Travelers Choose Simplicity: Longer Stays and Less‑Scheduled Holidays Rise in 2027

As autumn arrives, a wave of fresh travel trend reports and forecasts for the upcoming year emerges.

The latest insights come from UK‑based travel and tourism marketing firm Lemongrass, which has unveiled its top trend predictions for 2027.

Experts at Lemongrass anticipate that much of next year’s travel will centre on the “anti‑optimised” holiday – a approach where travellers opt to do less and linger longer in a destination, rather than racing through a checklist of sights.

The report also notes a shift away from bucket‑list chasing, biohacking, and AI‑generated itineraries, with travelers favoring deeper, slower, and more emotionally resonant experiences.

“For years, travel has been framed in terms of optimisation – more destinations, more experiences, greater personalisation, and heightened efficiency,” said Mirjam Peternek McCartney, CEO and Founder of Lemongrass Marketing. “Our 2027 findings show that travelers are now asking a more human question: how do I want to feel?”

“This is not a rejection of technology, luxury, or ambition. It is a recalibration. People seek journeys that give something back – whether that means feeling calmer, gaining a deeper understanding of a place, connecting with others, or simply enjoying a moment without the pressure to maximise it.”

Here are some of the key findings from the report.

The anti‑optimised holiday and other insights

Lemongrass defines “anti‑optimised holidays” as trips where every minute is packed with activities – a pattern that may be fading.

Travelers are increasingly looking for breaks that feel less like a checklist and more like a genuine respite – featuring fewer destinations, simpler itineraries, longer stays, and ample time to let the day unfold naturally.

In this view, luxury could simply mean having nowhere to be.

Nervous system design

Wellness is expanding beyond spa treatments, health checks, and the latest biohacking fads.

Hotels and destinations are now examining the whole environment – lighting, sound levels, access to nature, food, movement, and opportunities for social connection.

Rather than layering more treatments onto an itinerary, the focus is shifting to designing spaces that naturally encourage guests to slow down, rest, recover, and leave feeling better.

From bucket list to depth list

AI can already give travelers a solid preview of what to expect before they depart. As planning becomes more automated, there is growing interest in the elements an algorithm cannot replicate – context, curiosity, and human insight.

Instead of hunting for hidden gems or ticking off must‑see sights, travelers are likely to seek expert‑led tours, cultural trails, literature, history, architecture, workshops, and conversations with local residents.

The appeal lies less in being the first to discover a place and more in understanding it thoroughly, rather than merely following a checklist.

Epistemic vigilance and the AI trust gap

As AI permeates every facet of travel, knowing which information to trust may become as crucial as finding it in the first place.

Travelers are increasingly navigating AI‑generated content, synthetic images, and paid recommendations, making firsthand experience and local knowledge more valuable.

Consequently, they will likely favor tour operators or travel agents who can say, “we’ve been there and seen it firsthand,” over an AI system that is essentially guessing.

Other travel trends to expect in 2027

Alongside the headline findings, the report also highlights ten additional trends expected to unfold in the coming year.

Changing conversations around masculinity are creating a new travel market for men seeking physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Fitness, nature, mindfulness, and outdoor activities are no longer used solely to boost performance; they are also embraced to foster connection, resilience, and meaningful friendship.

Climate change continues to shape travel decisions – not only where people go, but how destinations adapt.

In 2027, travelers are expected to look beyond simply escaping the heat, valuing locations that offer resilient infrastructure, flexible experiences, strong local knowledge, and tourism businesses capable of responding to shifting conditions.

This leads into the rise of citizen science.

Travelers are moving from passive observation to active participation in environmental protection – whether through wildlife monitoring, water sampling, or species recording. Engaging in such conservation efforts can deepen a tourist’s connection to the places they visit.

Many also wish to leave destinations better than they found them, extending beyond nature. The challenge lies in making meaningful, locally led conservation and community projects accessible without falling into traditional voluntourism – a development that gives rise to the new “giving journey” trend.

This aligns with another trend: journeys “without sacrifice or sermon.”

Sustainable travel is shifting from compromise to experience. Rail, for instance, can provide a more scenic, comfortable, and enjoyable way to travel while also lowering impact. Sustainability is often adopted when it enhances the experience, rather than merely alleviating guilt.

Next up is “earned travel,” or the rejection of trips that feel too easy.

Travel has never been more convenient – and that convenience may be driving some travelers to seek the opposite.

From remote landscapes to independent adventures, a touch of effort, uncertainty, and spontaneity can make a trip more rewarding. Increasingly, the journey itself becomes part of the experience.

At the same time, travelers will be hunting for the so‑called “joy economy.”

Amid uncertainty and digital overload, they are looking for things that simply make them feel good – play, surprise, connection, and escapism. Travel is being used as a form of emotional restoration, not just an activity to check off.

This ties into the mystic outlands trend, which will draw travelers to folklore, fantasy, and atmospheric landscapes that invite them to step into another world – think dark skies, ancient forests, or places steeped in story.

More travelers will be asking “who gets to tell the story?” rather than “where are we going?”.

They are increasingly interested in who narrates a destination’s story, with female guides, historians, artists, chefs, and community leaders offering diverse perspectives, especially in regions where women’s voices have historically been overlooked.

Finally, the report declares that “near is the new far.”

In 2027, it predicts that travelers will realize they do not always need to venture far to escape. Short‑haul trips, rail journeys, staycations, and off‑season breaks provide an easier getaway, with less time, cost, and hassle.

Short‑haul travel can be just as cool – and as enjoyable and meaningful – as destinations thousands of miles away.

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