2023 Holiday Booking Trends… (so far this year)
Oliver1. USA
As the Trump era is now firmly behind us, the USA seems to once again attracting more interest and we have definitely seen an upward trend in requests for stateside trips. This month alone we have arranged a lovely tour of the Deep South taking in Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans as well as a family break to New York. With other trips in the works it is interesting to see a change in the attitude towards the USA and look forward to what this may bring in 2023.
2. Cruise Holidays
There is no denying the growth of the cruise sector and we have most definitely noticed stronger demand for more expedition led sailings which offer opportunities to see destinations easily accessed by sea. Antarctica, Alaska, the Amazon and Europe’s rivers have all started strong this year. Scroll down for our report on a host of new ships for 2023.
3. Japan
As one of the last Asian destinations to open back to tourism post-pandemic, it is easy to see why Japan is now one of the hottest destinations in demand. This brings its own challenges as demand far outstrips supply. Our advice is to consider visiting slightly off season. For example, there is still availability for this June which is just after Cherry Blossom but before the hotter months, contact us for details.
4. India
The E-visa system is available again for UK passports holders which brought focus back onto India and we have certainly seen an increased interest in visiting. Availability is not too much of a challenge as the country is so vast with so many places to visit. India also represents excellent value for money so now is a great time to visit.
5. Bucket List trips
Understandably, a once-in-a-lifetime trip such as seeing Andrea Bocelli perform in the Tuscan open air, or sleeping on ice at Sweden’s famous ICEHOTEL are proving popular as many have put off special trips over the past few years. We are already taking bookings for Sweden’s most famous hotel for the 2023 / 2024 season, advance booking is especially important for peak times such as Christmas, New Year and February half term.
6. Australia & New Zealand
One of our top selling destinations is Australasia as family and friends scramble to see loved ones after a long break. The main challenge here are the flight prices as airlines have been forced to increase their fuel surcharges. It definitely pays to book early and consider less obvious routes.
7. Business Class Flights
Talking of flights, we have noticed an uptake in Business Class upgrades as clients seek more comfort and space during their flights. Airlines are also recognising this demand and increasing prices, especially on routes via Dubai with Emirates when flying east. Some of the European carriers are offering rather competitive rates when flying to South America for example.
8. Sicily
No doubt boosted by the popularity of the recent drama, White Lotus Hotel, the romance and magic of Sicily is back on our clients radars. More popular than usual are escorted tours around the the island and there are some wonderful options to choose from. Scroll down for more details on the REAL hotel used in the TV show.
9. The Rocky Mountaineer Railroad
Always popular with our clients and this year so frustratingly difficulty to find availability! There are still some spaces on the eastbound routes from Vancouver to Banff for this summer but the Westbound route always books up early.
10. Family safaris
With kids growing up and interests moving away from water slides, we have noticed families enquiring about more enriching experiences and what could be better than taking them on safari! A lot of the luxury camps we work with have special programmes for families about eco systems, local village and of course seeking out the Big 5. To get the most out of the experience we would recommend these for ages around six years and above. Ask to speak to Nathan, our resident safari specialist. Visit our Africa pages here.
These are just a few of the recent trends we have noticed. We look forward to reporting back in the next issue on further changes as the year progresses.
