Travelers lock in their holiday trips earlier this year, and December bookings already show the shift.

Only 45% of Americans will plan vacations with paid lodging, the lowest amount in six years. For many households, the question is no longer where to go, but whether they can afford to travel at all.

In 2026, many industry experts say luxury travel is less about doing or spending more, and more focused on quality of the experience and how the vacationers feel after the trip. While some travel predictions just point to places that look good on a map, a new hotel opening, a rare solar eclipse, or a growing culinary scene could be enough to move a destination onto travelers' short lists.

The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is not a new rule for people traveling to the United Kingdom. Yet it still disrupts trips for visitors who make mistakes.

Parents are no longer the only ones who steer family travel plans. Kids now act more like essential co-planners, shaping where families go, what they do, where they stay, and even what they wear.