages as well.

11 Are there any connections between transportation and the environment?

Yes, there is a direct linking between travelling and the environment. When the weather is perfect and soothing, we enjoy travelling. If the heat comes right above our head, we get irritated and will not enjoy our trip.

12 Does your hometown have problems connected to transportation??

The transportation in my hometown is not good. The public transport can’t be trusted because the buses don’t arrive on time. Also, the people aren’t educated and are unaware of the timings of public transport. The most important thing is that women are concerned about their safety in public transport.

13 How could these problems be solved?

These problems can be solved by making people aware of the timetable of the buses. They can also educate the drivers about being on time. The people can be trained to use metro options too

14 Is cycling very popular in your city?

Cycling is given a lot of importance in my hometown because it is good exercise. People are educated and know that it helps in increasing cardiovascular fitness, muscle flexibility, decreasing stress level and that it also makes our mind fresh and boosts up our energy level.

15 What are the differences between travelling by car and travelling by bicycle in a city?

Car is faster and effective than bicycles. A car can hold more stuff into it, but you can’t carry heavy items in a cycle. Also in a car, safety is guaranteed because of its compact and secured design. A car can house a group of people but a cycle cannot. Also it is way more comfortable than a cycle.

16 What are the advantages and disadvantages of cycling in the city?

Riding a bicycle helps in building mental and physical fitness. It helps in saving a lot of money too. It is rejuvenating to take a cool shower after cycling for an hour or two. As we have pros, there are cons too. We may be exposed to the day’s temperature, which can harm our body ( if it is not moderate). We can meet with accidents. Cycles are theft-prone too.

17 How could the government encourage more people to use bicycles in the city?

Government can create separate lanes for cycling. They can also introduce some schemes related to cycling. Marathons can be held in a regular interval of time. They can even distribute pamphlets regarding the importance of cycling to encourage people.

18 What are the benefits of having a good public transportation system in a city?

Having good transportation in a city makes life convenient and helps people reach their destination on time. It will be safe for girls to travel. Also, it helps in less consumption of fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. By this, we can help in reducing the pollution as we will use the buses rather than our own vehicle.

19 How will transportation in cities change in the future?

There are already many plans that our government is looking into, and one of them is the technology of the bullet trains, which can help people travel in less time at a very reasonable cost. In the coming days, people might develop a technology that can help them reach their destination within the city very fast and without pollution.

International travel

20 do people from your country like to travel abroad.

 Yes , many of my friends travel abroad when they get holidays. Also, many such people are there who go out of India to experience more about the culture, food , people ,climate , of foreign countries.

21 Can you suggest why some people (from your country) go abroad to work?

Some people go abroad to work to get more exposure and gain experience. Some people like to travel a lot. So they take up a job which will help them in travelling. They even travel to embrace a new lifestyle and also to learn a new language.

Traffic congestion in cities

22 what causes traffic problems in big cities.

Due to the increase of population and growth of the economy in big cities, people rush for work everyday which is the main cause of traffic problems. Due to an increase in the number of vehicles on the road such as at the peak hour, lack of vehicle regulation has increased the problems. Sometimes non recurring events like road accidents slows down road traffic and weather problems also result in immobility of vehicles.

23 What could be done to solve this problem?

The more the lanes, the higher the capacity a road has. So cars should be able to drive faster, but that’s a very narrow analysis of the problem. Some technical procedure is needed to control the traffic jams over roads. The use of public transport should be encouraged. Parking should be controlled via universal pay and park-in parking facilities. Proper signboards at each and every junction may also help to reduce traffic. Traffic control systems should be improved, traffic lights should be fully computerized and constantly serviced. Traffic lanes could be created for multiple-car occupancy.

24 What do you think are the benefits of having a good public transportation system in a city?

Travelling by public transport is very useful in saving money. You don’t need to spend much money on purchasing cars. Imagine that you are on a bus, taking a seat, and starting to relax by reading the newspaper or sleeping a little while. Yes, you can do this on a bus. You don’t have to concentrate on the road. This source of transportation is perfect for tourists. It is a good alternative for the older generation. Public transportation sometimes becomes adventurous, and we get to know many new people every day.

25 How do you imagine public transport might change in the future?

I think public transport might change in the future. The world is changing fast. Cities are growing, and the urban population is rising. The need to transport people and goods is increasing, but so is congestion, air pollution, road accidents, and climate change. In the present times, electric vehicles are used for public transport, and the transportation system is enabled through an integrated cloud platform, connecting vehicles, people, infrastructure, and logistic platforms. Bus platooning is improving efficiency and capacity in the city of public transportation. The future is the electric zero mission with low noise, giving the electric combat excavator access to the environmental city zone.

Long-distance travel

26 what are some of the reasons why people travel long distances.

There are many reasons like getting more of a personal perspective, giving yourself some time, grasping more adventure. Also, the most important thing is building a solid relationship with whomever you travel.People tend to travel to meet their family members who stay at a distant place. Travel bloggers travel for fun and pleasure.

27 Is it easier to travel long distances today than in the past? (Why?)

Yes, it has become much easier to travel now than in the past. Nowadays, it is much more feasible and affordable for a person or a group of people to travel even to far off places. In fact, nowadays people just travel because they are crazy to explore the latest technology

28 How does long-distance travel today differ from the past?

Nowadays it’s very convenient and affordable and also we have a lot of options as in to travel anywhere but this wasn’t the case in the old days . People used to travel mostly with bullock carts or either used to take walk for travelling which would take a lot of time but with the help of recent technology we can travel faster

29 What effects does long-distance travel have on people?

People who are old or babies usually get tired in the long-distance journey. If we are with a group of people and travelling, it becomes fun, but if we had to travel alone, we tend to get bored. And also most importantly, it can turn into travel fatigue which disturbs our daily lives.

30 Can long-distance travel ever create problems for people?

People who travel frequently tend to become lonely and may develop long-term health issues that can be very dangerous at times. Travelling long distances isn’t cheap either. Also it is very taxing. Even after reaching our destination we become lethargic and tend to sleep more rather than taking a tour of the place.

31 Does long-distance travel have any effect on the environment?

Travelling long distances by any means of transport will cost you a lot and is also not environmentally friendly. All types of transportation including air create a greenhouse effect in the topmost layer, which is way too hazardous.The most polluting vehicle is the flight. Then comes the car and train. Cars use fossil fuel and release toxic gases into the air.

32 How might long-distance travel change in the future?

With the advent of technology, it might become much easier and affordable to travel. We can reach long distances at the fullest comfort in no time. Recent research shows that electric flights might be coming up in the future to minimise pollution.

33 How would it be like to travel to space?

It would be fantastic. There are very few people who have been getting a chance to undertake such excellent travel. And if I am the chosen one I might be very proud of myself to step into the moon.

34 What are the problems people might experience when going on a trip and what could be done to avoid/solve these problems?

 There are a lot of problems which might occur during travel. We might suffer from health issues or run out of cash, or get delayed, which might affect our whole tour. The only solution for this is that we should plan adequately before we step out.We can also pool vehicles to avoid pollution. 

Preparing for a trip

35  is it important for travelers to carefully plan the trip.

Yes, planning a trip is really important for travellers. If everything happens in an organised way, we can switch to the travelling mindset with ease. Traveling to different places and staying there for a few days will help us to rejuvenate and relax if we arrange everything before the trip.

36 What are the differences between a well-planned trip and a trip that is not well-planned?

Well-planned trips are those which accommodate even the sudden changes that occur on the spot. Talk and discuss the trip with whom you are going. Make sure you have the travel plans. Let the problems be sided and let all the solutions get strained in one piece of sheet. Not planned trips will face budget problems and they will meet with unnecessary expenditures. They will not know more about where to visit how to go, and how to stay. They will not be aware of the culture and of the place they are travelling to and will always face problems.

37 In general, what factors should people consider when planning a trip?

We need to first focus on booking tickets or visas or passports. Internal currency planning, sightseeing, etc seem to be so daunting which is why people rely on travel agents and they don’t mind paying them. But making a plan under budget needs time. The factors that we should keep in mind while making the trip are the number of days needed to reach the destination, travel companions, and adventures.

38 What essential things do people need to take when they go on a trip?

I will now talk about some of the essential things people need to take when they go on a trip: a neck pillow for train or flight travel to relax the body. Eye masks are also crucial for good sleep, as we also need time to energize ourselves through sleep. We need to take our clothes accordingly by keeping in mind the weather of that particular place. You can take a camera with you to capture those beautiful moments, which would remain handy. Chargers and power banks are very crucial during travelling. Skincare products and other necessary makeup materials can make you look glamorous with a photoshoot.

39 Do you think there are any differences between men and women when they plan a trip?

Yes, I think there lies a difference between men and women when they plan a trip. Women start packing a month early. They make several lists, pack for themselves and their kids. They plan many activities for their kids, and they get busy with packing different varieties of clothes and makeup. Women stage things serially and in an organised way, but men remain leftover with last moment packing. Men drag 2 – 3 pairs of jeans, shirts and 3 pairs of socks and shorts, and they’re done. They remain excited and capture the beautiful natural beauty on a camera.

40 People with different personalities sometimes plan or prepare for a trip differently. Can you give some examples of this?

People with different personalities plan and prepare for trips differently as they want to explore and explore that destination from their inner core. Naturally, people travel for enjoyment with family and friends, but some people think differently. They remain enthusiastic about bringing out the dangerous unknown adventure. They generally make sudden plans.

41 How do people find information about places to travel to?

There are several factors which people must consider while preparing for a trip. They should not get so confused about stuffing all the things in one bag. Some usually keep everything for the last moment and get confused. These people must make a checklist and ensure that all the necessary documents, cards are adequately arranged. They should also double-check that necessary medicines and clothes are packed.

42 What factors would people consider when preparing for a trip?

Nowadays we can find information about travel on the internet . We can get information through vlogs, twitter, and different social media sites. We can easily get a detailed analysis and budget list of the particular destination. There are travel agencies that help us with information about unknown places . The encyclopedia and youtube travelogue channels, also make our travel easy.

Travelling differences

43 if you were travelling with friends, what qualities would you like them to have.

When we have to choose the travel companion we should think of a person who is compatible and has a good sense of humour, is sensible, generous and also shares the budget

44 Some people prefer to go on guided tours when they travel while others prefer to travel individually. Which do you think is better?

From my point of view taking up a guide is more preferable as these people have knowledge which may not be in books or any kind of brochure and they also will suggest the best and affordable places to stay, eat etc

45 What are the different means of transport that a person can choose when travelling?

There are different types of transport which one can use for travelling. For example, sea, rail, flight or car. Most suitable out of these is the flight as it makes our travel quick and convenient. Other means of travelling such as public transport or cabs etc also make life easy and enable us to enjoy a tour.

46 In what ways does a person’s wealth affect the quality of that person’s travelling experience?

Wealth does affect the quality of travel we do. If we are rich, we can enjoy a trip to the fullest. The opposite of it is that if we have less money to spend, we may have to compromise our comforts.

47 Whom do you think learns more from travelling, old people or young people?

Young people learn more. The youth get inspired by travelling as they get to know more people and learn how to handle them. They also get excellent exposure, and come across new opportunities. They even get to know themselves and also will have a clear vision over what should be one’s goal.

48 Do you think it’s a good idea to use a credit card when travelling?

A credit card is considered the best friend of anyone travelling. It makes the payment easier and provides certain advantages such as cashback or a reward. People prefer this, as there is a considerable risk involved in carrying cash.

49 Some people like to take a lot of things with them when they travel and other people prefer to take as little as possible. Why do you think people have this difference?

It varies according to the individual. Person A would like to carry a lot so that he/she dont have to borrow anything from others. On the other hand, person B may not like to carry much luggage because he might prefer taking only basic things and buying the rest.

50 Do you think the tourism industry is very important?

Yes, the tourism industry is vital to the world’s economy. It not only takes part in the economy but also plays a vital role as the backbone of the country. It provides job opportunities to the people of the country. It also creates a special bond between the visitors and the localities. We get to know about the history of places, culture and almost everything.

51 What do you think has led to the growth in the tourism industry?

There are several factors that have led to the growth of the tourism industry. One of the most important factors is people’s hunger to learn and see. This “interest” is the reason why people have decided to consider this as a means of employment. Now, the most significant factor of the World’s economy comes from this industry.

52 What benefits does tourism bring to society?

Tourism brings several benefits to society. The tourism industry is the largest contributor to the world’s economy and facilitates foreign trade. For example, India is rich in spices, and our country holds the biggest spice trading business. Yes, if it hadn’t been for tourism, our minerals and resources would have been unknown to the world. The handloom industry is another branch, which has flourished only because of the tourism industry. In short, it has an impact on a lot of factors that are interconnected.

53 Are there any problems caused by tourism? How to address these problems?

Yes. Alongside the benefits, it brings in some problems too. All these trade and foreign business has resulted in exposing our wealth and riches to the other countries. This is one of the very reasons why the British empire wanted to settle in India and make it their colony. If the government is weak, it can easily be taken over and ruin the nation.

54 How to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the environmental damage that is done by tourism?

The economic benefit and the environmental damage can only be balanced by limiting the trading. One should stop forcing the environment to go beyond its limit just to produce a greater yield for exports . The greed for money has led to disaster. Tourists also tend to contaminate the ground by throwing plastics or wrappers. Some throw eateries on the road.

55 What effects do you think international travel has on the different countries involved?

International travel has an impact on the relationship between the tourists and localite. It builds a bond between the people of the two countries involved. This bond will eventually mature into foreign settlements which will be beneficial for both countries in the long run. It also helps better import and export systems.

56 How has international travel changed in the past 20 or 30 years?

With the passing ages, everything has changed. Places have changed their infrastructure. Villages have turned into metropolitan cities. I think currency is an important factor too. The value for money has changed too. What cost 1rs back then, might cost 10 rs now. So yes, that’s a factor too.

57 Can you suggest some things that people should and should not do when they travel to a foreign country as tourists?

People visiting foreign should not exploit their land and properties. One should not make fun of their culture and sentiments. Thus the person visiting a foreign land should respect it as how they want to be treated by their visitors/tourists.

58 Do you think that the media has many effects on tourism?

Media has a tremendous impact on tourism. In the modern world, people rely primarily on social media and news. An unknown place can turn into a popular holiday destination overnight. So yes, the media impacts a lot. Media has also captured attractive pictures and videos which have attracted many tourists too. So behind the popularity of a place, the media played a vital role.

59 Some think it’s not necessary to go to tourist places, now that we can see these places on the internet. Do you agree?

Some people think it’s not necessary to go to tourist places because we can see places on the internet. But it’s like watching a picture of your favourite food and filling up your appetite. Unless and until you are present in that area in person, you can never feel the true essence of the place

Changes in travelling

60 how do you think travelling today is different from what it was several decades ago.

In modern times, we have different modes of communication which were not in history. Earlier people used to walk and used animal drawn carts to travel from place to place. The discovery of petroleum was the light of revolution. Now, one can visit places conveniently.

61 In 20 or 30 years, how do you think travelling will be different from what it is today?

With every passing day, the level of crude oil is decreasing. Many vehicles are being idealised to  draw fuel in alternative ways. Tesla, is one such example. I am sure there will be inventions like this. So yes, there will be a huge difference between today and the future generation. Soon there will be a way to resolve the issue, and we might be able to run a vehicle via solar energy, or any other source for that matter. Even though there will be a lot to plan and implement, mankind will overcome every hurdle. 

Modern technology and travel

62 in what ways has modern technology changed people’s travelling experiences.

 In the earlier times, people used animal drawn carts or palanquins to travel from place to place. With the inventions of technologies, the vehicles have also become modernised. Modern technologies have reduced human effort and so of animals. It has saved a lot of time and it is much more convenient.

63 Do you think the internet has had an effect on people’s travelling behaviour today?

Yes, the internet has impacted indirectly on people’s travelling behaviour today. We can sit at home and book train tickets or flight tickets. One does not have to go to the station and search for trains or go to the airport to book tickets. The Internet has made online services like Ola,Uber or Rapido, which will help us to reach our destination in a shorter period of time.

64 If you were going on a trip, what essential modern technology would you carry, and why?

If i am travelling somewhere, i will carry my cell phone. It’s the modern technology I choose to carry because it will help us in several ways. Beginning with google maps, contacts, or helpline and emergency numbers. Among all the boons of mobile phones, the advantages overshadow them. One can capture the beautiful moments of the trip on their mobiles. They can also play music during the trip. So a mobile phone serves many purposes while you travel.

Vocabulary for Speaking Part 3

• Colossal: extremely large or great. Eg: In fact, this means a colossal amount of foreign travel.
• Athirst: Very eager to get something Eg: She was athirst to get her birthday gift
• Platooning: Use the strategy of alternating (a pair of players or one player with another) in a specified field position in successive games. Eg:   Marim designed a platoon for badminton along with her friends
• Immobility: The state of not moving; motionlessness. Eg: She was almost frozen into immobility by the fear that it would be something illegal.
• Petroleum: oil used to make petrol and diesel Eg: Petroleum is used for all purpose these days
• Crude oil: source of petroleum Eg: Crude oil is a source of energy which is found deep under the ocean
• Tesla:  a modern car working on electricity Eg: He is so rich that he can afford a Tesla
• Revolution: change Eg: Revolution is the only constant
• overshadow: to overcome something Eg: He overshadows his pain with a smile
• Impact: affect Eg: Good food has an impact on people. 
• Adequately: to a satisfactory or acceptable extent. Eg:  He was adequately prepared for the situation
• Hazardous: risky; dangerous. Eg: The situation in which we are working is really hazardous
• Facilitates: beneficial Eg: Befriending the captain facilitated better understanding of the team
• Exploits: destroys Eg: “ You should not exploit anyone’s innocence.”
• Appetite: Hunger Eg: She lost her appetite.

Sample Answers (Updating)

Suggested answers for part 1, do you like travelling.

Yes, definitely! I think getting to know the world, from great historical monuments to white sandy beaches, is what life is all about . It’s a very interesting way to learn about new cultures and explore new places.

Whom do you often spend the holiday with?

It depends on what kind of holiday it is. If it’s Christmas vacation, I prefer to hang out with my friends here and there and have a chit-chat. If it’s the New Year holiday, I just want to celebrate the holiday with my family and relatives in a cozy ambience.

Have you done much travelling?

Well, I’m an international student, so I travel a lot. I’ve been on a road trip to the USA, a vacation to Japan and Korea when I was younger. Thanks to my father. And most recently Australia – a splendid country.

What kind of places have you visited in your life?

I prefer to visit the places which elevate my mood and energize me. I have been to some of the beautiful beaches and lakes in my country. These places bring me closer to nature and rejuvenate me.

When you visit new places, what do you like to do?

It seems to me that there’s a lot of stuff to do when visiting a brand-new place. At first, I would love to take photographs to bookmark my travel experience as well as share it with my best mates. Culture vulture seems to be my other character when I feel like discovering the places of great aesthetic appeal everywhere I set foot in.

Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?

Well, it depends on my current mood. A trip to the off-the-beaten-track destinations, mountainous or forested place, for instance, will be my initial choice if I feel devastated. On the contrary, I will congregate and sign up for guided tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs – one of my hobbies when feeling overjoyed.

In which seasons do you prefer to travel?

I guess it would be autumn. This season has little rain, clear skies, and temperature conditions. It’s really the best season as most places are at their best at that time.

What places would you like to visit in the future?

If I have the chance to visit one famous place, it will be Paris, a must-see place for me. I would love to visit the Eiffel Tower, to tuck into French delicacies in prestigious restaurants. In addition, it’d be great for me to visit the Louver Museum and discover history as well as La Sorbonne University – the oldest educational institution in modern France.

If the choice is in my hands, I’m yearning for travelling to Paris on Christmas vacation when the weather is neither too cold or too hot.

You can find some more questions about Holidays at:  2017 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Holidays & Sample Answers

You can also improve your Vocabulary for Cue Card about Traveling & Adventures which is a common topic in the IELTS Speaking test at:  IELTS Travel & Adventure Vocabulary for Cue Card: Useful Phrases & Expressions In IELTS Speaking

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Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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Your travel trends in France

Inspiration

Reading time: 0 min Published on 11 March 2024, updated on 15 April 2024

Soft mobility, slow tourism, eco-responsible accommodation, technological innovations... The major travel trends of tomorrow are already available. France.fr gives you a few tips on how to prepare your next trip to France with a head start...

Eco-responsible sleeping

Low-energy hotels are becoming increasingly popular, as they are designed with natural materials, recycle water, are supplied through short circuits, and are heated with solar panels. Quickly, head for the Alps, to stay at the bioclimatic La Croix de Savoie hotel in Les Carroz, or the luxurious Refuge de la Traye in Méribel, close to nature. If you prefer to sleep in a tree, with a view of Mont Blanc as a bonus, the perched cabins Entre Ciel et Terre in Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle are for you. Why not an eco-bivouac above Lake Annecy? This alti-dome, with its panoramic roof, will give you a rendez-vous with the stars.

La Croix de Savoie bioclimatic hotel Refuge de la Traye Cabanes Entre Ciel et Terre Alpes bivouac

Slow tourism is the way to go

If there is one trend that is being confirmed, it is that of sustainable tourism, to respect the environment and avoid overcrowding. In this vein, farm holidays are ideal for getting into the rhythm of nature while sharing the daily life of farmers. You will love the guest rooms at the Ferme du Grand Parc, nestled in the bocage of Calvados, and the Bergerie de la Combe à l'Ours surrounded by the fir trees of the Jura. Another activity in tune with nature is hiking. The choice is vast in spring or summer, you can go to the Auvergne volcanoes , or climb the fragrant paths of the Alps with their grandiose panorama...

La Ferme du Grand Parc

We opt for soft mobility

The trend is to favour soft, low-tech, low-carbon transport. Did you say bicycle? It's the right answer! Cycling enthusiasts in France are well catered for. In addition to the bicycle paths that are multiplying in cities, major routes are being designed to cross the country. For example, the ViaRhona, which links Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean in 815 km of cycle paths. And from next year, you will be able to cycle from Dunkirk to Roscoff, for 1,500 kilometres, almost all of it by the sea! Let's get motivated.

Get inspired from your sofa

The "gamification" is very popular, to virtually immerse oneself in a city or a museum or to discover a site through play, in augmented reality. The various technologies used (360° immersion, timelapse, 3D, etc.) allow visitors to visit France's heritage in a different way, from the comfort of their sofa. The streets of Rennes in the Middle Ages, the relief sculptures in 14 museums and sites in the city of Paris, the Palace of Versailles in those days, the Lascaux cave as if you were there... Before discovering them for real!

To become a great explorer, connected treasure hunts are being organised in several large cities, such as Paris, Tours, Lille and Nantes. Get on your apps!

Even more inspiration from a distance on Instagram account of France.fr

Combine business with pleasure with a zero-waste holiday

There is also a clear trend towards greater awareness of humanity's impact on the environment and a desire to minimise this footprint while on holiday. Destinations that contribute to this effort by promoting responsible waste management and coastal conservation are to be commended :

Head for the Glénan Archipelago in Brittany. Here, to help protect several species, tourists and holidaymakers are invited to take a few simple steps, such as taking all their rubbish back to the mainland...

Another committed destination is Saint-Nazaire, on the Atlantic coast. Here, walkers and tourists are invited to collect the marine waste that washes up on the beaches and coastal paths at high tide by setting up tide bins. If you prefer to collect litter in a fun way, take part in the "Touche pas à mon spot" day at one of the 7 sites along the Pays de la Loire coast, where you can learn about water sports, raise awareness of the site's biodiversity and help collect litter on foot or by canoe.

Fouesnant Archipelago of Glénan Tourism

We prefer local mini-adventures

Long-haul travel, which is less environmentally friendly and more expensive, is not as popular as it once was. On the other hand, local tourism is growing in popularity, with holidays offering a wealth of new experiences and sporting activities. There's no shortage of French destinations that offer a change of scenery and great adventures just a few miles from home. Here are some ideas:

• A sports weekend in Normandy with a programme including hiking, via ferrata, a sauna-jacuzzi gîte and canoeing.
• A tourist break in the Vosges . You can watch the artisans at work in the crystal factories of Saint-Louis and admire their creations in special museums or by choosing sparkling accommodation such as the Lalique hotel-restaurant.
• an atypical stay in the Pyrenees , in the Pic du Midi. If you book well in advance, you can dine and sleep in the observatory to admire the stars all night, hike over a waterfall and a small glacier, and walk in the sky to enjoy a 360° view of the mountains.

Recommendations and advice Whatever type of holiday you choose for your next weekend or holiday in France, to get the most out of it, make sure you book your transport, accommodation and activities well in advance (especially if they are rare and popular). And don't forget to use eco-responsible transport to get to your chosen site. Transport accounts for 75% of the emissions generated by a tourist trip. Enjoy your stay in France!

More information: - More trends to discover in the Welcome City Lab's 2021 Trends Booklet

Also to be read : - Saddle up on the ViaRhôna through Isère, Drôme and Ardèche - Where to sleep in eco-responsible mode in the Alps this winter

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Middle East: Is it safe to travel to holiday destinations as tension escalates?

Are you going to Turkey, Egypt or Israel on holiday? The Foreign Office has warned travellers to several countries to monitor advice after an Iranian attack on Israel pushed tension in the Middle East up another notch.

Thursday 18 April 2024 08:13, UK

Tension in the Middle East has ratcheted up again after Iran's attack on Israel, as the world waits to see how Benjamin Netanyahu's government will respond. 

With the threat of widening conflict, people due to travel through or over the Middle East may be asking if their plans may be impacted.

On Saturday, flight data showed dozens of journeys that would have travelled over the Middle East turned back after Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles into Israel .

Here is what airlines are saying and the latest safety advice to travellers.

EasyJet scraps Tel Aviv flights

EasyJet has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv over safety concerns.

The budget airline told Sky News it has grounded its flights until 27 October at the earliest "as a result of the continued evolving situation" in the region.

Wizz Air customers could see schedule changes

Wizz Air cancelled flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 April before resuming its schedule.

But it said customers could experience schedule changes as it closely monitors the situation.

British Airways operating as normal

British Airways - which operates four daily return flights per week between Heathrow and Tel Aviv - said its flights were continuing to operate as planned, but it too was monitoring the situation.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

Turkey is a popular holiday destination for people from the UK with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism saying that last year 3.16 million Britons made the journey there, according to Travel Weekly.

Yet, it borders a number of countries that the Foreign Office advises against travel to.

The vast majority of the country is considered generally safe for tourists, with some exceptions.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Syria , and all but essential travel to the Sirnak and Hakkari provinces.

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

Some parts of Israel are considered "red zones" by the Foreign Office, with the government advising against all travel there.

For the rest of the country - including East Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - the advice is to travel only if it is essential.

Tourist Israel says around 220,000 Britons usually go to the country every year and the Foreign Office is advising against travel close to the border with Gaza, within 5km of the border with Lebanon and within 500m of the border with Syria.

You can see the full updated list of "red zones" on the Foreign Office advice pages.

Occupied Palestinian territories

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Gaza and the West Bank.

Don't travel to Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon or Syria - Foreign Office

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

It advises against all travel to Iraq except to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), where it advises against all but "essential travel".

Can I safely go on holiday in Egypt?

The main tourist areas in Egypt are generally considered safe, including the capital Cairo, cities along the Nile and Red Sea resorts.

Over 1.5 million British Nationals visit Egypt every year, according to analysts Gitnux, and the areas the Foreign Office warns not to travel to include the Governorate of North Sinai, where the Rafah crossing to Gaza is located, and within 20km of the border with Libya.

Read more: Are we heading for World War Three? Experts give their verdicts What are Iran's military capabilities - and where could it strike?

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Check advice on other Middle East states before you travel

Following Iran's attack on Israel, the Foreign Office issued a warning relating to several countries in the surrounding area, telling travellers to check for the latest information.

Included in this are popular destinations like Dubai (visited by more than a million Britons last year according to Travel Weekly) and Marrakech.

"On 13 April 2024 Iran carried out military action against Israel. Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast," the FCDO said in a statement.

The countries covered by the warning include Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan and Oman.

Anywhere else of concern?

Cyprus is near the region and has a large UK airbase but, as yet, there is no change in travel advice to the popular country.

Related Topics

• Israel-Hamas war
• Middle East

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Inbound tourism

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Leading inbound travel markets in the UK 2019-2022, by number of visits

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Spending of international visitors to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2004 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in billion GBP)

Leading inbound travel markets for the UK 2019-2022, by spending

Leading inbound travel markets for the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 and 2022, by spending (in million GBP)

Cities and towns in the United Kingdom (UK) ranked by international visits in 2019 and 2022 (in 1,000 visits)

Outbound tourism

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Number of outbound tourist visits from the UK 2007-2022

Total number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2022 (in millions)

Outbound tourism visits from the UK 2019-2022, by purpose

Number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022, by purpose (in millions)

Leading countries visited by residents of the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 and 2022 (in 1,000 visits)

Leading outbound travel markets in the UK 2023, by growth in travel demand on Google

Leading outbound travel markets in the United Kingdom (UK) over the previous 30 and 90 days as of June 2023, ranked by growth in travel demand on Google

Number of outbound overnight stays by UK residents 2011-2022

Number of overnight stays abroad by residents of the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Outbound tourism expenditure in the UK 2007-2022

Total expenditure on visits abroad from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2007 to 2022 (in million GBP)

Domestic tourism

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Domestic overnight trips in Great Britain 2010-2022

Number of domestic overnight trips in Great Britain from 2010 to 2022 (in millions)

Domestic tourism trips in Great Britain 2018-2022, by purpose

Number of domestic overnight trips in Great Britain from 2018 to 2022, by purpose (in millions)

Number of domestic overnight trips in Great Britain 2022, by destination type

Number of domestic overnight trips in Great Britain in 2022, by destination type (in millions)

Number of tourism day visits in Great Britain 2011-2022

Number of tourism day visits in Great Britain from 2011 to 2022 (in billions)

Total domestic travel expenditure in Great Britain 2019-2022

Total domestic tourism spending in Great Britain from 2019 to 2022 (in billion GBP)

Domestic overnight tourism spending in Great Britain 2010-2022

Annual domestic overnight tourism spending in Great Britain from 2010 to 2022 (in billion GBP)

Expenditure on domestic day trips in Great Britain 2011-2022

Annual expenditure on domestic tourism day visits in Great Britain from 2011 to 2022 (in billion GBP)

Average spend on domestic summer holidays in the United Kingdom (UK) 2011-2023

Average spend on 'staycation' summer holidays according to Britons in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2023 (in GBP)

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Number of accommodation businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2021
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Number of accommodation enterprises in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018-2021, by type

Number of enterprises in the accommodation industry in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2018 to 2021, by sector

Turnover of accommodation businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2021

Turnover of accommodation businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2021 (in million GBP)

Turnover of accommodation services in the United Kingdom (UK) 2015-2021, by sector

Turnover of accommodation services in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2015 to 2021, by type (in million GBP)

Number of hotel businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2021

Number of hotel and similar accommodation businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2008 to 2021

Most popular hotel brands in the UK Q3 2023

Most popular hotel brands in the United Kingdom (UK) in 3rd quarter of 2023

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Consumer spending on accommodation in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2022 (in million GBP)

Travel behavior

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Attitudes towards traveling in the UK 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in the UK as of December 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in the UK 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in the UK as of December 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in the UK 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in the UK as of December 2023

Share of Britons taking days of holiday 2019-2023, by number of days

Share of individuals taking days of holiday in the United Kingdom from July 2019 to May 2023, by number of days

Share of Britons who did not take any holiday days 2019-2023, by gender

Share of individuals who did not take any days of holiday in the United Kingdom from July 2019 to November 2023, by gender

Share of Britons who did not take any holiday days 2019-2023, by age

Share of individuals who did not take any days of holidays in the United Kingdom (UK) from July 2019 to November 2023, by age

Leading regions for summer staycations in the UK 2023

Leading regions for travelers' next summer staycation in the United Kingdom as of May 2023

Preferred methods to book the next overseas holiday in the UK October 2022, by age

Preferred methods to book the next overseas holiday among individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) as of October 2022, by age group

Travel product bookings in the UK 2023

Travel product bookings in the UK as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in the UK 2023

Travel product online bookings in the UK as of December 2023

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• Premium Statistic Travel & Tourism market revenue growth in the UK 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Revenue forecast in selected countries in the Travel & Tourism market in 2024
• Premium Statistic Number of users of package holidays in the UK 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users of hotels in the UK 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users of vacation rentals in the UK 2018-2028

Travel & Tourism market revenue in the United Kingdom 2018-2028, by segment

Revenue of the Travel & Tourism market in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel & Tourism market revenue growth in the UK 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue growth of the travel and tourism market in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2028, by segment

Revenue forecast in selected countries in the Travel & Tourism market in 2024

Revenue forecast in selected countries in the Travel & Tourism market in 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of users of package holidays in the UK 2018-2028

Number of users of package holidays in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users of hotels in the UK 2018-2028

Number of users of hotels in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users of vacation rentals in the UK 2018-2028

Number of users of vacation rentals in the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2028 (in millions)

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Pay to enter: Venice becomes the first city to implement a tourist ticket system

Venice became the first city in the world on Thursday to introduce a payment system for visitors in an experiment aimed at dissuading tourists from arriving during peak periods.

However, it isn't the only place in Italy that has recently introduced new measures aimed at slowing tourist flows.

Here are some of the initiatives currently in force.

Venice tourist tax

The lagoon city has introduced 5 euros (about $5.35) tickets for day trippers, valid from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The experiment came into force on April 25, a national holiday in Italy. Tickets will be needed for the following 10 days and thereafter for most weekends until mid-July.

Venice residents, students, workers, and homeowners are exempt from paying or booking a slot. Visitors aged under 14 and tourists with hotel reservations will need to register, but access for them will be free of charge.

Other cities, such as Como, have said they are considering introducing a similar measure but are waiting to see how the Venice initiative works before deciding.

In addition, Venice has said that from June, it will limit the size of tourist groups to 25 people and ban the use of loudspeakers by tour guides.

Florence tourist measure

Florence announced in October that it was banning new short-term residential lets on platforms such as Airbnb in its historic center. It also offered three years of tax breaks to landlords of short-term holiday lets who start offering ordinary leases for residents.

The city's famous museum, the Uffizi, offers discounts to people who arrive before 8.55 a.m. and lower prices off-season. To spread out crowds, it also closes at 10 p.m. once a week.

Cinque Terrer overtourism

The five villages that make up the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera regularly get swamped with visitors.

To try to reduce the overcrowding at peak periods, the authority which oversees the area said this week it would charge visitors 15 euros (about $16) to walk the most celebrated coastal path. In addition, the path can only be walked in one direction.

Capri tourism measure

The picturesque small island that lies across the bay from the southern city of Naples has doubled its entry fee, which is automatically added to ferry tickets, to 5 euros. The fee will be charged from April 1 to October 1.

Capri, Ischia, Procida, Lampedusa and Linosa changes

These islands have introduced limits, or outright bans, on cars for non-residents during the main tourist season.

China’s Golden Week Holiday: What’s Driving Outbound Travel

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 24th, 2024 at 3:30 AM EDT

Understanding what Chinese travelers want is crucial for stakeholders in the tourism industry to tailor offerings and experiences that match these changing preferences.

Peden Doma Bhutia

Destinations in the Middle East are emerging as favorites for China’s upcoming May Day holiday, commonly known as Golden Week.

Overall outbound travel from China during this year’s holiday is still lagging behind 2019 levels by 13%. But travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has surged by 66%, and Turkey has experienced a significant growth of 56%, according to ticket sales data from ForwardKeys.

Increased seat capacity from Africa and the Middle East, which is set to expand by 75% in the second quarter, has led to this surge in travel.

Corresponding increases in seat capacity to China have backed the travel growth rates of 56% to Turkey, 19% to Italy, and 12% to the UK.

Last month, Trip.com, China’s biggest online travel agency, announced record bookings in Abu Dhabi, exceeding 57,000 room nights over the past 12 months. From 2022 to 2023, outbound travel orders across all products from Chinese travelers to the UAE surged by more than threefold.

Chinese outbound travel to Middle East had already reached pre-pandemic levels during the Chinese New Year period in February.

Pre-Pandemic Travel Patterns

ForwardKeys anticipates that the May holiday will witness notable travel peaks around April 27 and May 1, closely resembling pre-pandemic travel patterns.

In the Asian region, Malaysia has emerged as the top-performing destination for Chinese travelers, with flight bookings currently 42% ahead of 2019 levels. Because of more lenient visa policies, including visa-free travel to Malaysia and Singapore, and streamlined procedures for South Korea, travel to these destinations is expected to surpass 2019 levels in May.

These findings align with insights from Dragon Trail’s Chinese Traveler Sentiment Report , releasing later on Wednesday. According to the report, visa-free policies, direct flights, and simplified application procedures are also making outbound travel more appealing and accessible.

According to ForwardKeys, a notable shift in passenger profiles is the decrease in group travellers, which has dropped by 53% compared to 2019 levels. In contrast, solo travellers are showing a strong interest in exploring Asian destinations, with a 9% increase.

The Dragon Trail report also highlights growing preference for independent travel among Chinese tourists. Travelers also prefer, semi-self-guided travel and boutique groups of 6-10 people, which offer flexibility and convenience.

Value-Oriented Approach

Along with flexibility and convenience, Chinese travelers are also seeking relaxation and comfort in their trips.

Amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and China’s economic downturn in 2023, Chinese travelers are prioritizing relaxation and comfort in their trips.

The economic pressures have led to a value-oriented approach to travel planning, with a majority carefully considering their spending to maximize value and opting for affordable travel options.

Around 20% of respondents who said they would not travel outbound in 2024 cite limited income as a barrier. Only a small percentage (11%) are willing to pay a premium for superior products and services.

Most travelers allocate less than 20% of their income for travel, with budgets typically ranging from RMB10,000 to RMB30,000 for upcoming trips.

Despite budget-consciousness, shopping remains an integral part of outbound travel, with more than two-thirds of travelers spending a minimum of RMB2,000 (US$276) per trip. Local foods and souvenirs are the primary shopping categories, followed by cosmetics, clothing, shoes and bags.

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Tags: asia monthly , budget travel , china , china outbound , golden week , middle east , shopping , turkey , uae

Photo credit: Overall outbound travel from China during this year's May holiday is 13% behind 2019. Florence Lo / Reuters

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Can’t afford Paris? Head to its ‘destination dupe’ Antwerp. What’s this latest travel trend?

‘Fashion dupes’ took off on social media, offering budget-friendly alternatives to pricey items. Now, the concept’s gone globetrotting as ‘destination dupes’, swapping out popular spots for cheaper, quieter, or more unique alternatives – Antwerp instead of Paris, Pattaya over Bangkok. Think less cost, fewer crowds, and maybe even more charm read more

Popular tourist destinations that are often on the bucket list of most travellers bring with them a major concern — affordability. The more famous the place is, the more one might end up having to spend. However, the latest travel trend for this year points to a surge in ‘destination duping.’

As the term suggests, this is a practice of travelling to off-beat places that fall within the budget while offering an experience somewhat similar to that of tourist hot-spots. The ‘dupes’ have uncanny similarities with the original destinations and offer unique cultural experiences for travellers.

The trend, which is fuelled by social media, comes as a response to overcrowding and overuse of resources. Places like Athens have restricted the number of visitors, while Venice and Amsterdam are now charging tourist taxes. This presents a golden opportunity for the ‘dupes’ to bask in the spotlight.

For example : instead of Paris, one can choose Belgium’s Antwerp and its historic charm. Avoid Venice’s crowded gondolas and opt for Ljubljana’s scenic canals and swap Santorini for Paros’ pristine beaches and cliffs. India is not far behind on the trend, with travellers choosing Gokarna over Goa, Zanskar over Gulmarg and Udaipur over Jaipur.

How did this trend surface?

The phenomenon of “Fashion Dupes” burst onto social media platforms abroad specially TikTok, offering budget-friendly alternatives to high-end products. This same principle swiftly transitioned into the realm of travel, spawning “Destination Dupes.” These swaps occurred for various reasons, aiming to provide travellers with alternatives that are typically cheaper, less crowded, more accessible, or simply more intriguing.

Expedia, a prominent US-based travel group, caught wind of this trend by the end of 2023, unveiling a selection of popular dupes in the Asia-Pacific region. Among these were Taipei as a substitute for Seoul, Perth for Sydney, and Pattaya for Bangkok. The revelation was backed by staggering statistics: Searches for Taipei surged by 2,786 per cent over the year, with Pattaya seeing a 24 per cent increase and Perth a 109 per cent rise.

Also read: Venice is charging an entry fee to tourists. But why are residents angry?

Why is this trend catching on?

Nikkei Asia reported four key drivers behind the surge of this trend. First and foremost is the cost factor. While the original destination often skyrockets in price due to its popularity, the dupe typically offers a comparable experience at a fraction of the cost.

Secondly, it’s all about dodging the crowds, especially during peak seasons.

Then comes accessibility. Dupes are often more conveniently located and easier to reach, catering to travellers looking for hassle-free journeys.

Lastly, there’s the allure of novelty. Whether it’s a unique twist on the original or additional attractions, dupes that offer something fresh make travellers feel like they’re getting the most bang for their buck. When a dupe combines two or more of these factors, people are more inclined to switch gears.

Adding to the four motivations for swapping destinations, a fifth factor is emerging: sustainability. This aspect is gaining traction, particularly among eco-conscious and ethically-minded travellers. The allure lies in opting for alternatives to destinations struggling under the strain of overtourism.

In 2023, a study conducted by Skyscanner unveiled that a staggering 93 per cent of travellers would entertain the idea of visiting a dupe destination. Approximately 64 per cent of respondents admitted that the potential savings played a pivotal role in their decision-making process.

Skyscanner’s roster of dupe recommendations included Belfast as an alternative to London, Girona in lieu of Barcelona, Krakow instead of Rome, and Seville as a substitute for Madrid.

Data from the website of travel company EaseMyTrip revealed that travellers making bookings have shifted from destinations like the Maldives to the Seychelles and Lakshadweep, from Thailand to Vietnam and from Dubai to Saudi Arabia. "

Some destinations to avoid   

In November last year, this trend received a significant boost with Fodor’s, a prominent figure in the travel industry, releasing its latest “No List.” This advisory cautions travellers to steer clear of specific destinations due to issues related to overtourism and its repercussions.

Leading the list are Venice in Italy, Athens in Greece, and Mount Fuji in Japan, all cited for the damages wrought by excessive tourism. Additionally, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, California’s San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and Chile’s Atacama Desert are included due to environmental degradation concerns. Furthermore, India’s Ganga River, Thailand’s Koh Samui, and Lake Superior, straddling the US-Canada border, are singled out for water pollution issues.

This release follows an earlier list from 2022, which flagged 10 other destinations, ranging from Antarctica to Maya Bay and Koh Tao Island in Thailand, to Maui in Hawaii, as places to avoid due to similar concerns.

A few challenges on the way

Countries like Slovenia have even embraced the trend as it contributes to sustainable tourism in the long run. However, while destination dupes offer a more relaxing trip and authentic experiences on a lesser budget, there are some challenges to consider.

Transportation can be a hurdle since these are places that are still underdeveloped for tourism. Similarly, planning might also require more effort, given the limited information that is available about these places.

Given how the trend is exploding on social media, travel experts are confident that destination duping is here to stay. It offers a win-win for travellers seeking the real deal on a budget, while these hidden gems benefit from a more sustainable form of tourism.

With inputs from agencies

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Japan's Golden Week holidays begin amid post-COVID tourism boom, weak yen

Outbound tourists worry currency depreciation means higher costs overseas

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Golden Week holidays started Saturday, with train stations and airports across the country crowded with tourists amid easing fears of COVID-19, while the yen's sharp fall against other currencies has made overseas travel more expensive.

"I'm going on a graduation trip that I couldn't make due to the coronavirus pandemic. I want to enjoy a night safari," Rika Uechi, 26, said at Tokyo's Haneda airport before leaving for Singapore with a friend from university.

In the airport's Terminal 2, tourists flooded the international departures hall, which resumed operation in July last year after being shut for more than three years due to the pandemic.

A woman who works in Japan and was returning to Taiwan said, "I'm worried that the cost of souvenirs will be higher (due to the weak yen) when I return to Japan. I've prepared more money than usual."

It is almost a year since Japan downgraded the threat level of COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza and significantly relaxed health measures that had discouraged people from going out.

"It's still hard to take off my facemask (because of the risk of infection). But I'm looking forward to meeting my parents," Chiho Okamura said at Tokyo Station before departing for Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, with her three-month-old son.

Over 2.6 million people were booked for domestic flights between Saturday and May 6, almost the same level as the holiday period last year, and 490,000 for international flights, up about 20 percent, airlines said April 19.

As for shinkansen bullet train and other rail services, a total of 2.96 million seats had been reserved for Friday through May 6, up 16 percent from a year earlier, according to an announcement by six Japan Railway operators on April 11. The figure represents a 7 percent increase compared with 2018, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Congestion is expected to peak on May 3 and 6, the railway companies said.

Yen tumbles past 158 against dollar on stubborn U.S. inflation

Japan foreign tourists top 3m in march, fueling record spending boom, hotels are new darling of foreign investors in japanese property, yen's decline will inevitably affect confidence in japan's economy, rural japan leads growth in inbound tourism spending, latest on travel & leisure, from kyoto to kamakura, japan braces for new surge in overtourism, translation screens a godsend for overseas tourists in japan, japan-south korea travelers help incheon air traffic hit pre-covid levels, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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