Travel Trends You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Written By Jennifer Rogers

Quirky and Unusual Travel Fads for 2025

Some article photos courtesy of iStock

Nostalgia Tourism – Nostalgia Tourism (also known as Retro Travel) is a trend that started with millennial travelers wanting to revisit the places they loved as children as they enter middle age. They include things like adult “summer camps” and retro pop-ups like the Polly Pocket Airbnb or @that90splace on Instagram.

Think vintage themes like road trippin’ along Route 66, or exploring historic landmarks tied to eras from your past. They are whimsical trips where you can spend time reminiscing about the days of old.  

Astrocartography – Astrocartography is a method of mapping solar, lunar and planetary alignments at birth on a world map then planning your travel destinations and timing based on where your astrological energies are most aligned. It’s travel where you let the “stars guide” you based on your astrological chart.

Gig Tripping - Gig tripping is where you plan a trip around seeing your favorite artist perform abroad. Think Taylor Swift groupies traveling to Europe for the Eras Tour, or old school fans following their favorite bands from the 70s to the UK.

Set-Jetting - Set-jetting is planning a trip to a destination you’ve seen in a movie or TV show. Shows like Game of Thrones have inspired an entire tourism industry focused solely around the show with trips and tours to Iceland and across Europe. Another example is the so called “White Lotus Effect” - the anticipated influx of tourism expected to hit Thailand as HBO releases the new season of its hit series

White Lotus.

Bleisure Travel - Bleisure Travel combines business travel with personal vacation time, often adding a few days at the start or end of a business trip to explore new places. This is something I love doing. You’re already there so why not enjoy it once the work is done?

Speakeasies – Speakeasies were illegal bars that operated during Prohibition. Today, they’re a fun travel trend popping up everywhere. These hidden bars are shrouded in secrecy, providing a throwback to that clandestine culture of the 20s. They are often found in inconspicuous locations like behind secret doors, in hidden rooms, underground, or disguised as something else. Some require passwords or secret codes to enter, and they always serve hand crafted cocktails in a glamourous, intimate setting.  

Menopause Retreat – Like the name sounds, Menopause Retreats are a form of wellness travel for women during middle age. In essence, these trips are all about treating yourself to some self care while spending time reflecting on life, being pampered, and relaxing as you go through the inevitable changes life throws at you. 

Sleep Tourism – Sleep Tourism is travel that provides special services catered to guests who have sleep issues and/or want a better-quality sleep experience. This trend prioritizes rest and relaxation for guests over all else. With indulgent amenities like AI assisted beds, hypnotherapy, evening meditations, spa treatments, and yoga, it’s no wonder that today's sleep tourism industry is booming.

Noctourism – Noctourism is travel focused on nighttime experiences like museums that stay open late for special events, full moon festivals, truffle hunting in the dark, bioluminescent beaches, photographing the Milky Way, catching a meteor shower, and watching the northern lights dance across the sky.

Digital Detox Travel – Like the name sounds, this type of travel is essentially a matter of completely unplugging on your vacay - avoiding all digital devices including phones and computers. It’s kind of like being in an off-grid, remote destination where you lose service, only it’s a choice not an actual connection issue.

JOMO Travel – Instead of fearing you will miss out on something fun, JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) travel welcomes unscheduled days, ignoring what other are doing and embracing quiet, secluded environments with nobody else around. It’s a shift in travel priorities and a new form of wellness travel focused on reconnecting with yourself not others. This can mean exploring remote islands, cozy lakeside cabins, getting “lost” in a forest, or just snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea doing a little bit of nothing.

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Looking for more unique travel ideas?

Jennifer Rogers
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