Experiential Journeys

SINCE THE TRAVEL FLOODGATES OPENED this year, anyone with a passport has been crossing borders with a vengeance. But it hasn’t all been a rabid, go-anywhere kind of exodus. As tastes and needs change post-pandemic, new travel trends have emerged. From overseas family reunions to solo journeys and luxury driving holidays, travellers now seek purpose in their journeys. Given the high costs of airfares and carbon footprint in mind – longer, experiential trips are now the rage. So, where are people going? Travel experts and savvy globetrotters show the way.

Multi-generational holidays

If booking a villa in Tuscany or Provence for the entire clan sounds like a grand idea for a year-end reunion, it’s time to plan your vacation. 

Take your cue from Eliza Marriott-Smalley, director of Marriott Communications – a Singapore-based British expat who did just that. “We recently rented a villa in Provence for a month and had all of our family visit us there. It made a huge difference from our usual hurried visits. We arranged everything so that the older and younger family members had plenty of space so as to not get on top of each other. We enjoyed delicious produce and wine as well as a whole new region to explore.” 

Jamie Marquis, founder of London-based concierge service The Luxury Travel Book, continues to see a rise in reunion holidays. “Many families who were unable to see each other during the pandemic are increasingly looking to reconnect through travel,” he says.

Italy, in particular, saw a boom in demand this summer. “We have some magnificent properties such as Villa Colle Ramole (6 km south of Florence), catering for up to 44 guests in 20 bedrooms, ideal for various generations of the family.” The concierge team organised everything from private chefs to the villa’s private boat for the families to use.

Serene Chua, head of investments for a family office and co-founder of Wolf Burgers, has done her fair share of family trips. “We usually find a larger apartment/villa to accommodate the group. The most memorable experience was in Croatia, where all of us stayed on a private yacht for 10 days. The younger ones went canoeing and hiking, while the older generation went on strolls around town and did wine tasting. The scenery was stunning, food was amazing and alcohol was very affordable.”

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Solo sojourns

There are many who crave for alone time after being confined at home with family members. According to data from hotel site booking.com, 14 per cent of travellers were going solo before the pandemic, and by mid-2021 that number was 23 per cent. Interestingly, 84 per cent of solo travellers are women. 

They include Chua who, family trips aside, has travelled alone to the likes of Italy and Taiwan. “Everyone should embrace the beauty of solo travelling as it is a chance to get to know yourself better and step out of your comfort zone.” 

She adds, “One of my most memorable experiences was solo-piloting a speedboat at Lake Como for the first time. It was the most nerve-wrecking, yet most liberating and exhilarating experience. You don’t have to make conversation with anyone, so it’s easy to get lost in the scenic beauty right before your eyes.” 

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Solo cruising is also trending. Steve Odell, senior vice-president & managing director Asia Pacific, Regent Seven Seas Cruises & Oceania Cruises, has witnessed more guests wanting to discover new destinations independently.

He says, “When Oceania Cruises announced its debut of 14 solo staterooms aboard our newest ship Vista (launching in 2023), the Deluxe Veranda Staterooms were so popular they sold out almost immediately.” They have since added new solo staterooms to the line’s 4 smaller R-class ships.

“Cruising offers safety, comfort, and peace of mind for solo travellers,” adds Odell.  “Guests travelling alone are more likely to connect with locals, meet new friends on board and enjoy the company of like-minded companions during onshore excursions.” 

If singles don’t enjoy open-sea cruises, they can book more intimate boutique river cruises, which are safe and convenient. For instance, Uniworld’s European cruises offer well-curated wellness and gourmet programmes onboard.

Uniworld’s small group excursions are particularly suited for solo travellers. Private after-hours tours of popular attractions in Europe can be arranged. This year-end, guests can also select Christmas market itineraries from Nuremberg to Vienna and other cities.

Countryside escapes

 Travel experts have also seen how people are keen to escape the city, explore the countryside, and immerse themselves in the local culture and cuisine. 

Julie Hunter, director of operations at Ultimate Driving Tours, says, “Central Europe has been a popular request. We recently launched our latest partnership with The Luxury Collection, which features a self-guided drive through Budapest, Vienna and Prague in one of our supercars, and accommodation in 5-star properties along the way.”

If you’re keen to explore Scotland, consider the Ayrshire Coast, about 40 minutes’ drive from Glasgow. Digital detox-ers can escape to Glenapp Castle, a 21-bedroom Relais & Chateaux hotel situated amid local woodland and beautiful gardens. The property’s managing director Jill Chalmers says, “The pandemic left people yearning for the outdoors and remote destinations, and wellbeing trips have never been so paramount.”  Glenapp offers forest bathing or foraging in the estate’s woodland areas, while learning mindfulness techniques and meditation from its instructors.

Impact tourism

Those wanting to do their bit for conservation and witness the beauty of nature at its wildest can head to Namibia in southwest Africa. Home to diverse wildlife and the largest population of wild cheetahs worldwide, it’s the first African country to incorporate the protection of natural resources into its constitution, and specifically, conservation. Thanks to research projects and anti-poaching directives, the country has managed to grow the populations of lion, rhino, cheetah and zebra. “People want to explore wilderness destinations after being cooped up at home for so long, and Namibia fits the bill perfectly as one of the world’s least densely populated countries with stunning desert scenery,” says Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers. Its Namibia Adventure with Purpose tours take guests to the Ongava Nature Reserve and Research Centre, a hub for the conservation of white and black rhinos, as well as the non-profit AfriCat Foundation, which works with local communities and researchers to protect cheetahs and leopards.  According to the World Travel & Tourism Council in 2021, the pandemic saw a drastic drop in funding for conservation and a jump in poaching activity. Tourism helps raise much-needed money, but the challenge is to do it responsibly, balancing the demand and fragile environments where wildlife is at risk.