Booking.com Travel Predictions 2027: Nine Surprising Travel Trends Set to Transform How Australians Holiday

Old Government House, in Parramatta

Travel in 2027 is set to become more personal, adventurous and unpredictable, with Australians increasingly choosing holidays based on how they want to feel rather than simply where they want to go.

Booking.com's Travel Predictions 2027 report has revealed nine emerging travel trends expected to influence the way people plan holidays, choose travel companions and experience destinations around the world.

The latest predictions suggest that travellers are rewriting the traditional rules of holidaymaking, embracing unexpected adventures, prioritising wellbeing and using artificial intelligence to make travelling easier.

Nine Travel Trends Shaping Holidays in 2027

Booking.com's research identifies nine distinctive trends expected to influence international travel in 2027.

1. Hotel in the Sky

Air travel is becoming part of the holiday experience rather than simply a way of reaching a destination. Travellers are increasingly interested in improved in-flight wellness, sleep-supporting menus and lighting designed to help reduce jet lag, making long-haul journeys more comfortable.

2. Sweat Synergy

Fitness and adventure are bringing solo travellers together. Shared physical challenges, sporting activities and athletic communities are inspiring people to travel internationally to participate in fitness events and endurance competitions while making new connections.

3. Trip to the Beyond

The fascination with the unexplained is creating interest in paranormal tourism. Travellers are exploring haunted locations, mysterious histories, spiritual experiences and opportunities to connect with stories of the afterlife.

4. Plot Twist Trip

Some holidaymakers are deliberately choosing destinations and experiences that are completely out of character. These unexpected holidays are designed to challenge routines, surprise friends and family and create memorable adventures.

5. Social Currency

Travel budgets are increasingly influencing decisions about who joins a holiday. With different spending expectations potentially creating tension among friends and families, travellers are becoming more selective about their holiday companions and shared expenses.

6. Vibe Check(In)

Rather than beginning with a destination, travellers are increasingly considering the emotional experience they want from a holiday. Whether seeking relaxation, excitement, romance or inspiration, the desired mood is becoming a major influence on destination selection.

7. The All-Exclusive

Travellers are looking for more personalised holiday packages that include precisely what they need while eliminating services they will not use. Health requirements, dietary preferences and individual lifestyles are influencing the way accommodation and travel experiences are packaged.

8. PTO: Powered by AI

Artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role in helping people enjoy stress-free holidays. AI agents could manage emails and work administration while travellers are away, making returning to work easier. Some travellers even envisage using AI assistance to take an extra day off.

9. Trailside Therapy

Outdoor adventures are becoming opportunities for meaningful conversations. Walking trails, hiking holidays and other outdoor activities provide relaxed environments for couples, friends and families to discuss important issues and strengthen relationships.

Australians Are Rethinking the Way They Travel

Blue Mountains

Booking.com Regional Manager Oceania and Korea, Todd Lacey, says travel is becoming increasingly individual, with Australians placing greater importance on wellbeing and being more intentional about where, why and with whom they travel.

He also highlighted the changing long-haul travel experience, with new direct flight routes and improved in-flight experiences helping make international journeys more appealing.

Fitness competitions and endurance events are also encouraging travellers to journey across Australia and overseas to combine sporting challenges with holidays.

What the Global Research Reveals

Booking.com's global research highlights several interesting findings about changing travel attitudes:

• 72 per cent are interested in paranormal travel experiences, while 57 per cent are open to seeking contact with someone on the other side.

• 53 per cent have reconsidered whom to invite on a holiday because of differences in spending habits.

• 67 per cent of parents are interested in travelling without their children so they can spend more on themselves.

• 82 per cent would choose a destination based on how they want to feel rather than simply where they want to go.

• 76 per cent would use a tool recommending destinations based on their emotional state.

• 65 per cent are interested in having an AI agent manage their work while they are on holiday.

• 51 per cent would use that assistance as an opportunity to take an extra day off.

The Future of Travel Is Personal

Berrima Couthouse

Booking.com's Travel Predictions 2027 suggest that the future of tourism will be shaped by personal preferences, technology, wellbeing and unexpected experiences.

From sleeping better on long-haul flights and discovering haunted destinations to fitness-focused adventures and AI-assisted holidays, travellers are looking beyond traditional sightseeing.

For Australian travellers, 2027 could be the year of doing something different, choosing holidays that reflect individual interests and embracing experiences that create lasting memories.

The message is clear: the next great holiday might be somewhere unexpected, with someone surprising, doing something completely different.

Booking.com

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