Travel is transitioning to a more leisurely pace for many Americans who might have rushed to book an extensive overseas trip after the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions a few years ago.¹

Slow travel — which often means staying in fewer places or immersing in a local culture for an extended time — is gaining popularity, according to 2025 trend reports from Hilton and Booking.com.^2,3

Slow travel can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about rest, relaxation, or unplugging from work emails, social media, or television. Others engage in hobbies, self-discovery, or connecting with the outdoors or local cultures — often far away from crowded hotspots.⁴

To be sure, travel to most destinations is more robust than ever. The travel and tourism industry contributed $11 trillion to global gross domestic product in 2024 as Europe and other popular destinations reached full recovery from the pandemic and saw more visitors than 2019 levels.^5,6

Empower research shows that Americans packed their bags for at least two domestic trips in 2024 while nearly 2 in 5 embarked on international travel, with an average cost of $2,904 per trip.

Taking in the view 

Train travel is enjoying its own strong resurgence among those who think getting there is half the fun. Amtrak had a record 33 million riders in fiscal year 2024 and plans to double ridership over the next 15 years.⁷

Amtrak expanded service on its Cascades route through Oregon and Washington, which had a double-digit increase in bookings. Other scenic lines popular with riders include the Pacific Surfliner through Southern California and Empire Builder through Montana’s Big Sky Country.⁸

Other travelers crave an even slower pace. Self-guided trips that involve hiking and cycling are trending more than culinary vacations or safaris among some Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, in popular locations like Austria, Scotland, and the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina.⁹ 

The tours, complete with GPS directions, luggage transfers, and bookings in top-rated inns, are being embraced as a better way to take in scenic views, meet locals, and explore a region’s culture and history — while still being comfortable, of course.¹⁰

Millennials and Gen Z travelers embark on more solo trips than any other generation, according to a survey by travel search engine Skyscanner. Self-care and personal growth were the main motivations for solo travel, rather than not having a travel partner.¹¹

Some travelers are putting down their smartphone cameras and using their hobbies, such as sketching and painting, to memorialize their favorite vacation scenes.¹² Other pursuits, like culinary trips or cooking classes, aren’t limited to select locations and are increasingly experienced virtually anywhere in the world.¹³

Read more: 5 culinary capitals where the dollar takes you far

Here not there 

Hilton’s 2025 trends report found that nearly three-quarters of travelers are seeking out authentic, local experiences. The hotel chain has seen a sizeable uptick in U.S. travelers at destinations long popular among European vacationers, such as Sardinia and Bodrum, Turkey.¹⁴

While many talked of revenge travel after the pandemic — making up lost trips that might have been cancelled or postponed — more travelers are now embracing a “joy of missing out” (JOMO) mindset.^15,16

About 63% of travelers plan to visit a “detour destination” on their next trip, according to Expedia Group’s “Unpack ’25” report on travel trends. The report found a notable increase in flight searches to secondary spots away from major cities and crowded capitals, including Reims, France; Girona, Spain; Cozumel, Mexico; and Fukuoka, Japan.¹⁷

A trend report by Booking.com had similar results, with 67% of travelers saying they want to visit less crowded destinations, such as Trieste, Italy; João Pessoa, Brazil; and Sanya, China, often referred to as "China’s Hawaii."¹⁸

Airlines are recognizing the shift as well. United Airlines recently expanded flight service to off-the-beaten-path destinations including Greenland, Senegal, and the Pacific Island nation of Palau. The move is aimed at “savvy travelers” who might be looking for something different, the airline said.¹⁹

Read more: Friendly skies: Automatic cash refunds and travel changes take off

Avoiding the rush 

Large crowds and scorching summer temperatures in popular Mediterranean destinations like Greece, Italy, and Spain have some travelers opting for “coolcations” to countries like Canada or Finland, which saw a 9% jump in summer visitors.²⁰

But interest in Europe’s top destinations like Paris, Rome, or Barcelona isn’t waning. Data from the European Travel Commission found that 61% of travelers want to see Europe’s most iconic sights. However, 39% said they’d consider visiting landmarks during off-hours or quieter times of the day to avoid large crowds.²¹

Other travelers are extending their summer vacations to September and October, or choosing to go during the spring season, when the weather is cooler and the crowds thinner.²²

Empower research shows that more than one-third of Americans (34%) prefer off-season travel, which has the added benefit of typically lower prices.

Travelers also seem to be affording extra time. A report by the Mastercard Economics Institute found that vacations are averaging one extra day compared to pre-pandemic levels.²³