Traveling alone to a desired location or signing up for French cooking classes in Paris may be the vacation trends of the future.

The number of single bookings for small group trips grew by 40 percent in the past five years, according to Intrepid Travel, an Australia-based adventure travel company, which is introducing new solos-only adventures for 2018.  Going solo can be relaxing without the hassle of coordinating plans with others. Hotel concierges can suggest restaurants or local sights to explore. 

Family vacations are expanding to include grandparents. Road Scholar, a nonprofit that provides educational travel tours for older adults, has seen greater interest in family vacations. Due to the increase in interest, Road Scholar offers more than 150 different trips for grandparents and grandchildren, and has declared 2018 the Year of the Grandparent.

Foodies are ichoosing vacations that allow them to experience regional food and enjoy the cultural experience surrounding food. The World Food Travel Association reports that the top reason travelers cite for their focus on food is an “interest in authentic experiences.”

Bucket list cruises either on a luxury liner or small ship (less than 100 passengers) that allow for off-ship adventures. “They’re lovely boats,” says Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners. “These trips are not about luxury, rather an adventure of a lifetime,” says Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners.

The top vacation trends for 2018 include:

Going Solo

Traveling alone can be rewarding and liberating. You are the one making the choices of where to dine or which museum to spend an afternoon viewing art or historical artifacts. Traveling alone does not have to be lonely. Book a room in the heart of town where there is activity and you can talk with the locals or other travelers.

Skip-Gen Travel

Multi-generational trips are big these days ,with grandparents taking grandkids on vacations without their parents. Working parents may not have the same vacation time as their kids, but retired grandparents often are willing to spend time with the grandkids. Disneyworld and cruise ships where kids can swim with the dolphins are popular.

Adventure Or Bucket List Cruises

Those who can afford high-end travel are choosing adventure and bucket list cruises. Luxury expedition-style cruises or smaller ships to exotic places such as Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands.

Foodie Travel

Travelers are interested in trips exploring regional food or taking a cooking class in other countries. From booking a beer and cheese tour in Wisconsin to a French cooking class in Paris, or shopping at a farmers market in Santa Fe, N.M., travelers want the foodie experience.

High-Tech Cruising

Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas will set sail in April with an app that will let passengers check in remotely and unlock their cabin doors. Carnival Cruises just began offering passengers on its Regal Princess a wearable “medallion” that tracks a passenger’s preferences and, through an accompanying app, offers activity reminders and onboard directions.

Pet-Friendly Hotels

More hotels are allowing travelers to bring their animals along, with some charging a $50 or $100 fee — but many charging nothing at all (such as Kimpton Hotels and Red Roof Inns). Luxury hotels are leading the way with complimentary kitty or doggie treats and throwing “yappy hours,” in which dogs and humans can enjoy refreshments together.

Millennial’s Influence

The travel-loving generation has influenced more hotels to skip the front desk and have you check in from your smartphone. Many hotels now offer digital amenities such as keyless room entry, in-room tablets and concierge apps; wellness activities and equipment. Enjoy lobby bars with premium beers and spirits from local distilleries; and grab-and-go meals instead of room service.

Biking

Biking has become a popular vacation activity for all ages. Cities are marking bike trails in and around their downtown areas.  Boomers are leading the way with the average age of travelers who sign on for organized multiday bike tours is 52, according to the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association.

 

New Hot Spots

Unique destinations have become the norm. Iceland, Nicaragua, and Vietnam have become some of the fastest-growing travel destinations, according to United Nations World Tourism Organization. Others in the travel business have seen an increase in travel to Portugal and South Koreas, the site of the 2018 winter Olympics.

'Bleisure’ Vacations

Aptly named for when business travelers add on a day or more for fun and sightseeing when traveling for work. Thirty-three percent of Gen Xers and 23 percent of boomers do so, according to the Global Business Travel Association.  Since their employers pay for a portion of their trip, tour companies and hotels are looking for ways to cater to these travelers.

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