Trending Holidays for 2025: What's New and Where to Go
As we gear up for the 2025 holiday season, the big players in the travel industry are rolling out their New Year sales, packed with discounts and free child places. But what’s really catching the eye for next year? Here’s a sneak peek at the hottest trends, new routes, and exciting destinations you’ll want to add to your travel wish list.
✈️ New Flight Routes
2025 is bringing a wave of fresh flight options from UK airports! TUI is making a grand return to Southampton Airport after 15 years, with a new route to Palma starting May 27th. Bournemouth will see 25 new Jet2 services, while London Gatwick adds easyJet’s direct flights to Cape Verde’s Sal island from March 31st. Virgin Atlantic will begin flying from Heathrow to Cancun from October 19th. Edinburgh-based travellers can look forward to easyJet’s new routes to Olbia, Dusseldorf, Marrakech, and Enfidha. Plus, in 2026, TUI will launch Cardiff to Barbados and Cardiff to Cancun flights!
🚢 New Cruise Ships
Cruise fans are in for a treat in 2025. Virgin Voyages' new adult-only ship, Brilliant Lady, sets sail in September with 1,408 cabins and 20 dining venues onboard. Oceania Cruises adds a luxurious 1,200-guest ship to its fleet in summer, while MSC unveils World America in Miami, featuring water parks, slides, and ropes courses for the whole family!
🏨 New Hotels
From luxury to boutique, 2025 brings exciting hotel openings! In Rome, the Orient Express La Minerva will be a stunning new addition. In Antigua, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa promises sun-soaked luxury, and One & Only’s Moonlight Basin in Montana opens in summer for fans of Yellowstone. For a closer-to-home treat, Six Senses London (just steps from Hyde Park) opens its doors early in 2025.
🌴 New All-Inclusive Resorts
The demand for all-inclusive getaways continues to rise, and 2025 has some stellar new resorts to check out. Club Med is expanding with two new properties—one in Brazil and one in Borneo. The latter will feature all-day dining, premium drinks, and even champagne at 6 pm! Perfect for those who love the ease of an all-inclusive.
🏝️ New Adult-Only Resorts
Looking for a kid-free getaway? Adult-only resorts are on the rise, and you can find great deals now. Sandals and TUI’s adult-only resorts continue to be popular. You can book a week at Sandals (including flights) for under £1,999pp if you book by January 6th! Plus, if you’ve served in the military, there’s an additional 10% discount. New to the scene in February 2025, Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa will offer 355 rooms, nine restaurants, and a spa. Oku is opening two properties in Spain and Turkey, including a stunning 58-room adult-only resort in Bodrum with private pools and beachside treatment cabanas.
🌍 New Bucket List Tours
Small group tours are perfect for those looking to tick off destinations from their bucket list, particularly those looking to travel solo. Intrepid Travel is adding new tours to Greenland to hike on glaciers, cruise through ice fjords and tour remote settlements. It’s also adding new tours in Georgia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Intrepid currently have a 20 per cent off many of its tours.
🚂 New Train Experiences
2025 is also shaping up to be the year of train travel! Belmond’s Britannic Explorer will launch in July, offering scenic journeys from London to Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District. Meanwhile, Orient Express La Dolce Vita will whisk passengers through the Tuscan countryside to Sicily in April. For a more affordable option, the European Sleeper will launch a Brussels-Venice service in February — perfect for those who want a budget-friendly rail adventure.
🚢🚂 Tailor-Made Train & Cruise Combos
A growing trend is combining short train trips with taster cruises, especially in destinations like Norway. Hurtigruten Cruises allows first-time cruisers to explore the fjords on a one- or two-night journey aboard the Coastal Express and combine this with a trip on the Flam railway. From Trondheim’s Michelin-star restaurants to Bergen’s stunning views, this is a perfect way to see Norway’s stunning vistas by both by rail and sea.
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