Latest Travel Trends Ahead Of New Year 2025 [Image courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas]Travel has been breaking records in many popular destinations this year and now is the time to get ahead of the crowds in the New Year to learn how fellow travelers will hit the roads and skies in 2025. While learning the trends from Virtuoso, Skift and Smartflyer, the latest destinations and experiences will give a fresh look at vacations in the New Year.
Latest travel trends for New Year 2025
1. Travel Trend: Silver Bullet Wellness Tourism
According to Virtuoso’s 2025 trend report, produced in association with Globetrender, “Silver Bullet Wellness” is set to increase where travelers seek to cure what ails them. Meanwhile, wellness tourism is set to grow by 16.6 percent each year, reaching $2.1 trillion by 2027.
Ananda in the Himalayas, Rishikesh, India
Palace and valley [Image courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas]One of the best destinations to experience wellness trends is at Ananda in the Himalayas. The world-renowned luxury retreat is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. This world-renowned retreat is at the forefront of wellness with several, time-tested traditional sciences. Here, travelers can experience Ayurveda, TCM, yoga and meditation.
Meanwhile, the retreat has run several case studies that document transformational outcomes across various health concerns. These include autoimmune diseases, chronic musculoskeletal pain, digestive health, hypertension, hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders and more.
Pavilion [Image courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas]Each program combines its therapeutic treatments with ancient healing practices, thus offering guests proven solutions to their specific health challenges. Moreover, guests will learn how to address health issues, including better sleep, fertility enhancement, hormonal health, menopause and more.
Ananda has positioned itself as a positive force for good in the travel world, offering a welcoming sanctuary where guests can reconnect with themselves, heal from emotional and physical challenges, and restore their sense of purpose.
Wellness cuisine [Image courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas]The retreat also addresses spiritual health by offering Vedanta lectures, meditation and mantra chanting in its daily activities. Moreover, Ananda offers mindfulness, self-awareness and inner growth in its program.
With this holistic approach, guests can find a pathway to achieve long-term health, emotional balance and spiritual health. with this and other life-changing experiences, Ananda has made travel not only a means of rejuvenation but also a positive force for personal and societal well-being.
Travel Trend: Sustainability and Regenerative Travel
According to Skift’s Megatrends 2025, 50 percent of travelers will pay more for greener travel. Meanwhile, 59 percent want to support businesses that use responsible travel practices.
Hotel Belmar, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Luxury ecolodge Hotel Belmar in Monteverde, Costa Rica [Image Hotel Belmar on Facebook]Hotel Belmar in Monteverde, Costa Rica is a carbon-neutral ecolodge, set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. The family-owned eco-lodge nestles in the cloud forest, offering 26 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. In 2024, the property underwent an extensive renovation and redesign of almost all of the luxury lodge’s rooms, thus furthering its sustainability ethos.
Along the way, Hotel Belmar has pioneered programs to transform the travel experience and encourage environmental stewardship and regeneration of the ecosystem. Through doing so, it increases the economic benefit of local communities and introduces cultural activities to promote diversity.
Sunset Room [Image courtesy Hotel Belmar]Meanwhile, the ecolodge also debuted a new food and beverage menu in 2024, which makes use of the onsite vegetable gardens and the nearby Finca Madre Tierra farm. Moreover, Hotel Belmar offers the Restaurante Celajes, the Juice Bar and the Belmar Brewery to create the regenerative cycles that distinguish the hotel’s commitment to long-term sustainability. The new menus pay homage to Costa Rica’s agrarian traditions while transforming the gifts of the land into balanced, nutritional dishes, most of which offer vegan or vegetarian options.
Farm-to-table dining [Image courtesy of Hotel Belmar]Moreover, Hotel Belmar’s “garden to glass” mixology menu showcases the garden-fresh herbs, fruit and grains that are hand-picked and crafted into freshly squeezed juices, aromatic infusions, bitters and garnishes for colorful cocktails and drinks. The hotel’s local sourcing and onsite juicing enable it to operate a virtually plastic-free bar.
Travel Trend: Skipping AI for human inspo
According to SmartFlyer’s 2025 trends report, people prefer human recommendations when they travel, rather than AI-generated content.
A personal touch when visiting Rome
The Colosseum in Rome [Image by Oliver Lechner from Pixabay]When visiting Rome, having a personal touch is key to enjoying a more authentic Italian experience and avoiding the crowds. Rome is a favorite destination for people from around the world and will be even more exciting next year when Jubilee 2025 takes over Rome and the Vatican City.
The Jubilee will make for an exciting visit to Rome to explore its culture and religious celebrations. Moreover, it is also the time to seek out personalized advice and experiences to truly experience Italy’s capital.
St Peter’s Basilica, Rome [Image by Nimrod Oren from Pixabay]Meanwhile, travelers can skip the AI itinerary at the most iconic attractions, like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Heading there early in the morning, or later in the afternoon will help to avoid the biggest crowds while enjoying a custom-tailored itinerary with ArcheoRunning. This tour operator specializes in early bird morning tours and has just revealed a selection of new private experiences for 2025.
All are fully AI-free, offering early risers an insider’s view of Rome while enjoying a private running, power walking or walking tour led by ArcheoRunning’s founder, Isabella Calidonna, an art historian, archaeologist and physical trainer.
Rome’s Jubilee 2025
Bettoja Hotels – Hotel Mediterraneo Roof Garden Restaurant [Image courtesy Bettoja Hotels]The Jubilee 2025 promises to be an extraordinary cultural and spiritual celebration, revealing Italy’s cultural heritage. For the perfect stay in the city, head to Monti, just steps away from the Termini Station, where Bettoja Hotels offer three options for travelers visiting Rome without being stuck in the crowds.
Bettoja Hotels is a family-run hotel chain born from the passion of the Bettoja family in 1875. Among these beautiful hotels, the four-star Hotel Mediterraneo welcomes families with its monumental luxury, nestling among the best examples of Art Deco in Rome.
Hotel Mediterraneo, Rome [Image courtesy Bettoja Hotels]Meanwhile, Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio was the first property acquired by the group, and maintains its “Umbertino” style, while exuding all the charm of the Risorgimento. The hotel hosts a cellar of fine wines and an Italian atmosphere of the turn of the century. Moreover, the Hotel Atlantico, located on Esquiline, welcomes its guests in a charming building from 1935.
As the Jubilee 2025 will be celebrated countrywide, travelers can take a train ride to Orvieto, where Lucianna Coppola, the owner of Umbria in Tour, takes them on a personalized insider’s tour of the stunning Umbrian countryside.
Start making plans for a vacation based on these travel trends to enjoy a trip of a lifetime.