Every January, we reflect on the past year’s travel trends and consider what the next 12 months will bring. Here’s our roundup of predictions from industry experts’ top 2025 trends reports and how you can apply them when planning travel in the year ahead.

1. Savings Reign Supreme

Air travel volume was up last year and is expected to rise again in 2025, while costs for recreation and food and beverage also increased according to the U.S. Travel Association’s travel price index. With high demand and increased costs for travel, focusing on deals and capitalizing when you see a good price for flights or lodging is as important as ever. According to CNBC, the “Goldilocks windows” for finding the cheapest fares are about one to three months ahead of domestic flights and up to eight months in advance for international travel.

Loyalty programs – whether for airline miles, hotel stays or free airport parking (like our Relax for Rewards program) – provide tremendous savings opportunities by being intentional with the money you’re already planning to spend. These loyalty perks can add up to significant savings (i.e., free flights, free hotel stays and free parking) but only if you revisit trusted travel partners time and again. While you work toward that ultimate loyalty reward (FREE), make sure you read up on all the benefits associated with your favorite brands’ loyalty programs as the additional benefits often provide perks and cost savings as well. With Fast Park, members always earn free, unlimited reservations. With airlines, you may receive priority boarding or free checked luggage. With hotels, you may snag room upgrades or complimentary early/late checkout. Remember, it can pay to travel!

(Still) In: Gig Trips

Despite the ending of an era, Taylor Swift has proven that gig trips – travel to concerts, festivals and events – remain top economic and tourism drivers. The 2025 concert lineup has some of the music industry’s hottest acts touring the globe. Between Oasis, Billie Eilish, Metallica, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran Olivia Rodrigo and Usher, there’s something for everyone!

Not a fan of big crowds and ticket fees? One-off events for astrological phenomena and occurrences are just as hot! If you weren’t within the path of totality for last spring’s solar eclipse, you’re in luck with more meteor showers and colorful night sky displays on the horizon. Campers and sky gazers alike will travel for the Northern Lights and other solar events in 2025.

Vacasa reports that 47% of trips are coordinated around an event. People are willing to spend and cover a lot of ground for these limited opportunities, regardless of the occasion. So, don’t wait until the last second to plan event-related travel as demand-based pricing will be in effect. The less availability for flights or accommodations, the more you’ll pay. And when airport parking lots fill, you’re out of luck if you don’t have a reservation.

Travelers Value Less Crowds, New Places

Did you know overtourism is affecting certain destinations? Cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice have implemented or increased tourist taxes and entry fees to prevent overcrowding, not to mention booming costs for hotels, rentals, food and entertainment. These barriers, however, merely force us to think more creatively about where and when we travel.

Enter offseason travel. According to a Virtuoso’s 2024 Travel Week report, 76% of travelers are planning trips around a destination’s offseason to avoid crowds. Just over half of respondents said they tend to visit tourist sites during off hours, and 31% are willing to consider alternative, lesser-known destinations in the future.

These are all important considerations when planning your next vacation. If your go-to spot for a quiet weekend getaway feels a little busier, it’s possible others have discovered its appeal, too. So, consider these three ways to keep up with the trends while dodging the costs and crowds of trend-setting travel.

Tip 1: Reserve Parking