These Travel Trends Will Dominate in 2025: Experts Share Their Insights

Expedia Group recently unveiled Unpack '25, its outlook for 2025 travel trends. The report offers insight into what motivates travelers' wanderlust in the new year. In addition to forecasting the most highly sought-after destinations, Unpack '25 highlights the trends and behaviors displayed by travelers as they plan their vacations for the upcoming year.

The newest list of trends includes the rise in popularity of all-inclusive hotels, destinations inspired by film and television, hotel restaurants, and more. 

Experts lend their expertise to these trends as insight into what travelers must consider when booking a vacation in 2025. While any one of these trends offers a unique starting point when planning travel, research remains a top priority to ensure a family ultimately enjoys a vacation.

All-Inclusive Hotels

One of Expedia's predominant trends involves the rise in popularity of all-inclusive hotels. These hotel types, where most dining and amenities come included in a single per-night fee, offer an ultra-convenient way of planning travel that minimizes itemized costs. 

Younger travelers, in particular, show an interest in all-inclusive hotels. According to Expedia's Unpack '25 report, 42% of Gen Z travelers prefer all-inclusive resorts above other hotel types. 

Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit and best-selling author of Disneyland Secrets, predicts the popularity of all-inclusive hotels will continue in future years. He shares, "All-inclusive hotels, like cruise ships, were once seen as vacation styles more suited for older travelers. These days, however, resorts offering all-inclusive amenities are becoming more attractive to younger travelers looking to score deals. Plus, these resorts are pulling out all the stops to offer great dining, exciting excursions, and top-tier amenities."

Theme park journalist Megan duBois urges families to continue their research before booking a trip. "Picking travel based on trends can be fun, but you need to think about what you want to do on vacation first," says duBois. She warns, "Not every all-inclusive is the same. If you're unfamiliar with the all-inclusive landscape, you may want to find a travel agent who specializes in resort-style vacations and can direct you to the best one based on your interests and budget." 

The Path Less Traveled

In 2025, travelers will seek out new ways of enjoying their vacations involving off-the-beaten-path destinations and unique itineraries. Popular destinations will consistently rank high on travelers' lists, but Expedia also predicts an increased interest in "detour destinations." These locations sit adjacent to their more popular counterparts — like Reims, France versus Paris, or Cozumel, Mexico versus Cancun — and offer similar attractions with fewer crowds.

If a detour destination tops a family's list of potential vacation spots, duBois urges them to do extra research to see if the city warrants a full vacation. "Think about what there is to do. Is there enough to fill an entire trip, or should you get a rental car or learn public transportation to venture to another city to explore for a few days?"

Switching up the typical family vacation in 2025 also looks like opting for a less conventional travel itinerary, as nationally syndicated travel writer Monica Fish described. Her kids recently enjoyed a "JOMO," or Joy of Missing Out, vacation. She shares, "We had no schedule, activities, or tours and didn't leave the resort. It turns out 'doing nothing' was one of the biggest highlights of their year." 

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Hotel Restaurants

Travelers once prioritized hotels close to their preferred destinations or properties with world-class amenities like spas. These days, on-site dining options reign supreme when travelers select their hotels.

For duBois, resort restaurants now represent some of the best dining spots in town. "Hotel restaurants have come a long way over the past few years, and many Michelin-starred hot spots are now inside popular hotels," she says.

Top-tier hotel restaurants typically come attached to top-tier hotels, meaning a higher per-night rate. However, Doyle reminds travelers, in most cases, "you are not required to be an overnight guest at a hotel to dine at their on-property restaurants. Knowing this, you can enjoy some of the best dining around while saving serious cash by not staying overnight at that hotel."

As hotel restaurants represent a top travel trend for 2025, families will find it challenging to book dining reservations. If travelers miss an early booking window and a restaurant of choice fills up, duBois recommends, "Don't give up if you didn't get a reservation on the first try. People change their plans and cancel. Try again, and as you get closer to your trip, consider calling the restaurant to see what options may be available."

Pop Culture-Inspired Destinations

Television and film take viewers around the globe to some of the most highly sought-after destinations without getting up from their couch. For example, the third season of HBO's The White Lotus takes place in Thailand, while Wyoming takes center stage in Paramount Network's hit series Yellowstone. These shows, where the location itself steals the scene as much as the lead star, influence where many travelers choose to take a vacation.

Host, actress, and voice behind the Instagram account The Theme Parkette Jessica Gardner knows a thing or two about destinations inspired by pop culture.

"If time or money is limited, don't be ashamed of being too 'touristy' by signing up for a tour or all-inclusive package based on what interests you," Gardner shares. She once participated in a "Magical Mystery Package" in Liverpool, which included stops at Beatles-related sites around the city. The tour eliminated the need to drive around a foreign country, and Garnder found a community of fellow Beatles fans. "Being with other Beatles enthusiasts, wearing Beatles tee shirts, singing songs together on the tour bus, answering trivia questions, and taking pictures for each other was a fun fan experience."

If the budget does not allow for whirlwind vacations to Asia or Europe, domestic destinations also offer an opportunity to enter a family's favorite film or television show. Gardner recommends studio tours in Los Angeles, California, where much of the movie industry magic takes place. Major motion picture studios, including Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, and Warner Brothers, each offer a unique film and television history tour. You’ll also find a full theme park at Universal with many rides and shows.

Gardner recently attended events inspired by the hit shows Friends and Gilmore Girls, both in Los Angeles. She highlights the accessible nature of these tours and events as ways to immerse a traveler into their favorite show without breaking the bank. "People may turn their noses up at the idea of a themed tour or a hop-on-hop-off bus for being a 'cheesy' way to travel, but it's the most affordable and direct way to see what you want to see." Focusing on what makes families happiest trumps any other travel trend this year.