Hilton Annual Trends Report predicts 2025 to be the ‘Year of the Travel Maximizer’

Recently, it feels like travel is all about doing more—jamming more into your schedule, finding more ways to save time, and more “must-see” attractions to fit into a short visit. But Australian-born Northern Irish artist, illustrator, and writer Oliver Jeffers says the journey itself can be just as important and meaningful as the destination.

For him, European train travel encourages slower travel and the chance to truly experience the places and passersby that make a trip. Taking a moment to become more aware and mindful as you travel can help travelers stop “sightseeing” and start truly observing, so you can experience more without jamming-packing an itinerary. To learn more about his approach and mindset, I chatted with Jeffers, who shared how travelers of any age can see Europe in a totally new way by slowing down and becoming more mindful. Here’s what he shared.

Reading Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck’s delightful memoir about discovering America in an RV with his dog, inspired me to road-trip through Montana. Even as a world-weary old man, the great American novelist gushed about Montana like a moonstruck teenager. He was enchanted by its vastness—its mountains, oceanic plains, and pristine forests—as much as by its salt-of-the-earth people. “For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection,” he wrote. “But with Montana, it is love.”

Worn out after a tough winter in New York City, I pulled the trigger on a Montana highway odyssey this past March. Early spring seemed like a sensible time to go—I’d skip both the arctic chill of winter and the crowds of summer. I set aside eight days for a loop from Bozeman to Glacier and back down, intent on taking my time along highways hailed as among the most beautiful in America, with plenty of lingering in small towns and national parks.

The Waldorf Astoria New York opened in 1931. It oozes New York City elegance. Since its inception, the historic property’s been a crown jewel in Hilton’s portfolio. So much so, it was Hilton founder Conrad Hilton himself who declared the Waldorf Astoria “The Greatest of Them All.”

It’s no wonder why Waldorf Astoria New York is part of the festivities for the upcoming 146th edition of the U.S. Open. And the legendary property is doing so in a very legendary way. For one night only, Waldorf Astoria New York is transforming its iconic ballroom into a full-size tennis court. That’s right: Tennis beneath the chandeliers. The dance floor will make way for the baseline for one of the most unexpected tennis venues ever.