WHAT are the latest trends in travel for Australians?
We were at a conference last week and picked up the latest information.
The up and coming destinations for Australians are in popularity order Antarctica; Sri Lanka; Norway; Vietnam; Egypt; Morocco; Iceland; The Arctic; Malta; India and Bhutan.
The top growth areas in style of travel in order are Expedition Cruising; Multigenerational Family Travel; Immediate family travel; Active and adventure trips; and Ocean cruising.
The top Cruise itineraries in order Antarctica; Mediterranean; Danube River; Alaska and the Greek Islands.
Are you ahead of the trend and have visited these destinations already or are you on trend and have these destinations in your bucket list?
All fabulous destinations and wonderful ways to travel.
I have noticed on my recent travels that more family groups are out there, exploring the world – grandparents with grandchildren and then larger groups with several generations travelling together.
Often I have seen these groups on cruises; during the day people tend to get involved in different activities that suit them and in the evening the family comes together for dinner and to discuss their experiences – fun for all of the family.
The polar regions are really popular whether it is to the Antarctic or the Arctic.
The Northern Lights, be it from North America or Northern Europe, is popular with off season travel – meaning there are fewer travellers and generally a slower pace.
Imagine sleeping in a glass igloo gazing up into the pitch black sky when the luminescent green of the Northern Lights brings your world alive.
Imagine walking across the ice shelf in Antarctica, crossing the penguin highways as you watch tabular icebergs glide by.
Lots of us are seeking wilderness areas to explore, whether in combination with the cities of Europe, on safari in Kenya or through the Thai jungles; visiting the reed islands in Bolivia or searching for bears in Canada.
There is definitely a trend on travelling to places a bit off the beaten track and also to off peak season to avoid the crowds.
This generally means missing out on the summer weather but I always think shoulder seasons are a good time to explore the world.
This led me to Albania this year where I travelled with my family visiting extraordinary UNESCO world heritage sites.
We visited remote villages in the mountains, glorious coastal beaches; we learnt about the complex history of the region; enjoyed the local food and the surprisingly good wine; and were fascinated by the cultural influences that have influenced the Balkans for centuries.
There were very few tourists, most were Eastern European in large groups that we didn’t come across often.
We bumped into back packers and one Australian couple who braved a self-drive holiday in a country where the roads are improving.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, some of the hotels were a bit quirky however it was a joy to travel through.
Where are you tempted to travel to next?
