Travel Trends We’re Looking Forward to in 2023
Families Want to Ride the Rails
According to Pinterest, in 2023 more families will ride the rails for their next vacation. Nobody has to drive, your sleeping quarters are included, and you get to see some of the most gorgeous areas of the country. Bonus: it’s super eco-friendly. From trains that take you to five national parks, to those that take you from New England to Florida, there’s so much exploring to do.
All-Inclusives Are Worth the Money
Once thought of as a honeymoon-only extravagance, families are turning toward all-inclusive properties for vacations, especially when traveling with grandparents. Nobody has to cook, you know what you’re going to spend in advance and kids will love getting to order mocktails from the swim-up bar. Some of our favorite just-opened spots are Club Med Tignes, the ski-in/ski-out resort in the French Alps, and Royal Uno in Cancún.
Back to the Big City
The last few years have seen road trips and national parks vacations getting their time in the spotlight. According to Expedia, cultural capitals like Edinburgh, Lisbon, Tokyo, Dublin, and Sydney are going to see a lot more travel focus for 2023. We can get on board for that!
Travel as a Form of Self-Care
With so much time to ourselves these past few years, we’ve come to know what we want and what we need to do to get it. Self-care has infiltrated the travel space with many hotels offering special pampering packages for moms (because really, moms need it the most). We expect to see lots more of that in 2023.
Road Trips (Still) Reign Supreme
The past few years really brought back our love of the road trip. If you are itching to find a new destination for 2023, check out this list of our favorite road trips in the U.S. and find unique Airbnb rentals you can reserve along the way. Before you head out, peruse this list of road trip hacks to get your crew prepared for the long journey, and download some of our favorite podcasts for kids so you don’t have to fight over the radio station.
Guided, Small-Group Trips
We want to go big with our travel plans but the actual planning of the trip is most definitely not part of the fun. Leave the planning and execution of your trip up to experts like Exodus Travels. You can book a private trip for your family, or join in a small group with other families that have similarly-aged kids to make it even more fun. Whether you go self-guided or have an expert there to show you the way, this type of travel is definitely the way to go for families.
Another great option for a customized travel experience is Costa Rica Escapes, a company that specializes in creating family adventures based on the needs of your family. Definitely something you’ll want to explore in 2023.
Off-the-Grid Adventures
Many of us have developed our love of the great outdoors these past few years and we’ll be looking for off-the-grid adventures for our 2023 trips. Think about a kayak trip in Yellowstone or a ranch vacation complete with a hot spring pool in Idaho. There are tons of awesome options out there with no WiFi in range.
Ride Off into the Sunset in an RV
While most of us never considered RV travel as a fun option for a family, it has exponentially increased in popularity in recent years and we expect this trend to continue into 2023. If you are a total RV newbie, we suggest leaving the planning to the experts when you book your first RV trip. Think you can handle it on your own? Rent an RV, grab yourself a WiFi hotspot and head out on the road to give road schooling a try. You can even try out the rad stylings of a camper van!
Cozy Cabins to Get Away from It All
There’s something so restorative about a weekend in the woods. Cabin rentals have become super popular and we don’t expect that to change in 2023. They offer families time together, many times without WiFi, and you can even bring your dog.
Explore Second-City Travel
Living through a pandemic means we’re all a little wary of traveling to crowded destinations. How about you swap touristy destinations like Venice and the Caribbean with lesser-known destinations that have the same feel but fewer tourists? This travel trend offers families a more low-key trip and the opportunity to get a more specialized experience while also lessening the impact of over-tourism on cities. Tour companies like True Colombia Travel allow families to experience cities rarely seen by tourists like Pasto, Colombia. Families are looking for immersive cultural experiences and 2023 will bring it.
Take the Family Glamping
Glamping gives you the best of both worlds—the smell of a campfire in your hair and an actual bed to sleep on. You won’t have to schlep all of your camping gear with you, everyone gets a better night’s sleep, and you still get time out in the woods away from WiFi and civilization. Check out some of our favorite spots for glamping including loads of options in California.
Make It a Micro-cation
If time and money are tight (hello, inflation), consider a micro-cation for your next family trip. These four-day-or-less trips allow you to see someplace new and get a break from everyday life. It’s a good way to get the kids used to traveling without having to pack a ton of gear for everyone. Surprise the kids with a last-minute trip and see a new part of the country.
Spend Some Time in a National Park
With over 400 national parks in the United States, chances are there are quite a few nearby that you have yet to explore. National park trips are particularly fun for families as they give kids (and parents!) a little history lesson and a big dose of fresh air at the same time. Check out these national parks that are particularly kid-friendly from California all the way to Maine.
