Booking a long-haul flight to discover that airport procedures have changed completely, arriving at a destination featured in a TV series, or altering one’s itinerary because new European regulations require an online administrative step: this year’s travel trends are experienced primarily on the ground, not in brochures. Here are the concrete changes reshaping how we go on vacation.
EES and ETIAS: What Really Changes at European Borders
The Entry/Exit System EES is now operational at Schengen borders. Passport stamps are being replaced by biometric registration (fingerprints, facial recognition) for third-country nationals.
Related reading : The latest trends and news in the automotive world to discover without delay
For European travelers, the impact is mainly felt in the queues. Automated gates are changing the flow, and processing times vary by airport. Feedback on this point varies: some report time savings, while others note slowdowns during peak summer periods.
Another new development to anticipate: the ETIAS system, expected to be operational between September and December of this year, will require prior online travel authorization for visa-exempt third-country nationals. Affected travelers will need to obtain this authorization before boarding. You can check the information on Actualités Voyages to follow the exact implementation schedule, which has already been postponed several times.
Related reading : Discover the latest trends and news from the world of French-speaking bloggers
Destinations Boosted by Series and Set-Jetting
Set-jetting (choosing a destination based on a series or film) is not a new phenomenon, but it is gaining operational momentum this year. Local tourist offices are now structuring their offerings around filming locations, with guided tours and dedicated hotel partnerships.
What is changing on the ground: it is no longer just about visiting a set. Some destinations offer immersive experiences related to a production’s universe, including themed dining or access to sites usually closed to the public. The phenomenon is also affecting medium-sized cities and rural areas that previously did not appear on traditional tourist radars.
What This Means for Booking
Visitor spikes related to a streaming platform release are sudden and brief. In practical terms, accommodation must be booked in the weeks following the airing of a successful series, not three months later. The affected tourist sites fill up much faster than traditional destinations.
Short Stays and Themed Trips: The Logic of Micro-Adventures
There is a clear shift towards shorter but more frequent stays. The logic is no longer to take two weeks in August in one place, but to multiply three to five-day getaways throughout the year.
This format changes how a trip is prepared. One no longer builds a linear itinerary with twenty stops: the focus is on a specific experience, a theme, an activity. Themed trips (gastronomy, hiking, industrial heritage, astronomical observation) are gaining ground because they justify a short trip with a clear objective.
- Gastronomic getaways target a region, a product, or a chef, with organized tours around local producers
- Nature micro-adventures (canyoning, guided camping, sea kayaking) are booked for a day or a long weekend
- Short wellness stays, centered on a specific program (fasting, balneotherapy, intensive yoga), replace the general “relaxation” week
Intergenerational Travel: A Growing Format
Another concrete trend: stays that bring together multiple generations of the same family. It’s not just a matter of desire; it’s also a budget issue. Pooling accommodation among grandparents, parents, and children allows access to rentals or hotels that would otherwise be out of reach.
Hosts are adapting their offerings: connecting rooms, age-segmented activities in the same location, communal spaces designed for cohabitation. Clubs and resorts are repositioning part of their capacity in this niche.
Embedded Technology and Real-Time Booking Tools
Technology is changing travel on two levels. First, on the booking side: comparison tools now include real-time price alerts and dynamic suggestions based on actual availability, not on outdated displayed rates from three days ago.
Then, on-site. Instant translation apps, geolocated audio guides, and contactless payment systems in countries that largely operated in cash just a few years ago are transforming the daily experience of travelers.
- Voice translation apps enable smooth exchanges in destinations where language barriers previously hindered independent visits
- eSIM cards facilitate connectivity without having to search for a local telecom shop upon arrival
- On-site activity booking platforms (guided tours, restaurants, local transport) are becoming widespread in regions that were previously under-digitized
The Trap of All-Digital
Relying entirely on smartphones remains risky. Some developing tourist areas have very uneven network coverage. Keeping a paper version of your booking confirmations and your ETIAS authorization when it becomes active remains a basic precaution.
This year’s travel trends can be summed up in a practical paradox: more technology for preparation and booking, but a growing search for disconnected stays once on-site. The balance depends on the type of destination and each traveler’s constraints.