The latest edition of Booking.com's Travel Predictions has revealed that Australian travellers in 2027 will be rewriting the rules—booking by mood, choosing companions based on budget and seeking experiences that surprise themselves and their friends.

The nine trends set to shape travel in 2027 include:

  1. Hotel in the Sky: Elevating the in-flight experience with wellness, sleep-supporting menus, and jet-lag reducing lighting.
  2. Sweat Synergy: Solo travellers connecting through shared physical challenges, sports, and athletic communities.
  3. Trip to the Beyond: Embracing paranormal encounters, haunted histories, and spiritual afterlife experiences.
  4. Plot Twist Trip: Selecting uncharacteristic vacations specifically to disrupt the status quo and surprise loved ones.
  5. Social Currency: Financial budget becoming a key filter on guest lists to avoid group travel money tensions.
  6. Vibe Check(In): Destination selection driven primarily by desired mood and emotional state over geography.
  7. The All-Exclusive: Tailoring travel packages to strip out unused services and align with health/dietary choices.
  8. PTO: Powered by AI: Utilizing AI to manage emails and admin tasks while away, ensuring a seamless, stress-free return to work.
  9. Trailside Therapy: Using outdoor activities like hiking on holiday to navigate honest, meaningful relationship conversations.

Booking.com Regional Manager Oceania and Korea Todd Lacey said: "Travel is no longer one-size-fits-all. Aussies are putting wellbeing first and becoming far more intentional about how, why, and with whom they explore the world.

“Booking.com’s 2027 Travel Predictions highlight real-world moments impacting Aussies in 2027.

“Long-haul travel is evolving as new direct flight routes bring more advanced and hopefully restful transit within reach. Shared physical challenges are also inspiring more travellers to fly across the
country and the globe for fitness racing and endurance events.”

Key global findings:

  • 72 per cent are interested in paranormal travel experiences, with over half (57 per cent) open to seeking contact with someone on the "other side”.
  • 53 per cent have reconsidered who to invite on a trip because of differences in spending, with 67 per cent of parents keen to travel child-free so they can spend more on themselves.
  • 82 per cent would choose a destination based on how they want to feel rather than where they want to go, and three quarters (76 per cent) would use a tool that recommends destinations based on emotional state.
  • 65 per cent would be interested in having an AI agent manage their work while on holiday and a bold 51 per cent would use that cover to take a cheeky extra day off.

Download the full Travel Predictions for Australia here.