8 travel trends to keep in mind for the upcoming festive season

DECEMBER is normally a busy period for travel and annual holidays, which means it’s time to start planning.

South Africa has so much to offer and a recent survey of travellers from South Africa conducted by Club Med identified some of the key travel trends for an end-of-year getaway.

Beach-bound

For those wanting a complete break, the beach is the place to be. Mauritius has always been a firm favourite with South Africans as a holiday destination. Other favourites include Seychelles, Thailand, and the Maldives. The research showed that almost 60% of upcoming planned getaways will include beach destinations. Overseas destinations

With borders open, after two years of domestic and regional travel, people are looking to international destinations to seek cultural discoveries. Traveller confidence is growing, and people are keen to head back into the wider world.

All-inclusive packages

The majority of people surveyed stated that an all-inclusive holiday was an important feature of their holiday booking. When you are on holiday, it’s good to relax completely, and with an all-inclusive package, you can holiday with peace of mind because most of your needs are taken care of.

Family holidays

The festive season is an especially important time for multi-generational families and groups of friends to come together. The data showed that over 50% of people plan to take their next holiday with their family.

Childcare facilities

December is the most common time for the working world to take their annual leave. Parents need time to relax and enjoy their holiday as much as their children.

Therefore, many people are looking for hotels or resorts that include childcare facilities that are as parent-friendly as they are kid-friendly.

These include options like a kids club and supervised play areas. This allows parents to unwind or enjoy their own activities, knowing that their children are taken care of by trained staff.

Travel insurance

Over the last two years, travel bans, red-list inclusions, and border restrictions have meant that plans have had to be abandoned, sometimes at the last minute. Travel insurance is therefore helpful to prevent financial loss due to cancelled bookings. The data shows

that, even if it isn’t a top priority, travel insurance is an important consideration when planning a holiday. Pricing

Over 50% of the survey participants indicated that an affordable price was significant when booking a holiday. It’s about finding the best value for money for a much-needed vacation.

Top sources of inspiration

With all the beautiful images shared on social media, it’s not hard to be inspired to pack your bags.

To see others enjoying awe-inspiring sunsets, glistening ski slopes, or adrenaline-pumping activities definitely ignites the desire to travel.