These Are the Unique Travel Experiences Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2026

With the constant thrum of 24-hour news cycles and remote work making it next to impossible to log off and unplug, its more important than ever to prioritize travel as a way to recharge mind, body, and soul. Whether experiencing a short stay or grand voyage, these getaways offer a remarkable way to connect with families and friends as well as communities outside our daily norm, try out new cuisine, have a taste of adventure, or just enjoy a few moments of relaxation and focus on our individual wellness.

At the recent Virtuoso Travel Week, an annual gathering of advisers and representatives from a global network of invitation-only luxury and experiential travel partners, industry insiders revealed where those in the know are looking to go during the upcoming fall and “festive” seasons, as well as 2026.

According to Virtuoso research, U.S. travelers will be looking to use their precious vacation hours going to the beach, exploring a city, booking a cruise, visiting a museum, or trying out a culinary adventure, with “microcations” (trips of seven days or less) on the rise. Many are searching for new ways to try out tried-and-true locales, including Italy, France, Mexico, and the U.K., however travel within the States is steadily on the rise. Before summer comes to a close, now is the perfect time to book excursions near and far.

United States

While most affluent travelers have been burning up the frequent flier miles with trips abroad, there’s also much to discover closer to home. At Virtuoso, The Dewberry was honored with an award for best independent hotel and considering Charleston’s exceptional artisan community and the eagerly anticipated resort The Cooper, a trip to this Southern gem (with a detour through Lowcountry) should be top of everyone’s list. Quiet enclaves like Sea Island, Georgia, and The Boca Raton in Florida, which recently underwent a Rockwell Group revise, are perfect for East Coast stays while those heading west will find the rustic-meets-refined Auric Road private villas and the Hotel Jackson in Jackson Hole, Wyoming—which will soon unveil the Retreat at Hotel Jackson, a collection of suites, spa and wellness spaces, and signature restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Malyna Si—to be an alluring getaway.

Italy & Malta

The travel boom caused by The White Lotus is real and tangible; quiet Sicily has been particularly overrun in the wake of season 2. Those looking to escape the crowds should head to nearby Malta, where the new contemporary art museum MICAS is ready to welcome cultural connoisseurs with a changing rotation of exhibitions, and exquisite hotels Iniala Harbour House and The Phoenicia offer inspired accommodations. However, those still wanting to experience Italy have plenty of quiet villas waiting—Rental Escapes and Abercrombie & Kent oversee a collection of properties available for total buyouts (the Chianti region being particularly enchanting), while in Tuscany, the newly christened Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco and expanded Castello di Vicarello are dreamy hideaways, as is the family-run Tenuta di Murlo in Umbria, where thousands of years of history, olive groves, gardens, and vineyard create a storybook-like environment.

Mexico

While artist types have been flocking to San Miguel de Allende for quite some time, Todos Santos is quickly becoming the creative companion to Cabo San Lucas and the bohemian alternative to Tulum, with a vibrant art scene, funky hotels, and picture-perfect surfing. Travelers heading to the region will find several great hotel options—from the ultra-luxe Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort, where magnificent villas join the stunning 28,000-square-foot Ty Warner Mansion accommodation, to the more intimate Todos Santos Boutique Hotel or Paradero Todos Santos, an architectural marvel in the Mexico desert. A Park Hyatt is coming soon with the Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol now accepting reservations; a new Ritz-Carlton resort, Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is on the horizon near Puerto Vallarta in Nayarit; and Hyatt is set to open Alila Mayakoba in early 2026.

Small Ship and River Cruising

Cruising is still trying to shake the stigma of those floating party monstrosities filled with packed pools, underwhelming buffets, and drinks by the yard. Upscale alternatives with less guests, elevated dining, high-end shopping, and sumptuous suites with private terraces, alongside cultural immersion and unparalleled programming (Explora Journeys’s front row seat to F1 in Monaco, for example) is making sailing an experience even the most discerning traveler will love. For those looking for the ultra-exclusive, smaller ships—like those from Aqua Expeditions, which is launching a new vessel, the Aqua Lares, in early 2026—make accessing rare and off-the-beaten path destinations more accessible, particularly in bucket list destinations like Indonesia and the Galapagos. Later this year, andBeyond and Pure Amazon (an Abercrombie & Kent division) will be debuting new yachts for cruises down the Amazon.