The top 2023 luxury travel trends you need to know about

After a chaotic couple of years, predicted trends for 2023 are immersive and experiential getaways that allow you to go off-grid. 

We’re talking about cabins in the woods type holidays or boutique country hotels offering nature-based essential skills to their guests. 

But although it’s more of a celebration of the simple life, off-grid certainly doesn’t mean roughing it. Luxury ecolodges will very much be front and centre of this travel style. 

Winged Boots recommends: 

Experience off-grid luxury at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. This five-star eco-lodge in the wilds of Vancouver Island, Canada invites you to leave all your worries behind and live in the moment. 

The accommodation is comprised of spacious safari tents set within a rainforest or on a riverbank. Dine on nourishing cuisine, pamper yourself at the natural spa and venture out into the surrounding UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

Prefer something a little warmer? Enjoy a secluded desert escape among fiery orange sand dunes at Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa. 

Embark on a wildlife safari or languish over an afternoon at the spa. Stay in beautifully decorated Arabian suites with some of them even including a private pool. Bliss. 

Feeling an ache of nostalgia for the holidays of the good old days? You’re not alone. A Booking.com survey found that 88% of travellers intend to seek out experiences that hearken back to a simpler time. And that includes trips with the whole family in tow from little ones to grandparents. 

If you’ve been putting off family reunions or postponing milestone celebrations, 2023 is the time to finally do them. 

The number of luxury hotels and villas accommodating larger groups is on the rise, so you don’t have to sacrifice that five-star exclusive experience either. 

Winged Boots recommends:

Take the family to Sani Resort for a relaxing holiday on the Aegean Sea. The resort features five hotels each with their own style so you can choose which one speaks to you the most. 

Sani Beach is the largest hotel with plenty to occupy kids and teens. Sani Club is for nature lovers while Sani Dunes caters more to older families. 

Parents with young children can make the most of Porto Sani’s Babywatch system. Find out which part of Sani Resort is right for you. 

Multigenerational trips can be enjoyed closer to home too. Suffolk’s Wilderness Reserve offers a range of luxury five-star villas ranging from cosy cottages to an enormous mansion. 

The Grade II listed former stable block, the Clockhouse is a worthy venue for your family reunions or milestone celebrations. 

Discover more luxury villas for multigenerational getaways. 

After the stress of recent years, it’s no wonder that wellness breaks are popular. In 2023, it’s expected that travellers will be booking trips that cater more to mind, body and soul. 

Award-winning spas that offer something a little bit unique will be inspiring our quest for a good dose of R&R. Think meditation and silent retreats as well as resorts dedicated to transformative health. Digital detox retreats are also growing in demand. 

Winged Boots recommends:

The newly opened JOALI BEING is more than a five-star luxury resort in the Maldives. It’s the first immersive wellbeing retreat in the country. The resort has integrated wellbeing facilities to provide a holistic experience throughout your stay. 

All activities are centred around improving overall health and happiness, with unique programmes that focus on mind, skin, microbiome and energy. 

The restaurant is also dedicated to supporting guests on their wellbeing journey through nutritious and tailored menus. 

Travelling for business is back and a popular trend for 2023 is work trips that boost employee morale and productivity – aka corporate incentive travel.

Booking.com’s survey found that 44% of the global workforce is keen to see their employers arranging corporate trips again. 

2023 work trips will focus on corporate recreation rather than work. This can be anything from team-building retreats, outdoor adventure activities, scavenger hunts and ‘survivor’ themed weekends in luxury cabins. 

Winged Boots recommends:

In the remote landscape of Montana, The Resort at Paws Up Ranch is an all-inclusive five-star ranch resort which caters to corporate retreats. Teams can try their hand at a wide range of outdoor adventures such as cattle drives, climbing, go-karting, paintball, team penning and more. 

The luxury ranch resort can also host executive meetings, planning sessions, team building, education and creative thinktanks. Accommodation is in the form of self-contained cabins and safari-style glamping tents. 

For a European corporate trip, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland is a popular destination for incentive travellers. Indulge in cosy igloo-style accommodation with clear domes to view the northern lights. Log chalets are also an option for larger groups. 

Activities here include the likes of horse riding, fishing trips, hiking, driving snowmobiles and river cruises. Afterwards, hit the wellness sanctuary for a session in the smoke saunas. 

Despite rising living costs, travel is still a priority, but it’s expected that travellers will be more mindful of the quality of their holidays. This doesn’t mean cutting back though. Far from it. 

In fact, 2023 could quite well be the year of the bucket list. If you’ve saved up thanks to pandemic-related travel uncertainty, 2023 is the time to splurge on something you’ve always wanted to do. 

Financially savvy travellers will also be making the most of loyalty programs, offers and off-season destinations to maximise their luxury holiday experience.
 
Winged Boots recommends:

Booking with a personal travel management company like Winged Boots can help you really make the most of your luxury holiday. Our personal travel managers can offer expert advice and find you the most competitive prices for your trip. 

What’s more, we always have exclusive offers to some of the most luxurious hotels around the world. Check out our offers page and let us help you plan the trip of your dreams!

So, what are the hottest travel destinations of 2023? Sustainable travel and ecotourism are gaining momentum so it’s not surprising that Costa Rica is a popular destination for next year. 

For animal lovers, the Galapagos Islands showcase a kaleidoscope of wildlife and South Africa is the place to go to tick off a safari. 

Italy is set to be Europe’s top selling destination with travellers flocking to Venice, Florence and Rome. Greece is another firm favourite as the white-washed buildings and sandy beaches of Santorini and Mykonos beckon many a holidaymaker. They’re an easy win for short haul summer holidays. 

Now that Japan is open again, 2023 would be an ideal year to visit if you’re keen to see the country’s famous cherry blossom season. Foodies can delight in the 26 different Michelin-starred restaurants there too. 

American Express has also revealed other trending destinations for next year include Yakuvue Island in Fiji, Mexico City and Florida Keys. 

Winged Boots recommends: 

If you want a classic Italian holiday combined with the laidback island lifestyle, head to Sicily. A trending destination among celebrities, the island has everything from beaches to mountains and Roman ruins. 

Plus, in 2021, Rocco Forte Hotels opened a brand new five-star hotel on the island with glorious views of the Gulf of Palermo. The Art Nouveau Villa Igiea is a renovated 14th century property that has seen the likes of Hollywood elite and royalty pass through its doors. That’s good enough for us!

And what about holidays across the pond? Discover palm-fringed beaches and sun-soaked luxury villas all on an archipelago of tropical islands. That, and much more can be found in Florida Keys. 

While most travel restrictions have lifted for now, more discerning luxury travellers have found the benefits of using an elevated concierge service to fine-tune their travel plans beyond test and entry requirements. 

Whether it’s booking a table at a restaurant, arranging a proposal or procuring front-row tickets to the best shows, a concierge service can book it all for you saving you time and stress. You can sit back and enjoy the experience of being on holiday. 

Winged Boots recommends:

Our dedicated concierge service is on hand to ensure all our clients are well-looked after every step of the way from planning to the trip and back home. 

Whether it’s room upgrades, arranging a surprise for a loved one or booking your bucket list activity, making the most of a concierge service allows the smooth-running of a long-awaited holiday. 

And when life gets in the way of holiday plans, we’re here to help you through it too.