The new year brings travel predictions that cover everything from where we’ll be vacationing in 2024 to how we’ll get there to which new hotels are worth getting excited about. But what about travel trends that are going out of style? Here are four trends that will be less popular in 2024.
1. Skiplagging as a way to save money on flights
In recent years, skiplagging, also known as «stealth city flights,» has become a popular cost-saving strategy among air travelers. Instead of booking a non-stop flight to a destination, the trick is to save some money by booking the destination city as a stopover and then get off after the first leg of the flight. For example: Instead of booking a non-stop flight from New York to Orlando, you book a flight from New York to Dallas with a stopover in Orlando where you get off the plane. Skiplagging can save travelers a lot of money on flights, but the key is to book one-way tickets. Also, you can’t check in (or even gate check) your luggage because it will go to the ticketed final destination. «Travel hacking» has taken off on TikTok, and Skiplagged.com has become a popular place to help you find these types of flight deals.
So why is it out in the new year? Airlines are starting to crack down even harder on tourists who use skipjacking, with threats including banning their planes from flying, revoking air charter or charging for the more expensive ticket.
2. Cash tips for hosts
The pandemic has accelerated the «cashless society» trend. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2022, 41% of Americans said none of their purchases in a typical week were paid for with cash, up from 29% in 2018 and 24% in 2015. But what does this mean for industries where employees rely on cash tips such as hotel maids? Hotels are increasingly experimenting with mobile tipping options, placing QR codes in rooms that allow money to be left for hosts. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was a pioneer in this field when it introduced Béné cashless tipping to its franchisees in the US and Canada in 2022. In November 2023, Grazzy , a digital tipping platform, announced that it was the preferred provider for Hyatt hotels. The platform helps service workers reclaim tips that cashless innovations have been reducing for years.
3. Crowded routes
You may have heard of «slow travel» or purposeful travel. The idea is to slow down so you don’t come home feeling like you need a «vacation break.» Amanda Al-Masri, vice president of wellness at Hilton, calls 2024 «the year of the big recharge.»
«In 2024, travelers will move away from overly busy itineraries and become more wellness conscious while on the road,» says Al-Masri. She points out that according to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report , the No. 1 reason people want to travel in 2024 is to rest and recharge. Hilton hotels are responding to this with amenities such as the «pillow menu» at Hilton London Bankside and sleep-focused spa offerings such as SWAY Sleep Therapy at Conrad Bali, where guests can curl up in a hammock.
4. Visits to «too touristy» destinations
Hyper-tourism has become a hot topic in 2023 and it remains relevant in 2024 as a number of popular tourist destinations will start imposing new taxes and fees on visitors. Venice, which was on the verge of being declared an «endangered city» by UNESCO, will start charging $5.38 for day visitors. Starting Feb. 14, Bali will charge guests about $10 a day to help pay for cultural programs and cleaning costs. Amsterdam is imposing the largest tourist tax in Europe this year, increasing room charges from 7% to 12.25%.
«Although these places will continue to be visited by huge numbers of tourists, we are seeing tourism boards more often explain the unsustainability of tourism to these destinations and we are finding that this is putting people off traveling there,» said Michael Rosenblit, who runs The World Was Here First, promoting responsible tourism. Instead, Rosenblit says, travelers want to immerse themselves more deeply in the culture of the destination they’re visiting—which can be done by staying longer in one place and participating in local experiences like food tours and craft classes.
