At the beginning of the year, we were interviewed by Elle Decor to share some of our thoughts on the travel trends we would see in 2017. Here are our predictions!

photo: Villa La Semilla via The Perfect Hideaway

FAMILY TRAVEL

The Family Travel trend is growing for both immediate and extended families, using vacations as time to be together instead of the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. It used to be that all-inclusive hotels were the best option, where extended families can enjoy a holiday at the same time, but maintain a bit of space with their own rooms to sleep at night. More and more, however, families are seeking alternative accommodation, such as private homes and villas, where families can all stay at one location. Villa La Semilla, a 5 bedroom fully-catered beachfront villa in the Mayan Riviera just opened its doors and are already booked months in advance with families wanting to holiday together. Exclusive villas like Villa La Semilla are in high demand because of additional perks such as an in-house private chef, concierge, pool and private beach area that make it easy for the guests to completely relax and fully enjoy their holiday.

DEADLINE TRAVEL

Whether it’s due to environmental or political factors, certain destinations carry a sense of urgency to visit sooner than others. People want to see places that are more remote and less “instagrammed”, they want to see those places that are experiencing a lot of change… before they change too much! Commercial tourism in Cuba has already increased significantly, and is expected to continue, as well as trips to the Antarctic and the Great Barrier Reef, where tangible effects from global warming have been seen.

WELLNESS RETREATS

People are looking for more personal, enriching experiences. Another growing trend are ‘Active journeys’, such as African Safaris or swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, and specialized wellness retreats like “Sanctu Stays” that focus on meditation, workshops and yoga. Exhale Yoga Retreats currently offers retreats in Nicaragua and El Salvador in addition to 200hr and 300 hr teacher training in Bali. Exhale Yoga Retreats is more than just an escape from your busy life, but is built on the philosophy that bringing together like-minded people creates an empowering sense of connection and inspires profound transformation.

Exhale Yoga Retreat at The Maderas Village

DIGITIAL DETOX

Let’s admit it, we’re all addicted to some point. Similar to the Wellness Retreat trend, Digital Detox has a more specific tech-free focus, spearheading the movement to disconnect regularly from digital devices and reconnect with the world offline. It's Time To Log Off runs retreats in Somerset, Italy and Hawaii.

CURATED TRAVEL

More and more luxury travelers are putting their vacation in the hands of top professionals to guarantee the most exclusive travel experiences tailored to their wildest dreams. Splurging on over-the-top experiences such as private jets, high-end villas, or chartering a yacht, is also becoming more popular. Today’s luxury traveler is veering away from material goods and placing more importance on access, particularly on experiences that none of their friends have done before!

Total Management can organize Porsche ice-rally driving in Sweden, Responsible Travel runs sea-kayaking trips around Indonesia in search of legendary komodo dragons, and Wild Frontiers can take you along the Congo River from Kisangani to Kinshasa.

EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL

More and more travelers are wanting to connect and immerse themselves in the local culture when abroad with activities such as cooking classes as well as more exclusive experiences of sampling the eats of private chefs in their own homes. EatWith lets you pick a location (more than 200 cities) and a chef, then book an immersive dining experience or food tour. Meals are typically served at the chef's home and each is vetted by EatWith. Fancy Trini-Land Dinner Party in New York or a Market Tour and Lunch in Florence? You've come to the right place.

EatWith brings chefs and foodies together around the world

TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL

Transformative Travel is the next evolution, taking meaningful interactions and cultural immersion one step further. It can be defined by a shift in perspective, self-reflection and development and a deeper communion with nature and culture. Michael Bennett’s doctoral study identifies a three-phase process consisting of the departure, the initiation, and the return - aka the “hero’s journey” - where travelers venture into the unknown to learn wisdom from cultures and places outside their own, returning home to implement this knowledge, ultimately changing their lives and the lives of others around them. One company to look out for is Butterfield & Robinson, an immersive trip provider anchored in the art of slow travel, encouraging you to "Slow Down to See the World". Amen to that.

*Stay tuned for The Coolest New Hotel Trends and The Best Travel Gadgets of 2017*

As published on @Bloglovin

Second to where we travel, the next most important thing is where we stay. We are very aware of the affect an environment can have on one’s psychological well-being, so we put a lot of time into finding those special spaces to ensure we enjoy our hard-earned holidays to the fullest. It’s pretty simple, a beautiful light-filled room with thoughtful design details is going to feel a whole lot better than a dark, musty one. Add a killer view and this will be one vacation you won't soon forget. And let’s be honest, it can be pretty fun to play house in a gorgeous architectural home.

Here are some of the coolest design homes that you can book for your next vacation. It doesn’t have to be just a dream! Well okay... admittedly, some of them may have to stay on your dream board (sorry, Scrubby Bay House) but there are plenty of dream-worthy homes to get excited about for your next vacay.

Scrubby Bay House, Akaroa, New Zealand. A luxury villa in a completely private bay that can only be reached by helicopter or 4WD. Comfortably accommodating 14 guests, the secluded cedar-clad villa stretches out along the beach and features three sea-fronted suites, a deck warmed by a fire pit and an outdoor spa. Sleeps 14.

photo: Melissa Gidney @ The Perfect Hideaway

The Bonnieux House, Bonnieux, France. This one of kind home sits in a quiet valley in Provence, just 5 minutes from the charming town of Bonnieux. Not only is the pool to die for (and pinterest famous), the massive living room windows completely swing open to let in all that gorgeous Provencal air. Incredible mix of modern design with old world touches. Sleeps 6 people.

Rock Reach House, Yucca Valley, California. Floating gracefully above the rugged landscape of gigantic weathered boulders, ancient juniper and desert oak trees, this prototype home opens itself to the stunning environment with sliding doors in each room, leading out to private patios and a main deck. Sleeps 4 people.

The Dune House, Suffolk, England. Designed by Norwegian Architects, the entire ground floor is fitted with glazed windows, allowing the rolling dunes of an idyllic stretch of the Suffolk Coast to act as paintings for the viewer inside. Sleeps 9 people.

Big Bay Beach House, Bloubergstrand, South Africa. Just 25 minutes from Cape Town, this beachfront holiday home perfectly encapsulates comfortable living with a relaxed beach lifestyle. If the beach isn’t your thing, enjoy the heated pool in the protected courtyard. Sleeps up to 10 people.

La Melangrana, Noto, Sicily. Nestled in the Sicilian countryside just minutes from Noto, this stunning 3 bedroom home is ideal for those longing to combine a vacation in nature, near the sea, and explore beautiful baroque sites in the area. Sleeps 6.

Dar Beida, Essaouira, Morocco. Located in the heart of the medina, Dar Beida is a 4-storey home built around a central courtyard. Touted as one of the funkiest spaces in Morocco, The New York Times cited this 4 bedroom villa as “A glowing Pop Art cavern, brimming with 60’s furniture, animal skins and artisan Moroccan fork pieces.” Sleeps 8.

Floating House, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Situated above the treetops of the jungle canopy, this stunning architectural home is comprised of 3 pods connected by bridges and walkways. With a gourmet kitchen, a private infinity pool and open verandahs with incredible views, you won’t want to leave this treetop sanctuary. Sleeps 7.

436 Olancha, Palm Springs, California. Steeped in history and rich lore, this stunning mid-century compound has been renovated with all its systems upgraded to the modern era while paying tribute to its unique architectural origins and decorated with exquisite vintage pieces. The property consists of the main house and two separate two bedroom suites. Sleeps 10.

Villa CP, Girona, Spain. Designed by a renowned Barcelona architect, this restored Catalan Farmhouse, harmoniously juxtaposing old and new styles in line with the surrounding nature and environment, is perched on a hill overlooking a National Park of cork and pine forest extending to the Balearic Sea. Sleeps 10.

Top Travel Trends for 2017

10 Of The Coolest Vacation Homes