4 minute read
What's Trending in 2023
by Ensemble
From e-bike tours to skip-gen trips, get hip to what’s shaping how we travel
By Lisa Kadane
SMALL-SHIP CRUISING GOES BIG
˝ AVALON WATERWAYS
Access to smaller ports and more remote destinations, exclusive shore excursions that are included in the price, and ships that feel like floating boutique hotels: these are a few of the reasons cruisers choose to set sail on small ships. In fact, river cruises are the fastestgrowing segment of the cruise market, with destinations like France enjoying a tidal wave of bookings on both the Seine and Rhône Rivers for 2023, according to Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways. Also buoying the popularity of Avalon’s river cruises are its Active & Discovery itineraries that let guests customize their days in port with hikes, bike rides, walking tours, wine tastings and even chocolate making. Small-ship expedition cruises to far-flung lands such as Greenland or Norway’s remote and rugged coast are experiencing a bump, too, as people no longer put off dream trips.
LET THE KIDS GO “GRAMPING”
Grams and Gramps whisking the kids away for a week to Disney World or Hawaii isn’t just a dream. It’s becoming a trend based in reality. Called skip-gen travel (where the middle generation is left out) or, ahem, “gramping,” this trend sees grandparents now having enough time and disposable income. And perhaps more important, still being active, able and willing to spend a vacation with the wee ones and give mom and dad a break. An American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey revealed that 32 per cent of grandparents have taken a vacation with just their grandkids. Other data shows 72 per cent of grandparents said this kind of travel makes them feel younger. Sounds like a win-win for everyone!
GET ROLLING ON AN E-BIKE
˝ BACKROADS
Bike tourism has raced ahead after many people rediscovered the freedom of two wheels during the pandemic. Speeding its surge are electric-assist bikes (e-bikes), which have revolutionized cycling trips by allowing travelling companions to pedal together regardless of ability or fitness level. E-bike options have become the norm on day tours in cities around the world. What’s more, companies have been quick to hop on this trend, and plan to have e-bikes available everywhere they run multi-day cycling trips, from Argentina to Zambia (route permitting). Currently, companies are seeing a rise in the popularity of easy routes in Europe. These itineraries have more flexibility and free time built in so riders can go at their own pace and take time to explore without worrying about saving energy to tackle the hills.
REMOTE DESTINATIONS NOW WITHIN REACH
˝ INTREPID TRAVEL
Anyone who dreamed of escaping to the planet’s far corners over the past three years can make that a reality in 2023. Remote destinations and hiking trails rank as “hot trending” and in high demand, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s industry snapshot from May 2022. Think the Trans Bhutan Trail in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the Transcaucasian Trail in Georgia and Armenia, or the Lycian Way in Turkey. Intrepid Travel is seeing this resurgence first-hand – the company’s active trips are up 130 per cent from 2019, says Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel president for North America. Indeed, Intrepid’s active hiking and camping itineraries in Asia, Africa and South America are so popular, the small-group adventure travel company has curated a selection of new trips with Wildland Trekking that explore the beautiful backcountry in national parks closer to home, such as Death Valley, Yellowstone and Zion in the United States.
AUTHENTIC, HANDS-ON TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
From kneading pasta dough in the home of a local in Bologna and crafting a unique gin in England, to making batik in Bali, more travellers are incorporating hands-on experiences into their holidays. These kinds of meaningful and engaging activities go deeper than simply bagging a city’s top sights via proof-on-Instagram and are part of the “slow travel” movement that has been growing for the past two decades. A survey by Hidden Scotland, an online travel resource, found that 83 per cent of respondents prefer slow travel to “tick box” tourism and like to take their time exploring a destination and being immersed in the local culture. We like the sound of that, especially in Scotland, where living like a local means starting the day with a warm bowl of porridge and a wee dram. Sláinte!
