Wellness, culinary, and sustainable travel continue to be among the buzzwords defining the industry as an array of trend reports for 2025 spill out from major industry players like Booking, Expedia, and Hilton.
More importantly, as the holiday season approaches, it’s time to show travelers where to find these experiences as they think about gifting them to their favorite travel companions.
From appreciating unique and stylish independent hotels to cooking with the locals, these experiences are the perfect gift guide for niche travelers who are keeping on trend in 2025.
For wellness wanderers
The gift? Plan traditional Ayurvedic therapies, yoga sessions, aqua fitness experiences, and hikes in the Himalayan foothills to wrap up under the tree this year. Book a sleep enhancement or yogic detox wellness program at Ananda in the Himalayas to give the gift of vitality this year.
Wellness travel is becoming increasingly popular for those seeking longevity programs and other targeted treatments, according to forecasters at Booking.com. Ananda in the Himalayas is an unparalleled option for anyone looking to give a wellness getaway this holiday season and usher in the new year with a focus on wellbeing. Prepare a trip with someone special in your life and gift a dedicated program for sleep, fertility enhancement, menopause and hormonal imbalances, longevity, mental and emotional health and more.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, Ananda in the Himalayas is a world-renowned holistic wellness retreat in North India, overlooking the spiritual town of Rishikesh and river Ganges. Located in the former Palace Estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, the retreat spans 100 acres of lush grounds and gardens and offers customized programs including yoga, meditation, emotional healing, spiritual awareness, and healthy cuisine. The heart of Ananda lies in its 25,000 square foot wellness center, offering beautifully designed therapy rooms with nature views, open-air yoga and meditation pavilions, an outdoor pool, a physiotherapy center, gymnasium, and a comprehensive range of Ayurvedic and international therapies for holistic cleansing of the body, mind, and soul.
For sustainability seekers
The gift? “Wrap up” a sustainable and eco-friendly experience at Hotel Belmar by riding horseback through the countryside, visiting a sustainable farm, or even attending a garden-to-glass cocktail class.
Finding ways to travel better and more sustainably continues to trend in 2025 according to Booking—which is some good news for the world! Let’s encourage travelers to explore that trend by booking a vacation at Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica, celebrating 40 years of award-winning regenerative travel principles and sustainability programs.
Hotel Belmar is an independent, family-owned luxury eco-lodge situated in Costa Rica’s Monteverde cloud forest highlands and fosters connections to nature, mindful serenity, and holistic wellness. Recent renovations reflect Hotel Belmar’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship, offering guests a luxurious stay that aligns with the principles of responsible travel. Rooms become eco-conscious sanctuaries, ideal for travelers seeking both comfort and sustainability in an unforgettable setting. Farm-to-table gastronomy, thematic forest immersions, garden-surrounded yoga, cultural programs, a carbon-neutral farm, and an onsite craft brewery bridge guests to Monteverde’s natural wonders.
For culinary travelers
The gift? This year, Traveling Spoon is offering gift givers the chance to give the gift of a culinary experience directly to loved ones. Offer a voucher that allows them to cook Cajun-style in New Orleans, make rum cocktails in Barbados, or cook with a Michelin-star chef in Montreal, and much more.
Culinary travel is booming, as Hilton reports travelers’ food budgets are rising, but it’s not just happening in restaurants. Travelers want more experiences linked to local food and culture. Traveling Spoon is doing just that. The company connects travelers with local hosts in their homes in 200+ destinations around the world to cook family recipes, visit local markets, learn culinary traditions and create memories over food.
Founded in 2013, Traveling Spoon offers private food experiences, from home cooked meals to cooking lessons, with personally vetted hosts. Travelers have become more price sensitive in this economy, but Traveling Spoon provides access to experience local culture while securing income for locals. The company launched 150 online cooking classes led by home cooks, as well as producer tours and experiences. New in 2024, Traveling Spoon has added more destinations and off-the-eaten-path culinary experiences and currently operates in 233 cities in 70 countries.
For purposeful adventurers
The gift? This is the holiday season to go big and gift that unexpected—but much desired—trip to someplace off the grid of most lists including Oman or Ethiopia. A personalized itinerary designed by Naya Traveler is the perfect way to kick off the new year for that special traveler in your life.
Booking.com knows people are looking for true off-the-beaten-path adventures in 2025. Travelers looking for an experience that’s all their own will find it with Naya Traveler. They want destinations that are off the beaten path and meaningful, that don’t feed into overtourism, and Naya Traveler provides tailored itineraries to exactly those kinds of destinations around the world.
Also feeding into Expedia’s trend of “one click trips,” Naya Traveler focuses on fully-formed itineraries that feature exclusive insider experiences bringing back purpose and value to travel and providing a unique space to discover a destination through the eyes of those who know it best. Naya Traveler works with an exceptional group of local hosts and expert guides in each destination, from historians and artists to ethnographers and chefs, to create itineraries and travel experiences for engaged travelers.
For luxury escapists
The gift? Go ahead and put a bow on a selection of spa treatments at the Ti Spa at Calabash Cove Resort and Spa to get that luxury traveler in your life excited about some pampering as they embrace the “joy of missing out”—or JOMO.
Forget FOMO and meet JOMO—the joy of missing out, one of Expedia’s top 2025 trends. Tap into this trend with a gifted retreat to paradise Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, the only resort in Saint Lucia that offers an Unconditional All-Inclusive Package with every perk available. Visitors pay just one price to cover all meals, beverages, room service, gratuities/tips, and Wi-Fi.
Calabash Cove Resort and Spa is one of the most popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotels in Saint Lucia, offering seclusion, beauty, and mesmerizing views. The 26 suites blend Caribbean charm and modern luxurious resort amenities. Highlights include the Windsong restaurant and lively C-Bar overlooking the infinity pool, and the peaceful Ti Spa. The culinary team accommodates any dietary needs and personal requests including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, and more. Calabash Cove has a small Cybex cardiovascular fitness center and provides kayaks, paddle boards and snorkeling gear free of charge to guests.
For Italophiles and scene-setters
The gift? Book a romantic dinner at Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio and its Wine Cellar in Rome, surrounded by wine barrels and the Bettoja Hotels family’s collection of wine dating back more than a century.
Expedia’s travel trends report shows that scene-setting continues to be a massively popular trend among travelers searching to follow in the footsteps of their favorite on-screen stars. And with Emily in Paris moving to Rome for a season, it’s time to get travelers excited about the Eternal City. Bettoja Hotels is a family run hotel group with three hotels located a stone’s throw from Termini Station. In addition to the Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio and the Hotel Atlántico, the four-star Hotel Mediterraneo stands out for its monumental luxury and is amongst the best examples of Art Deco in the capital.
Over time, restorations have brought the historical heritage of the Hotel Mediterraneo to the forefront, highlighting the charm of its monumental architectural feats and the value of its artistic elements. As part of the restoration of the hotel, the rooms feature carefully restored and preserved period furniture. More recently, the hotel welcomed its first piece of art from the pilot program “Art Out of the Museum,” which sees Bettoja Hotels helping to restore and showcase Italy’s forgotten artwork, hidden away in the archives.
