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Places to go and people to see… you better have some! Because nothing recharges your batteries and makes you feel better about life than getting away from it all for a while! I’m the luckiest gal on the planet in that work continues to take me to exciting destinations each year. I’ve already kicked off 2018 with a few trips to Washington D.C., a jaunt to Mexico, New York City for my son Cullen’s graduation, and the trip of all trips last month to India with the Stanimal?! It was AMAZING in so many ways, not least of which was creating a once in a lifetime memory with my little (no so little anymore) guy! If you haven’t seen pictures of me on camel-back, check ‘em out! Destinations and ways to play are always changing, so we put together 2018 Travel Trends to inspire your next adventure!

Off The Beaten Path Locations

Millennials are the ones who started this trend a decade ago and I couldn’t be happier (cuz, seriously, there are SOOO many more interesting places to visit in the world than Orlando!). Primitive villages in Mongolia, a tea plantation in Sri Lanka… until ten years ago it was only National Geographic photographers who visited these remote locations. Now, they’re all the rage! If you’re the type of person who can forsake five-star luxury in exchange for a rare experience, here are five ideas to consider. (You might have to work a little harder to get there, but you’ll definitely find inexpensive accommodations and food options once you arrive!)

Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania

Maybe you love the Planet of the Apes movies! (ahem, not!) Or, maybe you just want to observe primates in their jungle habitat. This chimpanzee preserve in the mountains is where Jane Goodall’s research took place. It’s only accessible by boat and the park restricts the number of guests who can visit at any one time. If you’re an animal lover, this might just be for you!

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Know that steep labyrinth of blue-washed buildings you see in the movies? That’s Chefchaouen! Located in the Rif Mountains, after you marvel over this magical maze of architecture, there’s still hiking and a waterfall nearby!

Trappist Brewery Tour in Belgium

Monks, (yes, those guys in the brown scratchy burlap!) are the original brew masters! Seriously, they’ve been making beer since the middle ages! See how the friars live and then enjoy some serious ale! Belgium’s six Trappist breweries are spread across the country – three in northern Flanders (Achel, Westmalle and Westvleteren), and three further south in Wallonia (Orval, Chimay and Rochefort).

Vanuatu

Enjoy the white sand beaches and pristine turquoise waters of the South Pacific without the tourist traps of Bora Bora or Fiji. This archipelago features volcanoes, wreck diving, water adventures, and stunning beauty.

Kek Lok Si Temple in Malaysia

Visit the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia that draws pilgrims from all over Asia. There are tons of open markets for street food, but there are also seaport cafes with waterfront views, mountains to climb, rickshaws to ride, hilltop trams, botanical gardens and, yes, even a primitive “escape room!”

Going Solo

One of the top 2018 travel trends is traveling solo – especially for women. Not only are there women-only tour operators like WHOA, there’s been an increase in women taking 3-month sabbaticals after changing careers, dealing with health issues, or going through a divorce. If you’ve never travelled alone, there is the misconception that it will be boring because there won’t be anyone to talk to. But I’ve never found that to be the case! In fact, I end up meeting way more interesting people when I’m traveling by myself. And, let’s face it, I’m never short on conversation!

Farm Stays

Another travel trend for couples and families alike is vacationing at a working farm where you get to feed and care for animals, tend the garden, and make your own food. If you live in a city and spend your day in an office, the rural getaway might appeal to you. But be warned! You’ll have to get up with the sun to milk the cows and goats, so if you don’t like alarm clocks (#snoozebuttonforlife), look elsewhere!

Culinary Getaways

Ravioli in Tuscany? Pad Thai in Phuket? Pastries in Provence? Stuffed grape leaves in Greece? Am I making you hungry yet??? Culinary vacations are where you travel to a location and your daily activities include cooking classes of local cuisine. If you love learning new cooking techniques and/or stuffing your face with food, this is the holiday for you! While we’re on the topic of food… wondering about the menu for your next soiree? Then you need to check out our 65 Super Secret Party Tips Guide!

Laid-Back Luxury

Another 2018 Travel Trend that the hospitality industry is seeing are guests who want a luxurious experience where they can wear sweat pants and flip flops. In the old days (that’s you mom and dad!) if you went to a fancy-schmancy hotel you had to look the part. Not anymore! Now you can indulge in 5-star luxury and ditch the St. John apparel. Go ahead, rock your t-shirts and tennies!

Wellness & Nature

As interactive voice command technology becomes more pervasive, more hotels are rethinking guest rooms and wiring them to include entertainment centers and Alexa or Siri type controls for therapeutic features such as colored LED lighting and audio. Imagine being able to tell your room to play nature sounds as you lay your head on the pillow, or create a romantic ambiance with colored lighting. Some resorts have rooms that bring spa aromatherapy to the guest room itself. Chains like Kimpton include yoga mats for stretching without having to go downstairs to use the fitness room. Some even offer saunas and mineral baths in the privacy of your own room.

There is also a trend toward hotels integrating nature into their design, from room views of scenery and vertical gardens on the facade of the building to fountains and moss panel interiors, guests prefer the wellness aspects of natural surroundings, which have been proven to reduces stress.

Family Travel

When it comes to family travel, more and more parents prefer to take their kids on trips that revolve around nature as an antidote to the screens and technology that kids are glued to everyday. Trips to UNESCO heritage sites and national parks like Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Belize and Costa Rica are popular picks this year, as are African safaris, swimming the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and hiking in Yosemite and the Canadian Rockies.

Volunteer tourism is also a trend in family travel, no longer reserved for kind-hearted hipsters! Wanting to instill a sense of philanthropy in children, parents are choosing to take their kids to developing nations. Not just to show them an authentic experience of another country, but to give back to communities less fortunate. Sure, these trips offer landmarks and tourist stuff too, but they also open kids’ eyes to how other children live.

Now that everyone’s having their DNA tested, Ancestry Travel has become a popular vacation trend that allows families to visit the places their family is from.

Bucket List Trips

We’ve all got one, right?! If you don’t, you better start cuz time is ticking away! Here are some suggestions I’m going to throw out because they are popular bucket list items:

Scottish Highlands

Rugged coastlines, ancient castles, verdant hillsides, mysterious folklore… and WHISKEY! Who’s in?!

Viewing the Aurora Borealis

The higher above the Arctic Circle you travel the better the viewing. It can be done in Alaska, Iceland, Canada, Sweden… this vantage is from Norway! Simply magical!

Chitwan National Park in Nepal

Rhinos? Rhi not?! This world heritage site is home to rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, leopards, crocodiles, wild boars, mongooses, monkeys and a bazillion bird species. It’s a nature lovers paradise!

Great Pyramids of Egypt

Considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world, I’m still not entirely convinced the pyramids aren’t homing beacons of extraterrestrials, but they are jaw-dropping to look at!

Ancient Temples of Burma

It’s shocking that ancient architecture like this can be so beautifully elaborate! There are literally thousands of temples across Burma that date back to the 9th century!

Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa of Iceland

YES, please!!! Iceland is known for its rejuvenating hot springs. Go indulge in the warm, healing waters and then get out and freeze your *ss off!

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

There are waterfalls and then there are WATERFALLS! If you like water that, well… falls, then this place needs to rise to the top of your list!

Easter Island Chile

More alien homing beacons! I’ve always been fascinated by how cool these things look! If you’re going to trek to South America, Chile is your jumping off point for Antarctica or the Andes Mountains as well.

Next week we’ll be sharing the best travel hacks for packing, flying and booking travel! If you’re looking for adventure closer to home, why not host a party?! We’ve got all the entertaining ideas you could ever wish for. Check out our Secret Party Tips Guide – it’s FREE!