Trends are certainly nothing new in the fashion industry or the technology sector, but I bet you didn’t know they extend to the travel industry, as well. Travel itself is pretty trendy, so make it even more on point by following these 5 travel trends of 2016.

1.) Bleisure Travel (Business + Leisure)

Take advantage of your business trips, Photo by mxmstryo / CC BY

With more corporations putting emphasis on healthy work-life balances, business trips have become quite more exciting. It’s a mini vacation on your employer’s dime, so it’s really no wonder this is a trend right now! Many companies now allow families to join employees for trips over long weekends and give employees the flexibility to roam. Thanks to modern-day technology and our ability to be constantly connected, workers spend less time chained to desks and conference centers and more time exploring new destinations.

2.) Go Local!

Explore the local areas, Photo by Jeff Hitchcock / CC BY

As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do! Submerging yourself in the local culture of your destination is the hottest new trend. It’s no longer cool to be the “tourist.” Travelers hopping on this train are looking to get a local experience rather than a commercialized one. If you’d like to get an organic experience, take tours on your own instead of paying for excursions. Talk to locals to find the most authentic establishments to dine in, absorb some of the local language and culture and explore the true gems found in other places of the world. You’ll enrich yourself and come back with much better stories than people that stick to the commercialized vacations.

3.) Wellness Retreats

For those that are truly efficient and want to mix leisure with self-improvement, wellness retreats are the way to go. This market is growing massively and encompasses retreats that focus on weight-loss, surfing, yoga, etc. There truly is something for every taste and lifestyle. These resorts promise not only a good time, but better health in just a week’s time. They also often mix beautiful locales with classes, workshops, lectures and plenty of down-time so you leave feeling rested, but enriched. With a generation that is focused on reducing stress, wellness retreats offer particularly attractive 2-for-1 deals that can’t be passed up by the ever-efficient millennials.

4.) Taking Multiple Shorter Trips

Studies have shown that taking smaller trips a few times a year makes people happier than taking one long vacation yearly. Those that strike a good work-life balance have found this style of vacationing to be perfect for recharging their batteries throughout the year. Although this certainly isn’t a fit for everyone, there are a few upsides to this style of vacationing. You get to experience a few different places in one year which creates more lasting memories. They can also be cheaper. Sites like Groupon.com and LivingSocial.com offer steep discounts on short trip packages (sometimes with airfare included.) You also get to look forward to more excitement throughout the year, which can make for a nicer mindset work-wise.

5.) Travel Solo

Although this isn’t a new trend, it’s becoming more and more mainstream. Despite some people having heart palpitations at the thought of traveling alone, other people simply adore it. Traveling solo allows you to meet new people, explore everything in a way that pleases you and relax on your own terms. Cruises are an extremely popular choice of travel for solo-vacationers due to the ease of travel and price point of these floating resorts. There are even cruises that now have studio cabins for single occupants which makes this choice even more budget-friendly.