5 min readJust like fashion, travel has its own trends and obsessions—where people are going, what they’re doing there, and, most importantly, which social media shots will inspire the most envy.
This year, the mood is less about checking destinations off a list than about chasing a particular feeling. It’s all about ditching the heat waves for cooler weather, experiencing new frontiers of wellness, and embarking on journeys that feel deep, not performative. The places poised to dominate the conversation this fall aren’t necessarily the newest or shiniest—they’re the ones tapping into larger cultural currents. Consider this the ultimate roadmap to the trips and ideas that will shape fall 2026.
Shoulder Season Is the New Peak Season
Somewhere along the way, peak season stopped feeling quite so… peak. Between bumper-to-bumper traffic in the Hamptons, eye-watering hotel rates on Lake Como, and shop owners on Nantucket publicly pleading with influencers to stop filming in their stores, the romance of traveling in peak season has lost a bit of its shine. That’s why this fall feels like the right time to visit popular destinations on your own schedule: The beaches are still warm in Crete, where you can book one of the buzzy new villas at Tierras Villas Crete; wine country is at its most lush at the Appellation Healdsburg; and The Wauwinet on Nantucket truly feels like a secluded haven after the kids go back to school. Even ski towns like Jackson, Aspen, and Whistler that once attracted crowds almost exclusively during the winter months have evolved into year-round destinations. The ultimate luxury these days? Showing up precisely when the crowds don’t.
Cool Is the New Hot
With temperatures rising and weather growing more unpredictable by the minute, there’s suddenly something irresistible about the idea of a “coolcation.” In-the-know travelers have long flocked to the fresh air of Iceland for design-driven hotels like Eleven Deplar Farm in the countryside, or urban favorite, the Reykjavik EDITION. The Scottish Highlands, too, feel more attractive than ever thanks to two new hotels: Hope and Kilchoan Estate, two luxurious, all-inclusive openings with all the bracing walks and cozy fireplaces you could hope for. Ten years ago, it seemed like vacations were all about finding the sun—increasingly, it’s about finding relief from it.
Wellness Goes Social
Have you noticed the global explosion of “wellness clubs” like Remedy Place, Othership, and The Well? There’s a new one coming to Tribeca this fall called Schwet that’s inspired by Eastern European bathing culture, too. These splashy newcomers might have you thinking that social wellness is the hot new thing, but even the ancient Romans would decamp to communal bathhouses for long, languid baths and steams.
What feels different now is the way top hotels are investing in social wellness: The Sofitel Singapore Sentosa has a new lineup of communal rituals and outdoor film screenings that turn the pool into an outdoor cinema; Janu Tokyo, an offshoot brand from Aman, offers group classes like aerial yoga and sound baths, as well as one of the larger hotel pool areas in all of Tokyo; and Six Senses London opened this year with an expansive wellness club where both local members and visitors can steam, sauna, and biohack in style.
The Great American Road Trip
The all-American road trip is having a surprisingly chic renaissance. Part of that is practical—with more electric vehicles on the road and charging infrastructure finally catching up, long-distance driving has never felt easier. But it’s also cultural. As travelers become more interested in slowing down and finding the lesser-known gems between Points A and B, iconic routes are once again becoming the destination. This November marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, and perennial favorites like the Southeast’s Blue Ridge Parkway are breathtaking during the fall foliage season. Luxury has entered the chat, too: famed luxury driving tour company HunterMoss debuted in America this year, with a series of curated itineraries through destinations like Napa Valley and southern Utah. If you’ve ever dreamed of a road trip with five-star hotels, private guides, and Michelin dining from the comfort of your own Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, now’s the time.
Unplugged and Off-Grid
In a world filled with emails, Teams chats, and way too much social media, the chicest trip you can take is something that firmly puts you off the grid. Cell service optional. If you want to go big, there are the Alaska lodges like Ultima Thule, or its sister property, the new Great Saint Elias Station, where 10 freestanding private cabins offer a front-row seat to the rugged drama of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Looking for less of a long haul? Ulum Moab offers glamping and outdoor activities where you can confidently turn your phone off and commune with nature.
Written in the Stars
Astrology is trending, and the global astrotourism market is already a multibillion-dollar industry. Under Canvas has leaned into the trend by earning DarkSky certification across many of its camps by offering stargazer tents, guided stargazing, “star bathing” meditations, and even celestial-themed cocktails. The key to finding prime stargazing spots? Look for desert locales like Amangiri in Utah, mountain resorts at high elevation like One&Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, or truly go all-out with remoteness, like Tswalu, South Africa’s largest private reserve. The farther you can get from city lights, the better.
Grocery Store Tourism
We’ve had a longstanding obsession with French pharmacies, but the real status souvenir for editors departing Paris Fashion Week lately hasn’t been a new Birkin or Celine coat—it’s a vacuum-sealed stash of creamy, cultured French butter from La Grande Épicerie. Seasoned travelers know that grocery stores are an easy and enjoyable avenue into understanding different cultures, and the global obsession with grocery stores has reached a fever pitch—from the grand grocers of Paris to the 7-Elevens of Southeast Asia to Erewhon in Los Angeles and Meadow Lane in New York. Wherever your travels bring you this fall, pencil in some time at the local food shop.
Cruising Is Finally Cool
Cruising has officially shed its old reputation, and much of the credit is due to the arrival of luxury hospitality brands bringing true luxury aesthetics to the high seas. Think less all-you-can-eat buffets and more floating design hotels. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Four Seasons Yachts are leading the way with highly personalized experiences that go well beyond the same old ports of call. Even Aman is set to get into the cruising game with a debut of its own next year.
Experiential Safaris
Today’s most coveted safaris invite guests to do more than observe the Big Five from the back of a Land Cruiser. At Segera in Kenya, travelers can harvest honey, tour a museum-quality art collection, and meet the anti-poaching professionals who protect endangered rhinos. Boutique horseback safari companies are popping up across Africa, such as Sparta Horseback Safari in South Africa. And leading operators like Singita and Wilderness are also weaving community visits into their itineraries and local products into their spas. The modern safari guest—just like the modern traveler, more generally—doesn’t want to just see extraordinary places. They want to understand them, too.