How the rich are redefining luxury travel, according to experts

From Insta-worthy hotels to longevity retreats, experts revealed how the rich are redefining luxury travel.

First and foremost, social media is still influencing wealthy travelers’ itineraries. But not in the ways you would think.

Julia Carter, the founder of the luxury travel agency Craft Travel, shared that about 80% of the family trips her company organizes are now dictated by Gen Zers and what they’ve seen on social media.

And it’s not just about where they go but where they stay.

“It’s definitely the hotels that they’re most interested in,” Carter told Business Insider.

“You can go to London or Paris, but unless you get these money shots, as they say, how do you show that you really did it in style? The hotel is the proof.”

While some simply care about they where sleep so they can show off to their followers, others are being more concious about sleep and other wellness related amenities as sleep tourism and wellness tourism are on the rise.

A majority of travelers across generations indicated that the top reason they plan to travel in 2024 will be to rest and recharge, according to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report.

“A main reason people will come back to the hotel is based on how well they slept,” Dr. Whitney Roban, a sleep specialist and collaborator at luxury bedding company REST, previously told The Post.

“They used to want to go for adventures and partying but now people want to go away to feel better and healthier — and the No. 1 way to recharge and recover is by getting good sleep.”

But a good night’s sleep isn’t the only health benefit travelers are seeking.

A new report from Booking.com predicted that the “passport to longevity” trend will be a highlight of 2025.

Fifty-two percent of American travelers say they are willing to pay for vacations “designed solely to extend their lifespan and improve their overall health,” according to Booking.com.

And travelers aren’t only trying to slow the aging process, they’re trying slow down any way possible.

“Slow” or “silent” travel has been on rise as those who live in the hustle and bustle of big cities are looking to recharge during quiet and longer vacations.

“People have developed an appetite, an interest, a desire to slow down, to increase the quality of the experience, and to appreciate that experience more,” Samy Ghachem, general manager of La Dolce Vita Orient Express, told Business Insider.

Since last year, searches for “quiet places” and “calm places” have increased by 50% and 42% respectively,” search data on Pinterest found.

Overall, the travel report found “Quiet Life” gained over 530% more interest this year compared to 2023 as users are in need of a digital detox filled with nature destinations.

And once they get away, they wanna stay away.

The average length of a trip jumped from 4½ days in 2020 to 5½ days in 2024 — plus, those who booked a trip to Europe or Africa stayed two to three days longer.

Along with not thinking about the chaos of their daily lives, travelers don’t want to stress about planning or paying for anything once they arrive. That’s why many are new choosing all-inclusive trips.

Fora, a travel agency, has seen a 324% increase year-over-year in bookings across top-booked all-inclusive brands in 2024, Business Insider reported.

Gen Z is leading the — one-time — charge with 42% of the generation now prefering all-inclusive stays citing minimal stress as their top reason for choosing all-inclusives, Hotels.com told The Post.

But these vacations offer more than endless piña coladas and all-you-can-eat buffets.

Scott Dunn, a luxury travel agent, said that his clients are now booking all-inclusive resorts that “go beyond the typical ‘fly and flop’ beach hotel to encompass everything from safari camps and remote lodges, to cruise journeys and wellness retreats.”

Rich travelers are also chasing rare experiences around the world whether it be a Taylor Swift concert, a solar eclipse or the ice caps in the Antartic.

“We’re seeing more of our clients booking trips and requesting experiences because they know they might not always be available,” Will Bolsover, founder and CEO of Natural World Safaris, told Business Insider.

“Sometimes these requests are related to specific iconic locations that are at threat of climate change, such as travelers wanting to see Mount Kilimanjaro while there’s still snow at the peak and seeing Antarctica before the ice melts,” he added.

People’s climate change concerns are also pushing them to book “coolcations,” as they try to beat the heat.

And with so many exciting travel trends, people are dreaming of traveling more and more often.

According to new research conducted by Talker Research, the average American says they need a proper vacation every 110 days (15.8 weeks) — so keep these travel trends in mind as your dream of your next getaway.