The motivations and mechanics of personal travel are undergoing real change. Vacations are becoming less to do with getting away and increasingly about living new experiences. Here’s a quick overview of how travel looks in the twenty-first century.
The New Face of Travel
Your Hotel is Likely Now a Home
With the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway and other similar services, the traveler can now book a home, condo, or cabin and live like a local in a home setting.
Community Impact
Your travel dollars can have community impact. The possibilities can range from AboutAsia, which gives 100 percent of its net proceeds to schools and education initiatives, to Women High on Adventure, which couples adventure with assisting women in the local populations.
Living a Local Experience
Eschewing conventional tourist attractions, many individuals are seeking an immersion in local culture. This can mean connecting locals who love to cook with travelers who want to experience local cuisine (EatWith.com), or simply learning the language and dances of an indigenous tribe.
Accessible Adventure
Whether your vacation interests center on physical activity, cultural exchange, or interaction with nature, there is a plethora of tour companies to meet a diverse range of objectives.
Pop Culture Vacations
Traveling to see a sports event, enjoy a music festival, or visit film locations of your favorite movie or cable show (think “Frozen” and “Game of Thrones”) makes theme destination vacations a fast emerging trend.
What’s Behind Door Number Two?
More adventurous travelers can avail themselves of airline programs that offer inexpensive travel, as long as you can leave on a moment’s notice and you’re willing to let the airline pick your destination.
