More than 12 million residents of the UK have booked flights, transport, or accommodations for international travel planned for 2025, according to research by American Express. On average, these travelers plan to spend around £1,753 on their overseas vacations. This weekend, the British travel agency anticipates a surge in bookings, with "Sunshine Saturday" deemed one of the year's busiest days for holiday reservations.
Interestingly, last year's vacation trend revolved around the concept of "detour destinations"—swapping out famous picturesque locations for budget-friendly alternatives. Conversely, travel agencies forecast this year will see more tourists willing to add lesser-known locations to their itineraries. Online travel agency Expedia reports increased searches for off-the-beaten-path destinations for 2025, reflecting the preferences of 63% of travelers who indicated they would be likely to visit these "detour destinations" during their next holiday.
Among these destinations are Waikato, near Auckland; Girona, which is popular for travelers in Barcelona; and Krabi, Thailand, favored by those traveling to Phuket. Travelers are increasingly driven by the desire for unique experiences, steering away from social media hotspots. Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy PC Agency, states, "We are a generation wanting to explore, find new experiences, and usually visit new destinations." The data suggests this desire is shaping the future of travel.
Day trips are also gaining popularity, with some travelers opting not to stay overnight due to busy itineraries. Eurostar data indicates the average number of searches for same-day trips from London increased from 12.3% in 2023 to 17.9% for 2024, with the trend expected to rise again as we approach the new year. The most sought-after route remains between London and Paris. A spokesperson for Eurostar commented, "We are seeing a significant uptick in the popularity of day trips, driven by the convenience of traveling from city center to city center." The growing preference for rail travel is informing these choices.
Travelers can board trains as early as 6:01 AM from London and arrive in Paris by 9:20 AM, with same-day return options allowing them back at home around 9:30 PM—without the two-hour wait typically required at airports. Passengers also benefit from being able to carry liquids through security without issues. Nevertheless, as Paul Charles points out, there is a noticeable trend of declining weekend getaways as people choose to extend their stay for longer periods at destinations across Europe. “We are seeing fewer weekend trips and more people staying longer,” he notes. Many travelers now leverage their newly acquired freedom to work remotely, often wrapping their vacations around extended working hours.
Abta, the travel trade association, is witnessing rising demands for long-haul and multi-destination travel. Their research highlights Asia as poised for the most significant year-on-year visitor increases, with Japan, Thailand, India, and China being among the top choices. Graeme Buck, spokesperson for Abta, emphasized, "Some key trends we are seeing include increased interest in far-off destinations, especially in Asia and Africa. We find consumers now view vacations as the last aspect of their spending they wish to cut back on, prior to expenses on dining out, clothing, and electronics."
Looking toward the future, based on current booking trends—and notwithstanding geopolitical issues—Paul Charles forecasts, "there will be more people traveling than ever before in 2025." Yet, as excitement builds for such travel, both infrastructure challenges and the capacity of airports, train stations, ports, and security gates draw attention, posing questions about the ability to support the anticipated surge. The travel industry stands on the cusp of transformation as consumers seek new experiences and adapt their travel habits for the years to come.