2019 Travel Trends

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We’re calling the top 2019 travel trends as we see them. Whether or not you follow the trends, travel is about exploration. What part of the globe are you exploring in 2019? If your 2019 travel list isn’t set just yet, allow us to give you some ideas.

Multi-Country Journeys in South America

Travelers have been combining multiple countries in Europe for a while, but now they are catching onto the ease and benefits of traveling between countries in South America too. From Buenos Aires, Colonia and Montevideo in Uruguay are just an easy ferry ride away. And combining Peru and Ecuador can give you a well-rounded wellness journey. Since you’re already making the flight down south, it’s worth it to add a couple more days to your journey to see more of South America.

New Ways to See Old Favorites

The Galapagos Islands have been intriguing travelers and explorers since the 19th century. Now, more than 200,000 people visit the islands each year. You can cruise by boat between the islands on multi-day itineraries, but increasingly people are opting to remain on land and base their exploration of the islands from places like Pikaia Lodge or the Galapagos Safari Camp, a luxury safari-style tented property on Santa Cruz Island that allows you to fully immerse yourself the nature of Santa Cruz, and take day trips to the neighboring islands.

In the safari world, Zimbabwe is on the verge of a new era of tourism as it reclaims its title as a premier safari destination. Political and economic turmoil caused travelers to stay away for many years, but that dark cloud is behind them. It’s a hot destination for first-time safari-goers or those making a return trip. Consider recently renovated Singita Pamushana Lodge in the Malilangwe Private Reserve and Somalisa Camp in the famed Hwange National Park.

Under the Radar Destinations

In 2019, expect to see travelers heading way off the beaten path to avoid over-touristed areas. Think Tunisia, Sudan, Montenegro, and Uzbekistan. Be a pioneer and get off the well-worn path. You don’t have to go it alone – Ker & Downey can help you customize your journey, no matter how far out of the way you want to go. And who knows, you may discover the next “it” place before everyone else does. See our list of where to go in 2019 – these picks will surprise and inspire you.

Specific Interest

Increasingly travelers are venturing around the globe with a specific purpose in mind; see a solar eclipse, trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp, eat in one of the world’s most popular restaurants, or see the snow monkeys in Nagano. (Travel to Japan between December and February for the best time to see the snow monkeys, by the way.) This is one of our favorite 2019 travel trends – a specific interest lets our travel designers really put their creativity to work to help travelers realize their goals in ways they might not have thought possible.

Exploring Closer to Home

Expect to hear more about our southern neighbors in 2019. Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, and Guatemala are especially appealing for those looking for a quick getaway from the United States. Panama City is celebrating its 500th anniversary in 2019, so it’s an exciting time to travel there. They kicked off a year of events on August 15th this year and will celebrate through August 15th,  2019. For those looking for a good long weekend suggestion, check out our recommendations for a three-day getaway to Guatemala in the Fall issue of Quest Magazine.

Multi-Generational Travel

We saw a lot of people taking multi-generational trips in 2018 and this is only going to continue in 2019 as more families are opting to get the whole family together away from home to unplug and reconnect. We’re big fans of Multi-Generational travel and have written more on the topic here.

Train Travel in Europe

Another 2019 travel trend that carried over from 2018 is train travel. In 2019, we expect to see even more, particularly in Europe as part of a larger multi-country itinerary. Think the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express combining Venice, Italy and Paris, France, or the Grand Hibernian or Royal Scotsman as a part of larger Great Britain itineraries.

Start planning your journey with guidance from our 2019 travel trends. Contact your designer to get started.

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