Travel Swellness: 2020 Travel Predictions

Where do you see your travel taking you this year and in the decade ahead of us? Has what drives your decisions changed over the years? The experts at Booking.com have examined research and their insights from travel reviews and these are five trends they’ve identified that will impact how and where we travel in the years to come that I found most intriguing

Let’s take it slow.

Rather than FOMO and racing through to fit in as much as possible, we’ll be going at a slower pace. Nearly half of travelers will be taking a slower mode of transportation as a means to reduce environmental impact and an even greater number will be opting for a longer route to experience the actual journey itself. This means methods such as bikes, trams, boats and even our own two feet will be more popular means of transportation.

Kinda sorta like when I run in the mornings to explore a city. Or take in the sights as I run a marathon (like I did recently in Istanbul, let me tell you, that was a slow pace, haha). And earlier in 2019, driving for many hours in Alberta was one of my all-time favourite trips and the drive wasn’t just about getting from point A to B, but was a defining element of the trip. How can you beat singing your favourite songs in the car as you enjoy the mountain views and brilliant glacial lakes around you? With the occasional mountain goat, bear or deer sighting, too!

Let’s hear it for “second city” travel.

More travelers will choose second city travel, that is lesser known destinations, so as to reduce over tourism and reduce the impact on the environment. More than half of the travelers they spoke to would be interested in an app that suggested a destination where tourism would benefit the community.

Is taking the road less traveled of interest to you? I love the idea of this, especially having often been overwhelmed by crowd of people at popular sights recently, like at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. I think further to reducing over tourism and being kind to the environment, I think many people, myself included, like the feeling of discovery. Exploring that little gem that not everyone has been to.

Pets are a top priority.

Pet-centric travel is set to explode. More and more travelers are taking their pets into consideration when it comes to their vacations. 34 percent will choose their holiday based on whether or not they can take their pets with them, in fact. And, good news, the number of pet-friendly accommodations on Booking.com continues to rise.

I travel semi-regularly with my dog, Billie Jean, and I can tell you she plays a big role in my travel decisions. We spent August in Brooklyn last year and also did a road trip to the Drake Motor Inn, and being able to travel with her simply makes life better. In fact, I was recently considering a trip in the next few months, but given that the accommodations are not dog-friendly, I doubt I will go on this trip.

Snag that coveted reservation.

Culinary goals will be key in travel decisions. Booking a table at the hugely popular restaurant for an unforgettable dining experience is a trend that speaks to me. Just a few weeks ago, in advance of my trip to Thailand, my friend and I obsessed about where to book dinner and selected Michelin-starred restaurant Gaa as a decadent treat. And we were crushed to learn that Jay Fai was closed the days we were hoping to go early in the morning to get our name on the walk-in list. Several years ago, another friend and I diligently worked on getting a reservation at David Chang’s Momofuku Ko, clicking for a spot the second the reservations opened up and finally scored two seats at a late time. If Booking.com is correct that food-motivated travel is on the rise, this means I’ll have more competition when it comes to getting that coveted reservation, doh!

Going the “all-amusive” route.

With limited time when it comes to vacations, more and more people are looking for vacations that can deliver all of the experiences and attractions they’re interested in. 57 percent would rather go on one long trip that offers all of the activities they’re into close together. Booking.com predicts will have the travel industry curating itineraries, deals and routes that encompass a healthy range of interests. This more time-efficient way to travel makes sense to me; I look to plan well-rounded trips when I’m setting an itinerary for myself, with time for culture, fitness, R&R and food (OK, food takes a higher priority for me, but I do like my travel to include everything! Unless it’s got a baby elephant, then all I need is to cuddle with a baby elephant and that is everything).

Do you have travel plans for 2020 yet? Where are you off to?

Leave a Comment January 2, 2020

Healthy Swellness: 2016 Green Living Show

Last weekend, I escaped to Ste.  Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ont., as I was invited there to learn more about the 2016 Green Living Show, which takes place this weekend, April 15 to 17th in Toronto.

It was my very first time to Ste. Anne’s, which will be exhibiting at the Show. Over two days at Ste. Anne’s:

I ate gluten-free meals and did a few quick cooking lessons at the bakery.

I took part in a yoga nidra class (which is also referred to as sleeping yoga). It’s more like a meditation class, which I’d hoped would be relaxing but I think I was so exhausted due to jet lag that lying in class, I just felt woozy and disoriented. Thankfully, the session was only 15 minutes.

I had my very first meeting with a homeopath, Julie Henry, who is working now at finding the right treatment for me.

I indulged at the spa where they use the signature Ste. Anne’s spa natural line of products, Skin Nourishment (where many of the essences in the products are grown right on the property). Besides a Chakra Awareness Massage (not my first choice, but it was interesting nonetheless; I was naturally drawn to pick the Crown Chakra, which makes sense as that brings up your energy to its highest point–and I was feeling quite drained at the time). I also had a chance to try one of their mineral masks, which left my skin feeling much rejuvenated and hydrated. Ste. Anne’s will be at the Green Living Show so be sure to stop by their booth

And, of course, I got to learn much about the  Green Living Show from Green Living Enterprise’s President and CEO, Laurie Simmonds, and I found out the Show’s got a ton to offer everyone (it’s not just for super tree-hugger types, in case you were wondering). Check out 5 must-sees at the Green Living Show in my article over on AmongMen.

I’ll be popping into the Green Living Show this weekend…and while I’m too squeamish to try the protein powder I talk about in my AmongMen article, I hope to check out some of the fitness demos, and more.

Oh, and btw, if you plan to go to the Show, be sure to bring any e-waste (ie. anything that plugs in that you’ve been letting collect dust at home before throwing in the garbage or donating to a cause), and if you’re a Toronto resident, you’ll get the power bar pictured below (valued at $100 retail). (Non-Toronto residents, you’re not left out! You receive one worth $40 retail).

Leave a Comment April 11, 2016

Shop til you drop…

…from an infection, yikes.

Feeling a tad queasy just reading this report on how of 84 reusable shopping bags tested by researchers at the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University, nearly every bag was laden with bacteria, 50 percent of them showed evidence of coliform bacteria (indicating potential raw-meat or uncooked food contamination) and 12 percent featured E. coli.

Shopping shouldn’t make you sick. Add machine or hand washing your super cute reuseable shoppers (we personally love the ones from Blue Q such as this little number here) to the top of your to-do list.

4 Comments June 25, 2010