With many countries around the world grappling with record tourist numbers for several years in a row, more and more travelers are looking at nonstandard destinations to get away from other tourists.
Airlines such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have in the last year launched seasonal flights to places like Madeira, Greenland, and Edinburgh, and the United Nations recorded a 12% increase in international visitors to African countries in the first six months of 2025.
The continent, previously often overlooked as a tourist destination by travelers from North America and Europe, is currently seeing its tourism industry grow faster than any other part of the world.
Why these cities are trending among travelers: new Skyscanner report
In its annual Travel Trends report, travel booking site Skyscanner identified trending destinations based on how much its customers searched for them on the platform. Limón, a province sitting on a cape on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, was the clear frontrunner, with a 289% spike in searches.
The city of Jaipur in India followed, with a 109% increase in searches, while the Turkish city of Bodrum saw an increase of 85%. Other cities and regions to see a significant jumps in searches include Vail in Colorado, Madeira in Portugal, and Zadar in Croatia.
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“In 2025, travel was about collective experience,” the report’s authors write of the findings. “[…] The new travel mindset is clear: In 2026, it’s not about escaping real life, it’s about bringing yourself into the journey.”
When it comes to specific trends shaping how people travel, Skyscanner identified trendy terms like “Glowmads,” describing those who travel for spa and beauty treatments, and literary-minded travelers, who head to destinations about which they read in their favorite books.
“Glowmads” add to the list of popular travel motivations that dominated this year, including those who book trips to follow their favorite band or sports team.
Literature trips, glowmads, and supermarket travel: other travel trends shaping 2026
Out of the 22,000 travelers polled by Skyscanner, 55% were interested in a trip inspired by literature, while 33% specifically sought out or are looking to visit a destination mentioned in a book.
While “sleep tourism” proved popular this year, the coming year is also expected to bring with it a larger interest in the entirety of the hotel’s style and amenities: pools, wellness facilities, and an architectural design that wows or surprises upon check-in.
In terms of searches, this came up as travelers looking to book “unique stays” and themed accommodation.
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Skyscanner dubbed another traveler trend identified in the numbers as “shelf discovery,” or building a trip around local food — not through restaurants, but at markets, street fairs, and supermarkets one can visit.
More specifically, 39% of the travelers polled said that they like to explore supermarkets at their destinations to try new foods and drinks while 34% look to discover new food brands and producers that are not commonly available in their home country.
“To ‘eat like a local’ now means heading to the snack aisle,” Skyscanner writes. “From Tokyo vending machines and 7-Eleven Slurpees to Iceland’s geothermal baked bread, gastro-tourism is changing.”
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Please make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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