With 2025 drawing to a close, travel experts and industry insiders have been busy issuing their predictions for the coming year.
Companies like Priceline and American Express have already weighed in on the destinations and travel styles that we can expect to see in the coming year. (Hint: More spontaneous travel is expected to be a thing and the top places to visit include India’s Himalayas and Marrakech, Morocco.)

Good to know, right?

But those aren’t the only developments to be on the lookout for in 2026.

UK-based InsureMyTrip has just released its own set of predictions and there are two key themes the insurance provider is seeing: a deeper environmental awareness and the expectation that every trip will be tailored to the individual.

“Holidaymakers are already leaning towards trips that hold more meaning, at a more relaxed pace, meeting their personal preferences and desires,” said Sara Boisvert, marketing director for InsureMyTrip.

“In 2026, travelers will favor choices that emphasize authenticity, slower logistics, and measurable sustainability, whether for a weekend escape or a longer journey,” Boisvert added.

Here are some of the additional developments Boisvert thinks we’ll see.

Romantasy and movie-inspired holidays

Books remain a beloved travel companion and in 2026 we’re likely to see even more of that, suggests Boisvert. What specifically makes Boisvert think that? A rise in related hashtags on social media.

“Hashtags such as #beachread, which now has more than 64,000 posts on TikTok, and rising search interest in phrases like ‘best books for holiday’ show that people are actively seeking reading that fits their downtime,” says Boisvert.

But hang on, this development is not just about bringing the right book on your vacay. Fantasy aesthetics are crossing from books and screens into real itineraries, says Boisvert.

“Travelers in 2026 will increasingly seek stays and activities that let them live their own romantasy story, be it surrounded by enchanted forests or mystical castles,” she predicts.

No longer confined to fiction, fantasy will become a travel blueprint, offering magical escapes where imagination and adventure meet.

Road trips reimagined

Some suggest millennials brought road tripping back, but whether that’s actually reality or not, road tripping is set to evolve in 2026 into a more social and relaxed experience, says Boisvert.

This is largely due to the growth of #vanlife, explains Boisvert, which has families, couples, and friends alike increasingly tempted by a vacation that allows for slowing down, reconnecting, and small-scale encounters.

Need further proof of this development: Search interest for road trip apps has grown by 457% in the past year, with an impressive 92% just this quarter, according to InsureMyTrip, which seems to indicate that road tripping, which dates back literally decades, is definitely having a moment right now. And for at least some travelers, technology may help make this longtime tradition a more relaxing and convenient experience.

Glow-cations and wellness holidays

Wellness travel, another trend that has been around for quite some time, is also predicted to have a heightened focus in 2026, one that will include emphasis specifically on restoration. And resorts around the world are more than happy to accommodate.

“Resorts and wellness providers have already started offering a wide range of wellness retreat options, including private spa retreats, yoga retreats, and detoxing holidays, for the ultimate wind-down and feel-good trip,” says Boisvert, who added that the emphasis will be on feeling and looking fantastic.

Travelers may also seek immersive, place-led approaches: cooking with host families, joining small rewilding projects, or taking part in guided meditation and forest-bathing sessions to reduce screen time and deepen connection, added Boisvert.

Moreover, according to InsureMyTrip, globetrotters next year will be busy seeking out low-impact travel options that deliver distinctive, memorable moments and celebrate individuality, connection, and well-being.

Visit at travelpulse.com/Tribune News Service

The Himalayan mountain range of Annapurna and Mount Machapuchare (top, C) are pictured from Nepal’s Pokhara. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP via Getty Images)
The author writes that wellness travel is predicted to have a heightened focus in 2026, one that will include emphasis specifically on restoration. (Photo Metro Creative Services)