A closer look at the more intentional ways travelers are shaping their journeys for the year ahead.
Something subtle but significant is happening in luxury travel. More travelers are approaching their journeys with a greater level of awareness than they may have previously. Instead of planning around a checklist or the latest “must-see” ranking, many people are choosing where, when, and how to travel based on how they want to feel. They want experiences that help them feel reenergized, or that bring quiet, connection, and a more effortless pace.This shift has likely been building since the end of the pandemic, and as we look toward 2026, it is becoming a defining theme.
Travelers are increasingly drawn to places that offer ease and depth. They want remote reserves, small lodges, gentle coastlines, and village rhythms that let them breathe in a way hard to achieve at home. They are seeking the kind of luxury that isn’t broadcast, but experienced, a form of richness measured in clarity, beauty, and emotional resonance. This is why we’re seeing such strong interest in shoulder seasons, quieter destinations, and itineraries that prioritize space over spectacle. Even in classic destinations like Italy, Japan, France, and Greece, travelers are gravitating to lesser-known regions and moments when the world feels more open and less hurried.
A large part of this shift comes from a new focus on why people travel at all. Increasingly, clients begin conversations not with a destination, but with a feeling they’re seeking, whether it is inspiration, grounding, joy, or reconnection. This approach shapes journeys differently. It leads to more meaningful cultural experiences, more time in nature, more creative programming, and itineraries designed around curiosity rather than obligation. A simple meal with a local family, an afternoon spent with an artisan, or a quiet walk in a national park can be far more luxurious than a packed schedule of curated highlights.
We are also seeing a renewed appreciation for personal, human moments. Travelers want experiences that feel alive and unscripted, where the beauty lies not in exclusivity but in authenticity. At the same time, they want the frictions of travel to recede into the background. Seamless arrival, intuitive design, quiet rooms, and thoughtful service are valued more than ever, not as indulgences, but as the foundation that allows the deeper experience of a place to come through. The goal is not to be dazzled, but to be at ease.
Another rising trend is the desire for more extended stays, often three or four weeks in a single destination. People want to slow down, settle into a neighborhood, and feel a temporary sense of belonging. This approach transforms a journey into a small chapter of life rather than a brief escape. It is the spirit that inspires our LiveAbroad concept, which invites travelers to experience a place with steadiness and presence.
Underlying all of these shifts is something even more interesting: a growing emphasis on mindset rather than demographics. Instead of categorizing travelers by age or market segment, as is often the case, it is more revealing to understand the emotional state they want to experince. Some seek a sense of vitality and creative spark, choosing destinations and experiences that feel cinematic or culturally vibrant. Others want ease above all else, a sense of calm, privacy, and quiet navigation through a place. Some crave access to moments that feel rare and intimate rather than overtly exclusive. And many others, perhaps surprisingly, are looking for connection and belonging, choosing lodges, retreats, and experiences that allow them to meet interesting people and share meaningful encounters.
These mindsets reveal something important about where luxury is heading. People don’t want to be defined by categories or stereotypes, and they certainly don’t want travel that feels generic or scripted. They want experiences aligned with who they are, or who they feel ready to become. When the emotional intention behind a trip becomes the compass, everything else begins to fall into place, from the choice of destination to the pacing, the style of lodging, the guide selection, and even the most subtle aspects of service.
Taken together, these shifts suggest that luxury in 2026 will be quieter, more personal, and more grounded. It will be defined less by extravagance and more by ease, less by escape and more by presence. For many travelers, the real journey ahead is not about where they go, but how deeply and thoughtfully they experience it.
