Luxury Travel Trends: Shoulder Season Escapes Gain Popularity

The latest trends report indicates a surge in luxury travel bookings during shoulder seasons, driven by a growing preference among UK travelers for milder climates and less crowded destinations.Published by Globetrender in collaboration with British Airways Holidays, the 2024 travel trends report sheds light on evolving consumer behaviors reshaping the travel landscape.

Findings reveal a notable trend of "season stretching" as travelers increasingly opt for trips during May and June rather than the peak months of July and August. This shift suggests a clear inclination towards earlier summer getaways.

Travel industry experts foresee a continued rise in shoulder season travel, with destinations in the southern Mediterranean attracting visitors during spring and autumn. Lucy Thackray, a freelance travel journalist, predicts this trend to gain momentum in the coming years.

Luxury hotel collections, such as Leading Hotels of the World, report heightened business during April, May, June, and October, reflecting the increasing appeal of off-peak travel. Popular destinations like the Balearic Islands and Scandinavia are experiencing a surge in bookings during shoulder seasons.

To accommodate this growing demand, travel suppliers are extending their booking windows and diversifying their offerings. British Airways, for instance, has expanded its flight schedules to include destinations like Bodrum and Corfu starting from earlier months, while also introducing new routes to destinations like Agadir in Morocco.

The rise of shoulder season travel presents travelers with unique opportunities to explore popular destinations in a more relaxed and affordable manner, away from the peak season crowds.