HOTTEST TRENDING DESTINATIONS FOR 2023

So, just what are the hottest destination trends travelers expect for 2023?

“Greece is super-hot right now, as well as Italy,” Byrd said. “Since the Covid restrictions have dropped throughout most of Europe, all of Europe is really popular this year! Hawaii is also hot right now. Up and coming hot spots are New Zealand and Japan. Iceland is another destination that has exploded in popularity.”

Surprisingly, Byrd noted a new trend known as “TV tourism” that has developed thanks to the settings of several popular television shows.

“Destination trends can be driven by popular shows such as Game of Thrones, Outlander and White Lotus,” Byrd said. “We get a lot of calls for Iceland, Croatia, Scotland, Hawaii and the Amalf Coast in Italy.”

Other such “TV” destinations cited by Expedia include Paris and New York.

And for many couples, families, and seniors, intergenerational traveling together is becoming more travel-trendy, as they’ve found that sticking together can be rewarding and fun as they explore the hot spots.

Other travel options gaining in popularity for groups such as seniors, incentive rewards and high school senior trips include Alaska cruises and treks to the Caribbeans and Mexico, Byrd said.

Cruises

Cruises, a longtime vacation staple, are defnitely back, Byrd said.

“The Caribbean is always the most popular cruise destination, as well as the Mediterranean and Alaska,” she said. “We have seen a massive uptick in cruise bookings overall since the cruise lines dropped their Covid restrictions.”

Among its top 10 travel predictions for 2023, AAA is forecasting that, thanks to the deployment of new ships coming “onboard” since last year, cruising at all levels will come back even stronger than in its robust return in ’22 – with bookings on cruises to new destinations like the Arctic Circle and the Galapagos Islands also on the rise.

AAA also predicts a resurgence of European river cruises in 2023.

Other International Destinations Gaining Popularity

Another AAA travel predication is a trend toward visiting less-crowded European and Caribbean destinations. While Italy, Ireland and the Caribbean will maintain their positions as “must-see” locations, travelers are also wanting to explore lesser-known, unique areas that allow them to interact with locals and engage in their culture and foods – a trend dubbed as “experiential traveling”.

Interest in visiting the European cities of Paris, London, Barcelona, and others should remain strong, while another rising vacation destination – Iceland - is also gaining in popularity.