With the brand new year bringing with it a fresh twelve months' worth of travels, our predictions for what will be on the hotlist in 2024 all stem from the why. Why do we holiday? The answer: sometimes for memory-making, sometimes for adventure and, sometimes, just for a much-needed escape from the everyday.
From nostalgic breaks that help reconnect those with their inner child, to far-from-the-city "sleepcations" in Dark Sky Districts — here we round-up our unique travel trends for 2024.
Transformational travel
Based on patterns that emerged from guests looking for a real adventure when booking with us this year, we partnered with RVIVAL; a group of top wilderness experts from across the globe, to offer bespoke, immersive retreats that are specifically tailored to the homes that we market, for those seeking a getaway less ordinary. Combining more traditional aspects of wellness such as yoga and hiking as downtime activities, these retreats also incorporate elements that make them truly transformational - from ocean freediving and cliff abseiling, to SAS-operated survival workshops and "cook-what-you-catch" outdoor suppers. Whilst adventure breaks don't always go hand-in-hand with luxury (often ending with a night under canvas), 2024 will see us offer a whole new wave of adrenaline-fuelled wellbeing escapes within the luxury UK travel market.
All-immersive breaks
Creating a sensory, all-immersive experience that lasts long after guests have returned home ensures the most memorable of stays - offering a welcome hamper bursting with local goodies, pre-laying the fire for a guest's arrival, or providing the softest of robes for them to relax in. Taking this one step further this year, Unique Homestays partnered with The White Company to launch the brand’s first-of-its-kind experiential holiday cottage where, along with the overall aesthetic, every touchpoint from the scent in each room to the luxury bedding sunk into after dark ensured an authentic The White Company experience. And - unsurprisingly - The Fable was one of our most successful homes this year; achieving over 85% occupancy. Creating immersive, sensory-led stays will be an expectation, not an exception, when it comes to unique holiday experiences in 2024.
The inner child
This year, Unique Homestays has noticed a big uptake in guests searching for rental homes that help them reconnect with their inner child. With searches for the likes of “fairytale homes” having increased by 75% this year in comparison to 2022 data, guests are more than ever seeking holidays that embrace true escapism - be that in the form of a gingerbread cottage or a Gothic castle. Our journal post on storybook homes also proved to be one of the most popular themes this year, indicating that stays that evoke that childhood nostalgia really resonate with our guests and followers.
Dark sky sleepovers
We predict detox breaks and "sleepcations" to be high on the holiday agenda for 2024 – where sleep-deprived, workaholic travellers seek refuge from the bright and busy cities they call home. More guests than ever are opting for remote destinations where light pollution is a thing of the past, the deepest of sleeps are promised, and stars can be counted in their hundreds. A growing trend from a portfolio perspective too – our collection features several homes located in Designated Dark Sky Areas (we've even a home that overlooks one of only three gold tier Dark Sky Reserves on earth, based on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way!) From these remote holiday homes, on-foot days in the freshest of air end with restful slumbers beneath the stars.
Indoor epicureanism
This trend is all about bringing restaurant vibes to the private realm; where the foodie offering is completely customisable and the dreaded clean-up is a thing of home-life past. In response to guests looking for fully-catered breaks, we launched our luxury homes with private chefs collection in February, which has seen a growth in traffic of over 300%. No more searching for the best places to eat nearby, scrabbling to secure a last-minute restaurant reservation, or (most importantly) finding one menu to suit all – we’re bringing foodie culture back inside.
From the Scottish highlands to deepest Cornwall, our luxury holiday homes are ready and waiting for you next year. Book your 2024 stay.
