With the new year approaching, travellers are starting to make their 2024 vacation plans. More and more people are turning away from booking popular tourist traps. Instead, the trend for 2024 is about planning vacations based on vibes.

Travellers want to go to places that make them feel something. Cultural exploration trends can include planning a trip to find the best local cuisine or choosing a destination featured in a movie.

Good Vibe Vacations Only

Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2024 report featured cultural destinations as the latest and greatest trend for vacationers. Over 40 per cent of those surveyed by the travel agency reported that a destination’s “overall vibe” helped them choose where to go.

Travellers want to book trips where they immerse themselves in the destination. They also want to feel connected to the place that they’re visiting. For instance, if they have a favourite TV show, they may want to plan a trip after seeing the destination featured on their screens. Here are a few of the best movie and TV-inspired travel ideas:

• Croatia for Game of Thrones. Croatia boasts several Game of Thrones filming locations, but the most iconic is Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s stone fortresses and narrow cobblestone streets made for the perfect King’s Landing.

• France for Emily in Paris. After the release of season 3 of the hit Netflix show, Paris vacation searches surged by more than 30 per cent. Travellers can visit spots highlighted in the show, such as the La Maison Rose, Canal St. Martin, and Monnaie de Paris.

• Scotland for Outlander. Fans of the time-travel romance love to flock to the historical landmarks featured on the show. A few highlighted spots that guests can explore include the Drummond Castle Gardens, Calderglen Country Park, and Loch Katrine.

• Tunisia for Star Wars. Devoted fans have booked trips to explore Tunisia, a North African country featured in the first six Star Wars Filmmakers used the region to recreate the fictional Tatooine, the home planet of Luke Skywalker.

The Rise of Gig Travelling

Another part of the cultural experience travel trend is following favourite artists worldwide. Instead of waiting for bands and singers to play locally, travellers are willing to fly to see top musicians. Superfans who want to see artists like Taylor Swift and Beyonce plan vacations around their concert venues.

A recent study found that most fans would go as far as 600 miles to see their favourite artists. The Gen Z crowd reported that they would travel even farther than most, with the majority stating they’d go up to 800 miles to a venue. The concert is only one part of a destination concert trip. Fans book extended stays in the venue city to sightsee before or after the show.

Travelling as a Foodie

In 2024, more vacationers will choose destinations based on the reputation of local cuisine. In the Skyscanner report, over 47 per cent of survey respondents stated they had booked travel based on a preferred restaurant.

Many travellers leave a lot of room in their budget to spend on dining out while on vacation. The average food and beverage cost per person on vacation is $67 daily. Foodies who want more fine dining experiences while travelling abroad will have a much higher budget.

Budget Travelling

Budget travel is also trending for the new year. Vacationers want more bang for their buck. Instead of spending a fortune on spots like Bora Bora and Monaco, travellers are heading to locales that don’t require taking out a second mortgage to afford. The following areas are perfect value destinations in 2024:

• Punta Cana
• San Juan
• Calgary
• Nassau
• Montego Bay
• Toronto

Another part of the budget-friendly trend is to book “dupes” for more expensive vacation spots. Through social media, influencers have shared recommendations for places that are more affordable alternatives to popular destinations.

For instance, Paros is a less expensive dupe for those who want to visit Santorini in Greece. Curacao is less costly than visiting St. Martin when travelling to the Caribbean. Another idea is to travel to Quebec City for a similar experience to Geneva.

Security While Travelling

No matter where you travel in 2024, staying safe is a top priority. Never travel alone at night, and keep your vacation plans private. Make copies of your important documents, and don’t travel with much cash.

One safety issue that has caused problems while travelling is Wi-Fi safety. Although you may want internet access while travelling, public Wi-Fi puts you at risk for malware and identity theft. To combat the issue, you can use a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “virtual private network”. The purpose of VPN service is to help protect your data and keep your internet connection secure. While using a VPN, hackers can’t gain access to your passwords or any other sensitive information. Another perk of a VPN for travelling is that some countries block websites. With a VPN, you can continue to use your computer as usual without being restricted due to your current location.

A Final Word

Wherever you decide to go, don’t forget to be proactive about your security while travelling abroad. Choose the trend that calls to you the most and travel the world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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