Travellers are pushing back against high costs and bad service in 2025. Instead of looking for ways to beat the system, they avoid it altogether.
Consider what happened to Gerri Hether when she recently called to book a few nights at a resort in Alpine, Texas. The hotel had quoted her an affordable rate, but when she got to its website’s payment page, they hit her with a resort fee, unexpected sales taxes and a convenience fee.
“It was a huge discrepancy,” says Hether, a retired nurse from Mesa, Ariz. “A real scam.”
She backed out of the reservation. But the hotel wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
“They called me and tried to convince me to complete the booking,” she recalls. “I ended up hanging up — and blocking their number.”
Well, no means no. And in 2025, many travellers say “no” to all kinds of things. Instead, they’re turning to businesses that offer value, authenticity and a better travel experience.
Here’s what they’re refusing.
- Hotel resort fees
Resort fees are added costs for things like Wi-Fi or use of the hotel pool. Hotels often hide these fees until the last minute, as they did for Hether.
Travellers are frustrated with these surprise fees. Worse, the services they supposedly cover are often of little value to the guests.
Guests say they want more transparency in hotel pricing — in other words, they want the initial rate to include any mandatory extras, like resort fees. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission created a new rule that requires hotels to clearly and conspicuously disclose the total price, including all mandatory extras, whenever they display or advertise a price for short-term lodging. However, whether the Trump administration will enforce the rule remains to be seen.
Should you turn down a hotel that forces you to pay a resort fee? Yes, absolutely. If enough people refuse, these unconscionable charges will disappear.
- Overcrowded destinations
Travelers are tired of huge crowds. They diminish the travel experience and strain local communities and their resources. Also, travellers often get a less-than-friendly reception when visiting a popular destination during peak season.
Travelers are looking for less crowded places, even if it means choosing lesser-known destinations. Places like Venice, Santorini, Athens, and Rome are out for 2025, according to travel advisor Steve Torres.
“Think twice about destinations that are known for their crowds,” he adds. “Instead, explore lesser-known places that offer similar charm without the hustle and bustle.”
Should you avoid a crowded destination in 2025? Almost always, the answer is yes. Unless you must be in a tourism hotspot for a special event, like Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, or the World Cup soccer matches, you should run from the crowds because they will only worsen in 2025.
- Connecting flights
Flight delays and cancellations have annoyed air travellers since the invention of the evil hub-and-spoke system, which forces you to change planes in airports like Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago. Travellers say they want less time in airports and more at their destinations. So they’re refusing to connect.
Thomas Plante, a professor of psychology who travels frequently, says he and his wife have a new rule for 2025: “Unless we can get a direct flight we’ll go elsewhere.”
There are no studies on the amount of time air travellers waste by having to connect through a large hub airport. But you can run your calculation based on your last flight. And it’s not just the extra time, but also the higher possibility of a missed connection or lost luggage. No wonder people like Plante have had enough.
So, should you also swear off connecting flights? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a tradeoff. Many smaller destinations are only served through big hubs so that you may miss some interesting places in 2025. But you know what to do if you choose between connecting or not.
- Risky activities
More travellers are prioritizing safety and sustainability in their travel plans. They will avoid activities that are dangerous or harmful to the environment. “With more awareness of safety and environmental impact, travelers in 2025 may refuse to participate in risky activities such as ATV rides on fragile ecosystems or unregulated adventure tours,” says Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection.
On a related note, some pet owners tell me they’re keeping their cats and dogs grounded. That’s understandable, given all the restrictions on pets that airlines have imposed recently.
Is that the right call for you? This may sound self-serving, but I want all my readers to survive their next trip (including our furry friends — I don’t want them to asphyxiate in the cargo hold during a heat wave). So yeah, please take care of yourself. And come home alive.
- Checked bags
No one likes the hassle of checking luggage and waiting at the baggage claim. But do you know what people want even less? Paying for it. And in 2024, domestic airlines jacked up their checked luggage fees because they could.
More travellers will embrace minimalism and pack light. They’re learning to travel with only a carry-on bag, even for lengthier vacations. And the backlash will likely continue into 2025, even as airlines try to find ways to charge more for your luggage. Yes, some “low fare” carriers also charge for carry-on baggage. All the more reason that 2025 will be the year of travel minimalism — at least when it comes to baggage.
Before you ask, yes, you should pack a lighter. Use packing cubes. Roll, don’t fold. Bring a backpack and buy what you need at your destination. That’s sound advice whether you’re paying for your carry-on or your bags fly free.
Travelers are making smarter choices in 2025
Saying no to the indignities of travel may be one of the best trends of next year.
“Travelers will be more discerning,” predicts Jeff Galak, an associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University. “They will demand better value and more authentic experiences.”
That’s a significant departure from the reckless revenge travel trend of 2022 and 2023 — and better than the zero travel trend during the pandemic.
These trends reflect a broader shift in consumer consciousness. Travellers assert their values and demand better by saying no to hidden fees, overcrowded destinations, inconvenient flights, risky activities, and excess baggage. This evolving approach to travel mirrors more significant societal trends toward transparency, sustainability, and authenticity.
And if enough people refuse to put up with the travel industry’s nonsense, we won’t just improve our experience. We’ll also drive positive change in the industry and the destinations we visit. And that’s no exaggeration.
Written by: Christopher Elliott
BIO:
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.
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