Trending Destinations

At Travel Counsellors, bookings to Thailand are up 67% on last year, with Barbados up 55% and Saint Lucia up 18%. In fact, I’m probably booking around two Thailand trips a week at the moment, and what I love most is how different they all are.

Some clients want island hopping and adventure. Others want beautiful hotels, incredible food and complete relaxation. Others want to explore Bangkok and the north before heading south for some serious beach time. And that, for me, is one of the biggest travel trends right now.

We're not necessarily looking for just a holiday. We're looking for an experience.

Thailand: the big one to watch

Thailand has really caught my attention this year. With bookings up a whopping 67%, it is clearly having a moment. But what’s particularly exciting is that people aren't simply booking a beach resort and calling it a day. I'm seeing more people combining Bangkok and the north with the islands, creating trips that pack in a little bit of everything. Think bustling Bangkok, ancient temples, incredible street food and rooftop bars. Then perhaps head north for mountains, jungle and culture before finishing with turquoise water, white sand and an island you've probably seen all over Instagram. You could add a Thai cooking experience, a jungle adventure, a few days diving or simply find a gorgeous resort and do absolutely nothing. And honestly? Thailand is brilliant at all of the above.

It's also a destination that works across so many budgets and travel styles, from boutique hotels and local island stays to seriously impressive luxury resorts. The biggest trend isn't simply that Thailand is selling well. It's how people are choosing to experience it.

Barbados: sunshine, but make it interesting

Barbados is another big mover, with bookings up 55% on last year. And I can see why.

• Beautiful beaches? Tick.
• Fantastic restaurants? Absolutely.
• Watersports, golf, rum, history, culture, nightlife and plenty of places to explore? Tick, tick, tick.

I've recently booked clients into properties including Little Good Harbour and Fairmont Royal Pavilion, and one of the things I love about Barbados is that you don't necessarily have to stay in one place. The island has so much variety that staying in two different areas can give you two completely different experiences. Perhaps start somewhere lively, with restaurants and nightlife close by, then move somewhere quieter for a few days of doing very little other than swimming, eating and watching the sunset. Suddenly your two-week holiday feels like two holidays.

And why stop at Barbados? If you fancy making a bigger adventure of it, there are some brilliant combinations.

New York + Barbados? Yes please - Spend a few days shopping, eating and exploring the city before heading south for Caribbean sunshine.

Miami + Barbados? Absolutely - Think South Beach, cocktails, restaurants and a little bit of Florida fun, followed by white sand, warm water and a much slower pace.

And if you have even longer, why not combine Barbados with another Caribbean island?

One trip. Multiple experiences.

That's what I mean when I say we're starting to make our holidays work harder.

Saint Lucia: for sunshine with a side of adventure

Saint Lucia is also seeing strong growth, with bookings up 18% year-on-year. And this is a destination I think is particularly good for anyone who struggles to sit still for an entire holiday. Yes, there are beautiful beaches. But then there are the Pitons, rainforest, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, boat trips, snorkelling, diving and some seriously good food. I've been booking clients into properties including Rabot Hotel by Hotel Chocolat and East Winds, and they couldn't be more different. Rabot sits amongst the cocoa plantations of the Soufrière estate and is perfect for anyone who likes their luxury with a side of chocolate, rainforest and adventure. East Winds is much more intimate, with a relaxed all-inclusive feel and beautiful gardens leading down towards the sea.

And that's the beauty of Saint Lucia. You can make it as adventurous or as relaxing as you like.

Spend a few days exploring the island before moving to a gorgeous beach resort. Or combine Saint Lucia with another Caribbean island and turn one holiday into two.

The multi-centre holiday is having a moment!

People are asking:

"If we're going all that way, what else could we see?"

And I completely understand it. If you're travelling long-haul, adding another destination can turn a great holiday into an incredible one.

• City and beach.
• Adventure and relaxation.
• Culture and sunshine.

It's also a brilliant way to experience completely different sides of a country or region. Recent travel industry data shows that bookings for two- and three-centre holidays have increased by 10%, while multi-island Caribbean itineraries have risen by 50%. It seems we're increasingly asking more from our holidays.

And I'm here for it.

We're also changing when we travel

Another trend I'm seeing is people becoming much more flexible about when they travel.

Winter sun doesn't have to mean Christmas or New Year.

November, January, February and March can all be fantastic times to escape the UK, while travelling outside the traditional summer peak can sometimes mean fewer crowds and better value. And there is something rather lovely about leaving grey skies behind and landing somewhere where you can immediately put your sunglasses on.

Recent UK travel industry data has shown a 12% rise in September bookings year-on-year, while Christmas travel is also proving popular, with bookings up 15%.

So whether you're planning a winter escape, a spring adventure or already thinking about next summer, people are clearly still making travel a priority.

But what does "value" actually mean?

This is something that comes up constantly when I'm talking to clients. Of course everyone wants a good deal. But value doesn't necessarily mean finding the cheapest holiday. It can mean getting more from the holiday you've already decided to take.

If you've got ten days, could you see two destinations?

• Could you spend a few nights exploring before finishing somewhere beautiful by the beach?
• Could you combine a city break with a safari?
• Could you add an island to a Thailand adventure?
• Could you finally tick off that experience you've been talking about for years?

And perhaps that's why I'm seeing so many more interesting itineraries coming through my bookings. People are looking for memories, not just a week away.

So, where will you go next?

The statistics are interesting, but for me, the most exciting part is the conversations I'm having with clients.

"We've done the beach holiday. What else could we do?"

"If we're going that far, can we see somewhere else too?"

"I don't want to sit by a pool for two weeks."

"I've always wanted to go there. Could we fit it into the trip?"

And I think that tells us a lot about how we travel today. We still want sunshine. We still want gorgeous hotels. We still want incredible food and time to switch off. But increasingly, we also want adventure, culture, wildlife, experiences and stories to bring home.

We don't necessarily want to travel more. We want to make the trips we do take count.

So, whether you're dreaming of island hopping around Thailand, cocktails in Barbados, exploring the Pitons in Saint Lucia or combining a city adventure with some serious beach time, now is a very good time to start thinking about where your next adventure could take you.

And if you have absolutely no idea where that should be?

That's the fun bit.

Tell me what you love, what you've already done and what you've always wanted to experience. I'll help you work out where to go next.