Expedia released its 2022 Travel Trends Report, which details its predictions for next year’s biggest travel trends based on its data and a global study by Northstar Research Firm, which polled 12,000 global participants about what they’d like to do and how they’d like to travel in the coming year.
Two-thirds of Americans want to take large journeys in the coming year, according to the survey, which has been dubbed the “Greatest of All Trips” (GOAT) mindset.
According to the study, Americans are more inclined than other visitors to seek for excitement (41 percent) and the sensation of making the most of their vacations (40 percent) when on vacation. Most travelers expect to spend more money on travel in the coming year (also 40 percent).
That isn’t to say that everyone will splurge on a trip to a top-of-the-world place. Fifty-nine percent of American respondents said they were only planned domestic travels for the coming year, with Orlando, Destin, and Maui among the most popular locations.
However, approximately 37% of Americans are planning domestic and international vacations for 2022, with popular destinations including London, Bali, Paris, Rome, and the Mexican Caribbean.
While 37 percent of American travelers are more cautious and thus less spontaneous as a result of the pandemic, another 25 percent are willing to be more spontaneous with their travel in the coming year.
Another major finding in the report was that people were going on trips to get the most out of their vacation experiences. With many people foregoing the usual number of trips and vacations they would take each year, 40% of US travelers are eager to spend more to enjoy the vacations they do take. Another 27% are willing to spend more time in their destinations in order to get the most out of their vacations.
Around 15% will choose more luxurious experiences, while 16% will upgrade either their flights or their rooms. In 2022, a larger 32 percent of American travelers will choose to visit a bucket-list destination.
While traveling, 22% will push themselves out of their comfort zones, and 19% will immerse themselves in a new destination or culture. Almost a quarter (23 percent) of American travelers polled said they are excited to visit lesser-known experiences and destinations, while 40% want to try food they’ve never eaten before while on vacation.
No matter how far they venture outside of their comfort zones, travelers are more eager to try new things. Mindfulness is one of these experiences. Around 36% of U.S. travelers want to disconnect and find a sense of contentment and wellbeing on their next vacation, with 24% wanting to disconnect from their devices more. Another 38% are most looking forward to the opportunity to truly unwind without having to deal with their daily responsibilities.
“Travel is no longer just about ‘going somewhere.’ Coming out of such a long period of constraints and limitations, 2022 will be the year we wring every bit of richness and meaning out of our experiences. Whether it’s going somewhere new, being more spontaneous or treating yourself, it’s clear that a new wave of excitement is bubbling as travelers chase travel greatness to get their GOAT.”
Christie Hudson, Senior PR Manager for Expedia
Whether travelers stay closer to home or travel further than they have in the past, it is clear that 2022 is a year of opportunity for American travelers to spend more time traveling and experiencing the world around them.