7 International Travel Trends to Expect in 2023

1. Packing light

We can guarantee that you know at least one person who has lost their suitcase on a recent trip. Travel might have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels but COVID is still prevalent, which means that airport staff are struggling to keep up with the demand of increased suitcases passing through. The chances are that if you’re checking in a bag, it may end up taking a detour en route to your final destination, which is why more and more people are travelling light in 2023. Sure, it’s easy for short trips in summer destinations, but can you really travel with just a carry-on for a long-haul journey in winter? Or a trip that lasts more than a week or two? The answer is yes, with careful packing and a considered capsule wardrobe. Just remember to check all your liquids and make sure they’re under the acceptable limit.

The bottom line is, though, that sometimes you just have to check a suitcase. There are a few ways to mitigate your risk of losing a bag en route, which includes checking your bags through at the airport as early as possible, to give it as much chance of making it to the plane. Also, buy an Airtag and put it in your suitcase, so that in the event that it does go missing, you’ll know where it ends up.

3. Take the train

If you haven’t taken a holiday on rails before, make sure you schedule one for this year. 2023 is set to be the year of train travel, with several of the major journeys – including the once-in-a-lifetime Orient Express – already booked out for many dates. But this trend isn’t only about the mega, ultra-luxury itineraries, it’s also about getting in touch with slow travel and choosing to take your time to get to your destination. Train travel is meditative, easy and it’s better for the environment, using less carbon than flying. Sure, it might take you a little longer to get from city to city, but trains are better in the long run: no airports, no luggage restrictions (and no chance of a bag getting lost on transit) and so elegant. If you’re planning a European holiday, the continent has some of the best train connections around, and with Eurostar launching an overnight sleeper connecting London to Berlin, there’s never been a better time to catch the train.

5. Boutique hotels with interesting backers

Have you heard about Chateau Voltaire? It’s the most popular hotel in Paris right now, and it’s run by the team behind denim brand Zadig & Voltaire. What about D’Une Ile, this quaint countryside retreat in France is owned by Paris’ sexiest restaurant group Septime. Then there’s the riad in Marrakech soon to be opened by the artists who have the chic ceramic brand LRNCE, or the little boutique hotel – and restaurant, naturally – opening in 2023 in Sydney’s Paddington from the James Beard award-winning chef Josh Niland.

The most interesting and covetable hotels in 2023 all have an interesting backstory and don’t come from the hotelier background you might expect.

8. Long trips

Thanks to the rise of remote working, taking a really long trip – from six weeks all the way up to six months – could be possible. Many companies are offering their employees the opportunity to work from anywhere for a period of time, and 2023 is the time to take advantage of that. Enjoying a normal work day… but from a small beachside town in Spain. What are you waiting for?