Why Travel Is Changing in 2026 — And How to Make Every Trip More Meaningful

For most of my adult life, I approached travel like a checklist.

I tried to fit as much as possible into the limited PTO time I had. I didn’t want to miss anything.

I’m sure many of you can relate.

See the sights.

Hit the highlights.

Come home exhausted… but with great photos — and to be fair, great memories too.

But lately, I’ve been approaching travel a little differently.

Don’t get me wrong — I still want to see the sights and hit the highlights.

But I also want to sit with a cappuccino at a corner café and get to know the owner.

I want to talk to locals and see their city/town through their eyes.

I want to have dinner at the little restaurant the shop owner near our hotel recommended.

And it turns out… it’s not just me.

This past week, I did some research on this year’s travel trends, and what I found felt surprisingly personal.

According to Travel + Leisure, Reader’s Digest, and Expedia, 2026 is showing a clear shift:

People aren’t trying to take more trips. They’re trying to make each trip matter more.

One quote from Travel + Leisure said it perfectly:

“Travel is less about racking up trips and more about making each one count. Travelers are chasing big moments and unforgettable experiences.”

And honestly… that feels exactly where I am this year.

Travel Built Around Your “Why”

An article in Reader’s Digest shared something I loved:

"Travelers are increasingly building itineraries around their “why.”

Not just where they’re going — but why they’re going."

Is it for…

Rest?

Connection?

Adventure?

Time with family?

A reset after a hard season?

That “why” is shaping entire trips.

Not bucket lists.

Not Instagram moments.

Not squeezing five cities into six days.

Just calm, simple, intentional travel.

And I love that.

Because when you start with your why, everything else gets simpler.

The Rise of Slow, Intentional Travel

This year, I keep seeing the same themes everywhere:

• fewer destinations

• longer stays

• slower mornings

• less overplanning

• more “let’s just wander and see what we find”

Travelers want what some are calling decision-free days.

No rushing.

No tight timelines.

No trying to maximize every minute.

Just space to experience a place.

To sit at the same café twice.

To walk neighborhoods without a plan.

To talk to locals.

To actually remember how a place felt.

It’s less about doing it all and more about being there.

And that’s the kind of travel that stays with you.

Even BBC notes that “2026 may be the year of quiet escapes, personalized retreats, and slower, more intentional travel.”

I think people are simply craving connection again.

Less screen time.

Less noise.

More presence.

Because the little moments matter just as much as the big ones.

It’s about balance.

Yes — see the Trevi Fountain.

Absolutely visit the Duomo.

But then maybe sit down for aperitivo at the café next door instead of rushing to the next attraction.

Those are the moments we talk about years later.

Not the lines.

Not the schedules.

The human ones.

So How Do You Actually Travel This Way?

Because inspiration is great…but I also like practical.

Here’s the simple framework I use now:

My Intentional Travel Approach

1. Start with your why

2. Choose fewer stops

3. Pre-plan only the essentials

4. Leave white space

5. Use simple tools that reduce stress

   
   

Less noise.

More presence.

Travel should feel lighter — not heavier.

How I’m Trying This on My Next Trip

I actually get to test this mindset soon with an upcoming trip to San Antonio.

And for the first time in a long time… I’m intentionally not overplanning.

A little time on the River Walk.

Great food.

Exploring neighborhoods.

Maybe a market or two.

But mostly?

Space.

To wander.

To discover.

To stay longer at dinner.

To not feel rushed.

Just being there.

Maybe travel was always meant to be savored, not rushed.

If 2026 is teaching us anything, it’s this:

We don’t need to do more.

We just need to travel with more intention.

Take trips that feel meaningful.

Balanced.

Connected.

The kind that feels like memories while they’re happening — not something we’re racing through.

And if that sounds like the way you want to travel too, you’re in the right place.

💛 Each week, I share thoughtful ideas, simple tools, and real-life stories to help you plan trips that feel lighter, more intentional, and truly memorable — without missing the experiences that matter most.

You can join the Take Time for the Trip community here.

Let’s slow down a little — together.

And make each trip count.