From 'Fictioneers' to 'Racontourism', here are Original Travel's top travel trends for the year ahead 

Based on their clients' behaviour and booking patterns, Original Travel can confidently predict the trends that will be shaping travel in 2026 – and the new buzzwords that will soon be on everyone's lips... 

Fictioneers 
Much is said about the phenomenon of set-jetting, with fans flocking to the real-life locations of their favourite movies and TV shows – but books evoke an equally strong wanderlust, creating a trend for what Original Travel have dubbed 'Fictioneers'. As the sole UK operator of the Steam Ship Sudan – the Nile steamship on which Agatha Christie sailed and the inspiration of Death on the Nile – Original Travel reports that the Agatha Christie cabin is more in demand than ever, with fans of the 'Queen of Crime' booking it years in advance. Other locations that Original Travel report are popular with 'Fictioneers' include Colombia (Gabriel Garcia Marquez), Naples (Elena Ferrante) and Jamaica (Ian Fleming).  

For more inspiration, check out these Destinations with Literary Connections | Original Travel 

Racontourism 
Racontourism is the name Original Travel have given to the art of using travel as a means of gathering stories and anecdotes and returning home with interesting tales to tell. The Grand Tourists of the 17th and 18th centuries recorded increasingly flowery accounts of their travels but storytelling became less of a focus during the advent of mass market tourism and fly-and-flop holidays. Now, with journaling, blogging and social media all part and parcel of everyday life, travel as a rich seam of content is back in focus.  

Tom Barber, Co-founder of Original Travel says: 'We've seen a rise in clients travelling for storytelling - whether that's for dinner party anecdotes, “braggability” or for their memoirs – and while there aren't specific itineraries for this trend (after all, no-one wants the same trip and the same stories), our team of destination experts, network of clued-up Concierges and 'Like a Local' guides can advise on the most interesting places to visit, facilitate introductions to some fascinating people and arrange incredible experiences that you'll be talking about for years to come.'  

Retroaming
This summer, Pan Am – once the world's most successful airline – rose from the ashes with a private charter flight that traced its original transatlantic routes, with the crew in their signature baby blue uniforms. Despite a price tag of $45,000, the flight sold out in three days, demonstrating the power of nostalgia tourism, or – as Original Travel have dubbed it - 'retroaming'. This trend is also evident in the resurgence of retro Americana across interiors and homeware and the renaissance of old-school motels. If you want to pack your 'pastport' and travel back in time, you can't get a better experience than onboard the SS Sudan. 

Tom Barber, Co-founder of Original Travel says: 'With the popularity of our flagship, the Steam Ship Sudan, Nostalgia Tourism is something Original Travel knows all about. As the last remaining steamer from the golden age of Nile travel in the 20s and 30s and still boasting the same teak decks and the oriental opulence of the Belle Epoque style, the SS Sudan evokes the luxury and style of a bygone era that is more appealing than ever. We've even known guests who have brought a full wardrobe of 1920s outfits onboard in their own steamer trunks. It's something we also see in the rise of popularity in train travel, arguably the most romantic mode of travel and seeing a well-deserved renaissance.' 

Homes from Home 
While hotels and guesthouses are wonderful in many ways, Original Travel know that sometimes a home-from-home experience works better for clients; that's why Airbnb – despite its impact on the local economy – is the phenomenon that it is, and why we're calling this our 'Homes From Home' collection. Original Travel are painstakingly researching exclusive-use properties around the globe in order to create a portfolio of sustainable private hire properties. These exclusive use retreats will be homes from home but with the wraparound care and safety net of a tour operator experience. Already added to their product offering are a selection of traditional townhouse machiyas in Japan and hanoks in South Korea alongside villas in Bali, private safari lodges, Scandinavian cabins and Moroccan riads, with many more to come. 

Sample itinerary: Family Adventure in the Norwegian Fjords | Original Travel. Take a road trip across Norway from Oslo to Bergen via small mountain towns and villages, staying in your own cabins and immersing yourself into the local way of life. There's plenty of opportunity for horse-riding, kayaking, ziplining, mountain biking and hiking (picking blueberries, raspberries and blackberries along the way).  From £1,770pp, based on four sharing and including return flights, car hire and 10 nights' accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk.   

Wraparound Holidays 
Come for the gig (or wedding, tournament, conference) and stay for the holiday. More than ever, people are travelling abroad for an event or occasion and then turning it into a 'Wraparound Holiday'. It's one of the reasons that Original Travel is seeing a rise in week-long city breaks, with people visiting for a concert, but making a proper trip of it. Next year will be a stellar year for this trend; 'destination weddings' are on the up, with Italy, Greece and France being the most popular locations; global trade shows and overseas conferences are back with a vengeance post-covid; Lady Gaga is on an 87-date global tour and the FIFA World Cup is taking place across the US, Canada and Mexico.  

Tom Barber, Co-founder of Original Travel says: 'Clients on these Wraparound Holidays are travelling with purpose and really want to make the most of every trip. As such, they are up for action-packed itineraries, which are exactly what we excel at organising. In the case of global events, they also look to us to mitigate the busy-ness, either by booking ahead for the popular attractions or by suggesting lesser-known alternatives. In the case of weddings or conferences, we are often asked by clients for accommodation away from the wider group!' 

Pawsport Adventures 
Original Travel predicts that dogs will start leading the way with holiday-planning. Their pawprints are already all over the world of fashion (dog accessories featured in Louis Vuitton's SS25 collection by Pharell Williams and Vogue launched its digital 'Dogue' initiative last year), so it's only a matter of time before the travel industry follows suit. This comes as no surprise to Original Travel. In their own exhaustive family travel survey last year, they asked children what they missed most while away. The top answer top – by a distance – was the family pet(s). The easy answer? Just bring them with you! OK, it doesn't work with all pets, but there are plenty of dog-friendly holidays to be found. Thanks to Le Shuttle (and – if budget allows –  Bark Air, a private jet for dogs), it's perfectly possible to bring pooch on your travels. Throughout Europe, Original Travel can find the most pet-friendly properties, activities, beaches and vineyards and pull together trips for the whole family, four-legged included. 

For more inspiration, check out these Best Pet-Friendly Holidays in Europe | Original Travel Blog. Bone Voyage! 

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Follow us on instagram @originaltravel for more travel inspiration and for more information contact: press@originaltravel.co.uk; 020 3582 4990   

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Notes to Editors:  
 

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the company has created over 50,000 itineraries since its launch in 2003, each one unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit.  

11 of our consultants are recognised as Conde Nast Traveler's 2024 Travel Specialists – more than any other tour operator for the 2nd year running. Our specialists include: Co-founder, Tom Barber (family travel and sabbaticals), Jacqui Brooks (Indonesia) and Oliver Rodwell (Mexico), Ben Williams (Egypt) Kate Little (Romania), Isabel de Galleani (Morocco), Frances Mavor (India), Harriet Harford (European Wine Regions), Holly Barber (Cambodia),  Lucy Bailey (Oman). 

In October 2024, Original Travel was ranked among the top five Tour Operators in the country in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards.  

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including:  

Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.  

A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a city break, or a multi-destination sabbatical, is checked in on all flights – outbound, domestic and inbound - with boarding passes uploaded to the Original Travel app; will have UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. Thoughtful details include wifi routers or e-sims, destination specific book and music lists and children's activity packs. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.  

The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).  Clients can also be advised on which flight options have the lowest levels of emissions, thanks to an industry-leading and world-first carbon calculator which can compare the levels of emissions generated by each flight, using data compiled from flight plans, aircraft type, the cabin class, direct versus indirect flights and the target occupancy rate. 

The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.