Skip to main content

Top 5 Travel Trends to Watch for in 2021

Travel has changed more in the last two decades than in all of the 20th century combined (well, except for that conquering flight thing). With more people traveling now than ever, the ways we fly, cruise, and overnight are going to change in even bigger ways in the next decade. As we look specifically at 2021, here are five trends we expect to impact travel more than any others.

Space Tourism Is Seriously Heating Up

gateway-foundation-spinning-hotel
Gateway Foundation

As recently as five years ago, space tourism seemed like a pipe dream. Companies like Space X and Virgin Galactic are making good on their promises to take regular (albeit well-heeled) travelers beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Courtesy of his Blue Origin project, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is promising to launch the first crewed test flights of its New Shephard shuttle into orbit this year. Space X already has plans for 2023 to take one lucky Japanese billionaire around the moon. Last summer, NASA announced that the International Space Station was officially open for business to paying overnight customers. Beyond that, the first-ever purpose-built space hotel — the Von Braun Rotating Space Station — is set to open by 2025. The new space race is clearly on.

Designer Micro Hotels Are Officially a Thing

CitizenM

Higher-end hotels have long been judged by the size and opulence of their rooms and lobbies. Now, more upscale travelers are looking into smaller, more purposeful rooms at hotels with essential designer amenities. Boutique designer micro hotels like NYC’s The Jane Hotel and CitizenM have been around for years. But, with this year’s launch of Motto by Hilton, which focuses on small but efficient rooms with designer decors and high-tech amenities, it’s clear the trend is set to take off in a big way.

Green Travel Will Go Even Greener

Harbour Air magniX Commercial Electric Airplane
Harbour Air and magniX

Travelers are more conscious now than ever of their impact on the planet. We can no longer hide from the fact that the international air travel boom is among the worst contributors to pollution and climate change. With the growing viability of carbon offsets and political push from surprising sources like Greta Thunberg and even airlines like KLM, travelers will no doubt begin traveling less. Thankfully, as electric technology continues to take off (pun intended), all-electric planes may become a reality sooner than we expected.

High-Flying Airport Cuisine

twal hotel paris cafe
TWA Hotel

Since forever, airport food has been a punchline on a par with, well, airplane food. Today’s travelers demand better, and they’re willing to pay for it. In response, airports around the world are launching destination-worthy restaurants and food courts that make passengers forget all about their layovers. Chee Kei — a Michelin-recommended wonton purveyor — launched at Beijing Daxing International in September. In 2019, the ultra-cool, retro Paris Cafe debuted at the new but equally retro-cool TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport. Singapore’s massive Jewel Changi Airport also hosts dozens of legit gourmet dining options like Burger and Lobster.

Cruises Will Start Looking a Whole Lot Sexier

Virgin Voyages cruise ship deck
Virgin Voyages

Until now, cruises were for cheap Spring Breakers, retirees, and middle American travelers. While that’s still true in many cases, ocean cruising is looking to get a whole lot sexier for 2020. This year marks the debut of Richard Branson’s highly anticipated Virgin Voyages. The all-new line touts high-end designer staterooms, craft brewpubs, vintage vinyl shops, and the world’s first onboard tattoo parlors. The first ship’s go-to restaurant, Razzle Dazzle, will even offer craft CBD cocktails and Impossible Burgers. Call it a “hipster cruise” if you want, but we’ll take it any day over midnight chocolate buffets and another afternoon conga line around the lido deck.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Travel tips and tricks: Dumb mistakes I make every time (but you can avoid)
Travel tips: Do as I say, not as I do. Please.
Seated man with feet propped up on luggage looks longingly out airport window at plane taking off

For over 10 solid years, I’ve been traveling constantly. Over the course of that time on the road, I’ve been to all corners of the world, resided almost exclusively out of Airbnbs and hotels, and — for the most part — lived entirely out of a bag or two nearly every step of the way. The only occasions that involved traveling with more bags were the months of road-tripping, and living out of a car or van isn’t exactly far off from minimalism.

With all that travel experience, you’d think that by now, I’d have the entire process streamlined to perfection and have an extensive list of useful travel tips. But while my travels are certainly less stressful than they used to be, there are a few mistakes that I tend to make again and again — maybe not as frequently as I used to, but they still happen. To that end, here are a few travel tips to keep in mind that will help you avoid these all-too-common mistakes.

Read more
Travel gear gift guide: The best from Samsonite, Apple, and more
Gifts for travelers and digital nomads
Small toy plane on world map in front of Christmas tree and wrapped present

Are you Christmas shopping for someone in your life who loves to travel? Travel gifts should be practical, portable, and enhance the receiver’s overall travel experience. Whether you are purchasing a gift for a frequent business traveler or for a young adult with a sense of wanderlust, there are many products you simply can't go wrong with. We've put together an incredible list of gifts spanning across many different price ranges. So whether you want to splurge on a fancy present or need a quick stocking stuffer, we've got an option for you.

Here are just a few gift ideas for the travel lover in your life.

Read more
This is the must-have travel item iPhone 15 users need (and it’s less than $20)
This eSIM will be as useful as Global Entry
Portrait of handsome smiling man in casual wear holding his luggage and messaging through his mobile phone while sitting in the hall of the airport.

 

If there's one thing that we can't live without (especially when we're traveling) it's our smartphones. But finding the right plan for that iPhone 15 can be difficult. International travelers have been battling the fine print of cellphone plans for years, and so far, most resolutions are either short-lived or more hassle than anyone can realistically bear. From the intended flexibility of Google-Fi to T-Mobile’s expansive international benefits, cellphone companies of all sizes have spent years rolling out (and reneging) intricate cellphone plans tailored to frequent travelers. 

Read more