It’s official: in the great global scramble to get out and see the world again in 2025, it’s the blokes who are packing their bags faster, spending bigger, and zigzagging across the globe like kids let loose in a lolly shop—while the ladies, ever the sensible ones, are choosing their destinations with a bit more circumspection and a lot more budgetary restraint.
That’s the eyebrow-raising verdict from the Spring 2025 Global Rescue Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey, and if you thought the gender divide had mellowed post-pandemic, think again. When it comes to travel, men are in top gear, while women are still cautiously checking the mirrors and adjusting their seatbelts.
“Travel confidence is rebounding, but it’s doing so differently across gender lines,” says Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and U.S. Department of Commerce tourism board advisor. And he’s not wrong.
Let’s take a cheeky little jaunt through the most fascinating figures:
The Blokes Are Booking – In Droves
According to the data, a healthy 54% of men say they’re going to take more trips in 2025 than they did in 2024. That’s not just a bump—it’s a proper lurch forward, outpacing women by a whopping 11 percentage points. Only 43% of women share the same ambition.
That’s not to say women aren’t keen. They are—just not to the same gung-ho degree. Many are still thinking it over or opting to wait out geopolitical tensions, rising prices, or simply the chaos of airports during high season.
Spend Like a Man: Bigger Budgets, Bolder Bets
Men, it turns out, are also more comfortable opening their wallets. Nearly one in three (31%) men surveyed say they’ll increase their travel spending this year. Compare that with just 21% of women, and the gulf widens.
It’s not just a question of money—it’s a mindset. Men appear to be treating 2025 as a grand opportunity to get back what was lost in lockdown, even if that means splurging on upgrades, far-flung escapes, or an extra legroom seat that costs as much as a decent meal back home.
Women Say “Wait a Minute” on International Jaunts
More women are pushing pause. A striking 44% of women say they’ll postpone international travel in 2025, compared to only 32% of men. For many women, it’s about assessing the risks to their health, safety, and cultural climate.
And speaking of climate (political or otherwise), there’s an intriguing split in destination preferences. While women are actively avoiding Canada (25%, citing its alignment with specific U.S. policies), men are far more likely to shun Taiwan (35%, likely over fears of escalating regional tension). Travel, it seems, is no longer just about the sights—it’s about the subtleties of global diplomacy.
The Lure of the New: Men Are More Likely to Switch It Up
In the fluid, unpredictable travel environment of 2025, adaptability is key, and men are all over it. A confident 59% of men report changing their planned destinations, compared to 42% of women.
Whether it’s visa issues, cost hikes, or political instability, men are proving more nimble in their choices. It’s a bit like swapping out your steak order mid-barbecue—bold, maybe slightly reckless, but sometimes exactly what the moment demands.
Price Anxiety: Women Are Bracing for the Blow
When it comes to cost expectations, women tend to be less optimistic. 56% believe prices will “definitely” rise this year, versus 42% of men. Men, for their part, are more inclined to think that prices may stay flat—or even fall—despite all evidence to the contrary. A defiant 17% of men said they don’t expect prices to rise at all, compared to just 5% of women.
This gap in expectations reflects broader outlooks: women appear more pragmatic, men more bullish. Neither group, though, is under the illusion that the golden days of cheap flights and hotel deals are coming back soon.
A Mirror to the Moment
“These numbers don’t just reflect travel behaviour—they reveal sentiment,” says Richards, summing it up neatly. “Concerns about safety, global perception, and changing international dynamics are driving very different decisions among male and female travellers.”
Indeed, over 70% of respondents, regardless of gender, now believe Americans will be viewed more negatively abroad due to recent U.S. foreign policy. That sort of shift isn’t just a diplomatic matter; it’s reshaping where people choose to go, how they travel, and even how welcome they expect to feel when they arrive.
Final Boarding Call
So, what do we make of this battle of the carry-ons?
Well, if the lads are strapping in for adventure, the ladies are doing the smart thing—scanning the horizon before take-off. And maybe that’s the point: travel in 2025 is no longer a one-size-fits-all affair. It’s deeply personal, often political, and shaped by a blend of confidence, caution, and good old-fashioned wanderlust.
Whether you’re bounding out the door or peering through the peephole first, one thing’s for certain: the world is waiting. Just don’t forget your passport—and maybe pack a little patience too.
By Michelle Warner
