How Trip Snacking and Gothic Getaways Are Rewriting Travel in 2027

The travel industry is undergoing a fundamental shift. According to Expedia Group’s newly released Unpack ’27 report, travelers in 2027 are abandoning the traditional week-long vacation model in favor of something far more personal, spontaneous, and purposeful. Drawing on first-party booking data, a survey of 26,000 travelers across 16 countries, and social media listening, the report identifies seven trends that are reshaping how people explore the world.

The Rise of Trip Snacking

Perhaps the most significant behavioral shift is what Hotels.com calls Trip Snacking — the practice of booking one-night hotel stays that fit into busy schedules and tighter budgets. Rather than saving for one massive annual vacation, travelers are squeezing in bite-sized getaways throughout the year.

• Searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays are up nearly 10% year-over-year
• 79% of travelers plan to book a one-night stay in the coming year
• That figure climbs to 83% among Gen Z and Millennials
• Social media mentions of 24-hour getaways have increased 12%

The motivations behind Trip Snacking reveal a generation that values experiences over accumulation. Travelers book these quick escapes to celebrate life milestones (34%), attend concerts and sporting events (32%), or simply reset between longer trips (28%). For 71% of Trip Snackers, these brief getaways serve as a satisfying holdover until the next big adventure.

The top destinations for Trip Snacking read like a who’s-who of global city breaks: Las Vegas, Montreal, London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Seoul, and São Paulo. What unites them is accessibility — each offers a concentration of experiences that can be sampled in a single overnight stay.

Gothic Getaways: Atmosphere as Destination

Where Trip Snacking is about frequency, Gothic Getaways are about feeling. Hotels.com reports that 65% of travelers are interested in booking a Gothic-style hotel, with that number surging to 71% among younger demographics. Over half of all travelers have already booked a hotel specifically for its atmosphere or aesthetic.

The trend is fueled by the rising popularity of dark fantasy and Gothic storytelling in mainstream culture. Travelers are seeking out properties with neo-Gothic architecture, candlelit corridors, dark color-drenched rooms, and a sense of mystery. Demand for castle properties on Hotels.com has increased 20% globally year-over-year, while social media mentions of Gothic-style travel have surged 38%.

Standout properties include the Bowery Hotel in New York, L’oscar London, Maison Métier in New Orleans, L’Escape in Seoul, and the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City. Each offers an immersive atmosphere that makes the hotel itself the destination, not just a place to sleep.

Un-Adulting: Reclaiming Childlike Joy

Expedia’s Un-Adulting trend captures grown-up getaways built around kid-like activities. Think theme parks, nostalgic experiences, and carefree days where adult responsibilities are temporarily suspended. The data is striking: 57% of travelers say they are likely to book an Un-Adulting trip in 2027, with 71% of Gen Z and Millennials expressing interest.

The primary motivations are wanting a carefree day (69%), quality time with loved ones (64%), and a genuine break from responsibilities (56%). Social media mentions of carefree, adult-only trips are up 41% year-over-year, suggesting this is not a passing fad but a sustained cultural shift.

The 2027 Destinations of the Year

Beyond behavioral trends, the Unpack ’27 report identifies ten destinations where search interest is surging fastest. These are not the usual suspects — they represent a deliberate turn toward places that offer rich experiences without the overcrowding that has plagued marquee cities.

• South Lake Tahoe, California — up 195% — alpine adventure and crystal-clear waters
• Hyogo, Japan — up 95% — centuries-old heritage and healing hot springs
• Punta del Este, Uruguay — up 65% — chic coastal escape with laid-back glamour
• Sedona, Arizona — up 55% — red-rock vistas and spiritual calm
• Busan, South Korea — up 50% — vibrant seaside city with buzzing markets
• Holbox, Mexico — up 45% — barefoot beaches and bioluminescent waters
• Perugia, Italy — up 35% — medieval streets and storied art
• The Tweed, Australia — up 35% — golden beaches and lush hinterland
• Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada — up 35% — storybook streets and scenic vineyards
• Chichester, U.K. — up 30% — history and creative countryside near the coast

Six of these destinations also earned Expedia’s Smart Travel Health Check designation, a framework introduced in the Unpack ’26 report and aligned with World Travel & Tourism Council principles for sustainable tourism management. This marks a growing awareness that trending does not have to mean overrunning.

Set-Jetting and Hobby Hubs: Personalization Takes Center Stage

Two additional trends round out the 2027 picture. Set-Jetting — travel inspired by television shows and films — continues to grow as streaming content shapes destination aspirations. Hobby Hubs represent vacation rentals organized around shared interests, from cycling and painting to birdwatching and cooking. Both trends reflect a broader movement toward highly personalized travel that connects to individual identity rather than generic bucket lists.

Heartland Hideouts: The Inland Turn

Vrbo’s contribution to the report, Heartland Hideouts, highlights a shift toward inland destinations rich in local culture and charm. Travelers are looking beyond coastal hotspots to small towns and rural communities where authenticity replaces polish. This trend aligns with the broader pattern of seeking less-crowded, more meaningful experiences.

What This Means for the Travel Industry

The Unpack ’27 report paints a picture of a travel landscape that is fragmenting in healthy ways. The dominance of the one-size-fits-all package vacation is giving way to a spectrum of motivations — some travelers want frequency, others atmosphere, still others nostalgia or niche interests. For destinations and hospitality providers, the message is clear: differentiate or disappear.

The data also suggests that younger travelers are driving the most significant changes. Their preference for short, frequent trips over rare long ones, their willingness to book based on aesthetic alone, and their desire for experiences that feel personally meaningful will shape the industry for years to come.

For travelers themselves, the trends offer a roadmap. Whether it is a one-night escape to Seoul, a Gothic castle stay in Slovenia, or a childfree day at a theme park, 2027 is shaping up to be the year when travel stopped being something you save for and became something you simply do.

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Edited by Palawan @QUE.COM
Website: https://QUE.COM Intelligence
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