Seattle – October 14, 2026 -- Expedia Group's new Unpack '27 report identifies seven travel trends for 2027, from one-night getaways to hobby-led rentals in landlocked US cities. The report draws on first-party data from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, plus global traveler research and social listening.
Trip Snacking turns one-night stays into the norm
Hotels.com searches for one-night stays are up nearly 10% year over year. Some 79% of surveyed travelers plan to book a one-night stay in the coming year, rising to 83% among Gen Z and Millennials. Their reasons: celebrating a milestone (34%), seeing a show (32%) and resetting between longer trips (28%).
Gothic Getaways make atmosphere the main attraction
56% of travelers have booked a hotel for its atmosphere or aesthetic, according to Hotels.com. Among Gen Z and Millennials, 71% want to stay in a Gothic-style property, and demand for castle properties on Hotels.com rose 20% globally. Named examples include L'oscar London, Maison Métier in New Orleans, L'Escape in Seoul and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm.
Un-Adulting sells play and zero obligations
57% of travelers are likely to book an Un-Adulting trip in 2027, per Expedia data. The top draws are a carefree day (69%), quality time with loved ones (64%) and a break from responsibilities (56%). Theme park events for grown-ups and nostalgic experiences fit the trend.
Vrbo data shows hobbies and heartland towns rising
68% of travelers are likely to take a hobby-focused trip in 2027, Vrbo research found. Crafting weekends, photography retreats, board-game nights and birding trips top the list, and 38% say hobbies play a bigger role in their travel than five years ago.
Landlocked destinations are growing too. Vrbo searches rose 140% for Bentonville, Arkansas, and 120% each for Deadwood, South Dakota, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Nearly 65% of travelers took a non-coastal vacation in the past 12 months, mostly for local culture, food and art.
Set-Jetting sends travelers to destinations before the premiere
Nearly 1 in 5 travelers have booked a trip after seeing a destination in a TV show or movie. Nearly half research or book trips tied to titles not yet released, rising to 58% among Gen Z and Millennials. Monaco searches on Expedia Group properties jumped more than 120% in the 30 days after Emily in Paris Season 6 was confirmed to film there. Social mentions of traveling to Miami rose 64% year over year, driven by the upcoming Miami Vice reboot.
The 2027 forecast includes The White Lotus Season 4, Heated Rivalry Season 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Miami Vice '85, K-Pop: The Debut, Beach Read, Day Drinker and an Ocean's Eleven prequel.