Traditional vacation formulas are less attractive, and more and more of us are looking for new experiences, wanting to get off the beaten track, explore lesser-known natural areas and be charmed by the culinary delights of the destination. Ski holidays are no exception to the rule, transforming themselves into multi-faceted winter trips.
In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, prices for air tickets, hotel rooms and rental cars soared. The reason given: a certain shortage and demand outstripping supply. The trend has since been reversed and is set to continue: prices for flights, rental cars and hotels are becoming more attractive, and this will be even more the case from autumn onwards. Meanwhile, tastes and trends have evolved. Nature, unusual experiences, quieter destinations... here's what our next vacations will be made of.
1. Fall in love with less popular destinations
Tourism generates significant revenue for many destinations, and brings with it a number of serious benefits. But sometimes it's «too much». Travellers then start looking for quieter places, destinations where they can meet and share a few slices of life with the local population. These include the little jewels of Gozo, Montenegro and Ethiopia, a magnificently preserved country. Or the Azores and, further afield, Panama, Taiwan and the Philippines. People also increasingly prefer to travel out of season, to escape mass tourism.
2. Starry skies: the sky is not the limit
Due to light pollution, stargazing is quite difficult in most urban areas. Vacationing in nature has been a trend for many years. Nowadays, stargazing is also part of this trend. Alentejo has been designated Europe's first Dark Sky Reserve. No wonder then that this beautiful Portuguese province is arousing growing interest in night-time activities. Another incredible spot is the Canaries, at the summit of Mount Teide or on the island of La Palma. In South Tyrol (Italy), a planet trail now guides visitors through nature, passing by all the planets in our solar system. At the end of the trail, you can observe up to 19 million celestial bodies in Europe's very first star village. Closer to home, the Duinenhuis Koksijde, with its observatory in the middle of the dunes, offers an incredible opportunity to admire the stars.
3. Nature destinations‘
Tourists are interested in more than just stargazing. There is a growing demand for trips to witness rare natural phenomena such as the aurora borealis or eclipses, as well as for journeys to remote destinations where nature plays the leading role, such as Antarctica, Greenland and Iceland. Cruise operators such as Belgium's Rivages du Monde, Holland America Line, Grands Espaces and Seabourn are seeing an increase in such requests. On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be observed in northern Europe. Passengers will be able to fully experience this eclipse on a 28-day Holland America Line cruise departing from Rotterdam on July 25, 2026.
4. Combining travel and culinary delights
Many of us rely on authentic gastronomic experiences or cooking classes with local people. For an unforgettable gastronomic vacation, go to Italy, to the Roter Hahn (www.roterhahn.it) for example, which offers not only farm vacations but also a real cooking school. Malta, meanwhile, is renowned for its cuisine blending Arabic, Italian, French and English influences. Collateral tendency: many people prefer to avoid hotels offering all-in packages to discover street food, which is very popular in Asia and certain Latin American countries, for example.
5. Winter sports version 2025
Winter means ski vacations. But nothing could be further from the truth. The traditional seven-day ski holiday is a thing of the past. The new trend is the combined winter trip! In the morning, for example, you'll be on the slopes at the Slovenian ski resort of Krvavec, and in the evening, you'll treat yourself to a mini city trip to Ljubljana. The program includes a refined dinner, a visit to the opera and an overnight stay in one of the city's finest hotels. Another option: fly direct from Antwerp airport to Bolzano with SkyAlps to enjoy the Meran 2000 ski area, and the following day, immerse yourself in the Mediterranean atmosphere of Bolzano and Merano. Another trend is ski touring. Many resorts, including Davos, now offer this activity. The idea is to combine a hiking holiday with a skiing holiday. Sexten boasts the very first ski touring trail in South Tyrol. The two-hour ascent is signposted. Then it's downhill on skis.
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