The 11 big travel trends of 2020

Generator is an award-winning hotel provider that offers overnights in the hub of some of the best cities in Europe and on the Eurostar line (including Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Hamburg, Venice, Rome).

For globetrotters going flight free in 2020 all the Generator properties are a stone’s throw from the main train stations, the perfect option for those who want to be in the heart of the city and its social scene, but don’t want to pay a fortune. All offer a nice mix of stylish design, super-friendly service and centrally located spaces.

You might have to fly to get there but The Rocky Mountaineer train offers travellers a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, allowing travellers to experience the majesty of the mountains and incredible views from the comfort of a train carriage. Running throughout Canada, it’s particularly appealing for those looking to lean into the slow travel movement, complete with gourmet cuisine and a chance to take in the stunning vistas of the Canadian Rockies.

How to plan to reduce your carbon footprint

If you’re keen to limit the flights you take in 2020, check out the Omio app. The travel booking platform was recently voted Google’s best app for planning train and plane journeys around Europe, but you can also check journeys for ferries, buses and coaches all in the same place – and it’s now global, too. As it displays all options, not just flights, Omio makes it easy to choose the most environmentally friendly route.

As part of their app development, Omio carried out research on journeys frequently made by plane that could be made quicker by train – and with a far reduced carbon footprint.

Their list highlights some of the most routes taken across Europe that are quicker by train or bus than flight, demonstrating savings on both time and emissions.

A train journey from London to Brussels can reduce door-to-door travel time by three hours compared to flying, for example, and gives a carbon emissions saving of 55%. The London to Paris route also comes in at three hours quicker by train and has the same 55% saving on emissions.

Some examples:

London, UK to Brussels, Belgium = 3 hours 8 minutes quicker by train, 30kg CO2 saving
London, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands = 56 minutes quicker by train, 61kg CO2 saving
London, UK to Edinburgh, UK = 59 minutes quicker by train, 91kg CO2 saving
London, UK to Leeds, UK 1 hour 54 minutes quicker by train, 46kg CO2 saving
London, UK to Paris, France =  2 hours, 7 minutes quicker by train, 32kg CO2 saving

Omio has a live chat function, so if you want a real person’s input on how to make the biggest carbon saving, you can find someone to help. It’s a touch of the heyday of the high street travel agent, but in an app.

The Trend: Eco-Sensitive Hotels 

Airlines, hotels, tour operators, and car hire firms, along with a wide spectrum of businesses across the travel industry are participating in eco-initiatives, such as allowing air travellers to purchase carbon credits when booking a flight or car hire companies that are now offering – and even specialising in – electrical vehicles. Next year will see an increasing number of hotels and resorts investing in sustainable technology, waste reduction and energy saving initiatives.

Where to go:

Resting in a small fishing village between mountain and sea, Gennadi Grand Resort in Rhodes is artfully designed with eco-sensibilities in mind.

A synthesis of form, function and structure, Gennadi Grand Resort uses a a reverse osmosis plant that provides 20,000 litres of clean, sustainable water per hour and a conscious effort has been made to collect and recycle rainwater. Other innovative measures include an eco-focused air conditioning/heating system as well as recycling, a hotel-wide litter separation system and energy-saving bulbs.

The all new, all-inclusive Emerald Maldives Resort & SPA just opened and is already paving the way for sustainable travel. Set on Ra Atoll in the Northern Maldives archipelago, on a natural lagoon and wrap-around reef, the project was spearheaded by architect Edward David Poole – and each stylish villa is environmentally sustainable in practice.

Rather than imported timber, long-lasting langhi langhi leaves have been used to build the villa canopies, replaced every 6-8 years rather than every 2 years which is the norm for Maldivian resorts. Each villa is also kitted out with solar panels, discreetly tucked away, powering the entire island’s hot water, and the resort is home to a Chef’s Garden from which the majority of herbs, spices and salads served on the island are sourced.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi teaches guests and actively encourage them to participate in regenerating the coral reef and improving sea life as part of an underwater art installation and coral regeneration project.  Designed by acclaimed British eco-artist Jason deCaires Taylor, guests are led through the living installation by the resort’s resident marine biologist before planting their own coral as part of their effort to reinvigorate local sea life.

Artemisia Resort near Ragusa, Sicily, is a charming agriturismo hotel made up of stone villas set around an 1800s farmhouse. It’s very low-key but beautifully done – well-executed rustic charm. All the food for the lovely breakfast has a km0 philosophy, meaning zero food miles, with most of it grown on-site or else bought from very local suppliers. That means locally made cheeses, homegrown fruit and cakes baked in-house. There’s a big communal barbecue for dining in, table tennis, quoits, table football, a pool and more. The place to go for a relaxed, outdoorsy trip with minimal consumption.

Market forecaster Globetrender cites California operators such as Cannabis Tours  offer ‘wine and weed craft experiences’, in which guests can visit extraction labs that look like modern whisky distilleries and partake in tasting sessions that mimic the experience of a vineyard.  A spokesman from Med Men (the high-end cannabis dispensaries scattered across the US) says: ‘Amsterdam has already proved that people will travel to experience cannabis culture but the legalisation of weed in North America is shifting its aesthetic from grubby vice to a glamorous lifestyle experience.’

Aimed at revitalising, relaxing and healing, trendsetter resort Amilla Fushi is one of the first in the Maldives to introduce spa treatments using CBD and activated hemp. Slip into your own bliss with spa treatments that combine the soothing benefits of massage with these relaxing essential oils.

The Trend: The Unsung Hero 

Everyone is talking about the rise of the ‘second city’ in 2020 – the lesser-known destination over the typical and touristic. In 2020, travellers are likely to forgo Dubrovnik and instead head to Šibenik, one of Croatia’s oldest historical towns, with its dreamy deep blue seascapes, and travellers in Turkey may discover Datça, in southwestern Turkey, a pretty peninsula with pine-forested coastline that is a blissful haven from the bustling crowds of nearby Bodrum.

Where to go:

Lesser known than its cousins Dubrovnik and Split, Šibenik is yet to be discovered by much of the outside world. Set in an area of natural and unspoiled beauty, D-Resort Šibenik, with its sleek interiors of pure white concrete, glass and wood, makes a very stylish statement on this part of the Dalmatian coast.

An insider’s alternative to the bustle of Bodrum, Datça, is home to one of Europe’s finest hotels – D Maris Bay. Its natural beauty must be seen to be believed. Perched just above the place where the Aegean meets the Med, this stunning retreat offers great dining, five secluded beaches and an enormous infinity swimming pool carved into the edge of a cliff.

The Faroe Islands, a collection of 18 islands in the wild North Atlantic, halfway between Iceland and Norway, are largely forgotten about but are inspiring and magical. A place where waterfalls tumble from hillsides, mist settles on ragged clifftops, and grass-roofed houses dot the otherwise vast vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. So unspoilt – these mystical islands are like nowhere else on earth – all within a location where the sheep outnumber local inhabitants by nearly two to one…

The Trend: Learning from Locals  

In 2020 travel is less about poolside lazing than broadening personal horizons and getting under a destination’s skin. And in terms of nailing this trend – learning a traditional skill from a local is a two-for-one.That means things like Himalayan hikes led by local climbers and mindful yoga retreats with resident experts.

Where to go:

On the Istrian peninsula, a charming region of quaint hilltop villages, Adriatic waters and dense oak forest, visitors will find the foodie holy grail: the Istrian white truffle. Now, the skills passed down through generations of truffle hunters are there for guests to learn.  Keen learners will gain a new appreciation of these beauties when invited to join locals on forages, finishing off the day with a joyful lunch of truffle-infused delicacies and local wines.

Nestled in the beautiful region of Luleå in Swedish Lapland, at Aurora Pine Bay Lodge visitors can celebrate magical skies with guided evenings spent at a well-equipped observatory. The observatory is run by Ulf, a local astronomy expert, who will share his knowledge and passion for the stars, allowing travellers to learn about constellations and, if conditions are favourable, enjoy a spectacular view of the Northern Lights.

Set just at the edge of the ancient village of Uçhisar, argos in Cappadocia is a place that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. With panoramic views of the hot air balloons that drift across the sky each morning at sunrise, this 2,000-year-old network of ancient ruins, caves and underground tunnels is home to an unforgettable heritage-style hotel retreat.

This year, why not go to Guyana, a little-visited country in South America which is 80% covered by rainforest. Wildlife Worldwide hosts tours with expert guides to take you through the Kaieteur Falls, one of the world’s greatest waterfalls, with a drop five times higher than Niagara – at more than 200 metres in a single drop.

Visitors will also explore the Iwokrama Forest Reserve with its canopy walkway and take a traditional canoe trip up the Burro Burro River, hoping to spot giant river otter, tayra, brown-throated three-toed sloth and black spider monkey.

The Trend: Up-Skilling Escapes 

With learning holidays more popular than ever, holiday makers in 2020 are increasingly looking to take more home than a tan.

Where to go:

Go for gold with an Olympian in 2020. ‘Our Retreat’ offers a once in a lifetime experience to snowboard with two-time Team GB Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, who will host a six-day retreat in January 2020.

Across the year, Our Retreat will host four, six-night Chamonix retreats which are ideal for solo travellers seeking adventure, where skiing and snowboarding is complimented by yoga, meditation, mobility sessions and healthy, nutritious meals.

Located on the Andaman coast in Krabi, Southern Thailand, Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Gold & Spa Resort teaches guests to sail, either at the beautiful neighbouring islands or on the sun-soaked Sofitel Krabi beach during high tide. An ideal destination for those looking for an active break at any age or experience level, children as young as 8 along with adults learn with one of the resort’s seasoned guides – the constant wind and tidal waters make learning to sail here easy for everyone.

The Trend: Ancestry Trips 

Fuelled by genealogical curiosity and affordable at-home DNA testing —ancestry trips, pilgrimages, genealogy tours – are one of 2020’s fastest growing areas. Travellers want to track down their newly found roots.

Where to go :

As 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of end of World War II, next year many whose ancestors fled Eastern Europe will be rediscovering Poland.  With a nearly a dozen hotels set to open in Warsaw, the Polish capital is evolving as a vibrant travel destination.  Dynamic and distinctive, the new Nobu Hotel Warsaw opens in spring 2020 in the heart of this historic city – and will most likely be a magnet for those seeking to turn the page on a troubled history

The Trend: Travellers Not Tourists

A beautiful lobby, spacious rooms and inviting restaurants are no longer enough, hoteliers need to be storytellers, crafting a narrative with authentic, local experiences as the plotline. 2020’s holiday makers want to immerse themselves in a new culture – disconnecting from their own life while connecting to the lives of others.

Where to go:

Visitors to VIE Hotel Bangkok will do more than sit dutifully each evening in a dimly lit hotel restaurant – they can eat as locals do and explore Bangkok’s best street food hotspots by night, including a Michelin-starred vendor, aboard the hotel’s tuk tuk with a resident gastro-guide in tow.

Newly restored, the iconic Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap offers guests a true taste of local life. Recently reopened its doors after an extensive renovation, the hotel has created a series of curated journeys that include everything from cruising on a Vespa through the ancient temple at Angkor Wat, art classes with Siem Reap’s illustrious local artists, and a Khmer Culinary Discovery tour lead by local foodie insiders.

Say Aloha to America’s 50th state on a 10-day multi-island adventure with TrekAmerica, which takes Trekkers to explore three of Hawaii’s most diverse islands, all created by underwater volcanoes. The tour starts on the island on Oahu, and includes spending the night in a cabin in the heart of a rainforest at Volcanoes National Park, home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, discovering the areas dramatic shorelines and waterfalls, and soaking up North Shore’s prolific surf scene.

And last but not least:

The Trend: An Accessible Upgrade