📈 The Travel Trends I’m Watching in 2026 📈
Published: Mon, 12/29/25
Updated: Mon, 12/29/25
The bad news and the good news about travel in 2026 and how to use both to your advantage.
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The Travel Trends I’m Watching in 2026
This is the last issue of the year!
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As 2025 comes to a close, we're in a slower
period. Things have calmed down a bit, and I hope you're taking the opportunity to reset and relax.
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But not me. I'm not "centering."
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I'm using this time to improve my golf swing so I can beat my brother and his friends for making fun of me.
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I will never forget.
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There's nothing like ending 2025 with a little resentment!
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I digress. I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026!
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As the new year begins, I'm seeing a few clear trends in the travel
industry. I want to share them with you so you can plan ahead and use them to your advantage. There's good and bad things I see coming up.
I'm going to start with the bad news first because it's better to just get it out of the way.
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The Bad
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Rising costs and exchange rates: Travel is getting more expensive. With new tariffs and exchange rates becoming less favorable, prices are going up across the board. I'm already feeling this myself. One of the best ways to offset this is by prioritizing destinations where your money goes further and the exchange rate works in your favor.
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Loyalty programs and pricing: Loyalty programs are using AI and dynamic pricing, which makes deals harder to find and can
lead to status inflation.Â
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Remote work flexibility: More companies are bringing back hybrid and in-office work requirements. If you're fully remote, this is still a huge advantage. Take full use of that flexibility while you have it.
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The Good
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Domestic travel opportunities: For financial and political reasons, fewer international travelers are choosing to visit the United States. This can create more deals for domestic travel. So if you live in the U.S., now may be a great time to explore more places closer to home.
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AI-powered
trip planning: More travel companies are rolling out AI concierge services to help with trip planning and booking. This is a good time to rethink the tools you use and stay open to new ways of researching and organizing your travel.
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Faster airport experiences: Airports are becoming more efficient with the growth of digital IDs. Signing up for these services ahead of time can save you time and make your airport experience much smoother.
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Travel
conditions are never perfect, and they never will be. The best time to travel is now so…
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Keep traveling,
Andrew
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Have you noticed better deals or fewer crowds when traveling within the U.S. recently?
Cocktail of the Week
The Pegu Club cocktail was named after the Pegu Club in Rangoon, Burma, a popular social club for British officers during the colonial period. This classic cocktail was created in the early 20th
century and became a signature drink of the club before gaining popularity worldwide.
Recipe: - 2 oz gin - 3/4 oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec) - 3/4 oz fresh lime juice - 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters - Lime twist for garnish Â
Directions: 1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and bitters to the shaker. 3. Shake well until chilled. 4. Strain into a chilled
cocktail glass. 5. Garnish with a lime twist. Enjoy!
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Random Travel Thought
I try not to understand what makes sense on social media. One video can be a hit on Instagram while completely missing the mark on TikTok.Â
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Follow me on Instagram.
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The Plug
Cheap flights:
Going.com: This might be the only discounted flights website you need. It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!!Â
Secret
Flying
🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
Skyscanner
:
An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.
Insurance:
Safety
Wing
:
I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.
Travel Gear
Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep yourself healthy enough to go on more trips. Link
Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping
clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it. Link
Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it
weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling, it's time to live it up! Link
*Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
