How the wealthy are redefining luxury travel, according to experts

From Instagrammable hotels to longevity getaways, experts reveal how the wealthy are redefining luxury travel.

First and foremost, social media continues to influence the itineraries of affluent travelers. But not in the way you think.

Julia Carter, founder of luxury travel agency Craft Travel, said about 80% of the family trips she organizes are driven by Gen Z and what they see on social media.

And it’s not just about where they go, it’s also about where they stay.

“Their biggest interest is definitely hotels,” Carter told Business Insider.

“You can go to London or Paris, but as the saying goes, if you can’t make money, how can you show that you’ve really succeeded in style? The hotel is proof of that. ”

While some people simply care about where they sleep so they can brag to their followers, others are becoming more conscious of their sleep and other wellness-related amenities, as sleep tourism and wellness tourism is on the rise.

According to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report, a majority of travelers across generations say rest and recharge are the top reasons they plan to travel in 2024.

“The main reason people come back to hotels is because of how well they slept,” Whitney Roban, Ph.D., a sleep expert and co-investigator at luxury bedding company REST, previously wrote in a post. told the paper.

“Where we once wanted to go on adventures and parties, now we want to go out to feel good and be healthy. The best way to recharge and recover is to get some quality sleep.” That’s it.”

But good sleep isn’t the only health benefit travelers are looking for.

A new report from Booking.com has predicted that the ‘passport to longevity’ trend will be a highlight of 2025.

According to Booking.com, 52% of American travelers say they are willing to pay for a vacation “designed solely to extend your life and improve your overall health.”

And travelers aren’t just trying to slow down the aging process, they’re trying to slow it down in every way possible.

“Slow” or “quiet” travel is on the rise as people living in the hustle and bustle of big cities want to recharge during quiet, long vacations.

Sammy Gahem, general manager of La Dolce Vita Orient Express, told Business Insider: “People are increasing their appetite, their interest, their desire to slow down, enhance the quality of their experience and get more out of it. “There is,” he said.

According to Pinterest search data, searches for “quiet places” and “calm places” have increased by 50% and 42%, respectively, since last year.

Overall, the travel report found interest in ‘Quiet Life’ increased by more than 530% this year compared to 2023 as users seek a digital detox filled with natural destinations .

And once you leave, you want to leave.

The average trip length jumped from 4.5 days in 2020 to 5.5 days in 2024. Additionally, people who booked trips to Europe or Africa stayed two to three days longer.

Not only do travelers not want to think about the disruption to their daily lives, they also don’t want to stress about planning and paying once they arrive. That’s why so many people are turning to all-inclusive travel.

Travel agency Fora saw a 324% year-over-year increase in bookings across its top-booked all-inclusive brands in 2024, Business Insider reports.

Gen Z is leading the way in this ‘temporary’ behavior, with 42% of the generation now preferring all-inclusive accommodation, citing minimal stress as the top reason for choosing all-inclusive. , Hotels.com told the Post.

But these vacations offer more than just endless pina coladas and all-you-can-eat buffets.

Luxury travel agent Scott Dunn says his clients are now “beyond the typical ‘fly-and-flop’ beach hotel and offer everything from safari camps and secluded lodges to cruise vacations and wellness retreats.” He said he is booking an all-inclusive resort that covers the following areas:

Wealthy travelers also chase unusual experiences around the world, including Taylor Swift concerts, solar eclipses, and Antarctic ice sheets.

“More customers are booking trips and requesting experiences because they know they won’t always be available,” Will Bolsover, founder and CEO of Natural World Safaris, told Business Insider told.

“These requests may also be related to specific iconic locations that are under threat from climate change, such as wanting to see Mount Kilimanjaro while there is still snow on the peak or before the ice melts. “For example, tourists who want to see Antarctica in the future,” he added.

Concerns about climate change are also leading people to book “cool vacations” to beat the heat.

And with so many exciting travel trends, people are dreaming of traveling more and more often.

The average American says they need a decent vacation every 110 days (15.8 weeks), according to a new survey conducted by Talker Research. So keep these travel trends in mind as you dream of your next vacation.