2025’s top travel trends include visiting detour destinations and seeing natural phenomena

Booking websites have been busy looking at what travellers have done this year to see what travel trends will dominate in 2025. 

While some holiday habits never seem to go out of fashion - like city breaks and summer sun - each year seems to bring a new craze and plenty of buzzwords to boot. 

For 2025, holiday experts have listed ‘JOMO trips’ and detour destinations among their predictions. 

Here’s what’s going to be big next year. 

Solo male travel is on the rise

According to transport booking website Omio, we’ll be seeing an uptick in solo male travellers in 2025.

“From self-discovery to mental empowerment, independence to building confidence, there are lots of benefits to travelling alone,” the company says.  

“Over the last few years, the trend has been heavily led by women, but we’re soon to see a surge in lone male voyagers with 30 per cent of men compared to 23 per cent of women planning a solo trip in 2025.”

Omio found male travellers are also planning big budget trips, with 28 per cent intending to spend over €2,400.

Detour destinations will be popular

Booking website Expedia predicts that next year, travellers will not only be visiting the tried-and-true tourist destinations - they will add detours. 

The company has highlighted destinations near popular hotspots, making them ideal day trips.  

Expedia’s trending detour destinations for 2025 based on an increase in searches include Reims as a detour from Paris, Brescia as a detour from Milan and Girona as a detour from Barcelona.

There will be a hotel restaurant renaissance

When booking hotels, travellers are not just making room reservations, they’re making dinner reservations too, according to booking site Hotels.com. 

Hotels around the world have opened critically acclaimed restaurants with Michelin-starred chefs and rotating seasonal menus to attract guests.

Travellers are seeking standout hotel dining experiences; positive reviews about hotel restaurants, chefs and bars increased by 40 per cent year on year on Hotels.com. 

Furthermore, nearly a third of British travellers say restaurant tables reserved exclusively for hotel guests would make them more likely to book, while 1 in 5 say room service from a famous hotel restaurant would be their top reason.

JOMO travel will beat FOMO

According to booking site Vrbo, 2025 will see travellers experience less fear of missing out (FOMO), instead embracing JOMO - the joy of missing out. 

“JOMO travel means doing less on holiday to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and staying at cosy cabins or peaceful beach houses to boost relaxation and reconnection,” the company says. 

Two-thirds of UK travellers say these types of trips reduce stress and anxiety, and nearly half say that it provides a sense of escape from daily responsibilities.

The best way to experience JOMO travel is from a charming beach house, secluded lakeside lodge or rustic countryside farmhouse. 

The top holiday rental amenities JOMO travellers are seeking include tranquil gardens, pools, hot tubs and porches with a view.

Travellers will tick off their phenomena list

Vrbo survey data revealed that the Northern Lights are the top phenomenon British travellers want to see, followed by geological phenomena like volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.

 Two-thirds of UK travellers say it’s important to stay in a place that offers prime viewing of these natural wonders, favouring private holiday homes in secluded or rural destinations.

According to Vrbo, the top natural phenomena that travellers will want a front-row seat to in 2025 include the ‘Black Sun’ starlings’ migration in Denmark’s Wadden Sea National Park, starling murmurations in the UK’s Somerset countryside and volcanoes, lava fields and black sand beaches in Iceland’s Reykjavík region.