15 Hot Travel Phrases That Are Redefining How We Explore The World
Forget what you thought you knew about travel lingo—there’s a whole new vocabulary in town. As more of us chase meaningful experiences over cookie-cutter vacations, the way we talk about travel is evolving too.
Whether you’re planning a slow escape to a remote village or aiming for eco-conscious exploration, today’s buzzwords reflect a deeper shift: one that values connection, culture, and responsibility over quick getaways and overcrowded hotspots. Heard of “undertourism”?
What about “regenerative travel” or “set-jetting”? These aren’t just hashtags—they’re signals of how travel is being redefined by purpose, not just wanderlust.
1. Slow Travel
Ditching the rushed itineraries and embracing a more relaxed pace is what slow travel celebrates. Instead of racing to check landmarks off a list, you spend weeks in one location, absorbing the culture and daily rhythms of a place.
I’ve found that renting apartments instead of booking hotels helps create this immersive experience. Cooking with local ingredients and becoming a regular at neighborhood cafés transforms you from tourist to temporary local.
This approach reduces your carbon footprint while deepening your connection to destinations. Slow travelers often return home with genuine friendships and cultural insights that rushed tourists miss entirely.
2. Digital Nomadism
Working from a beachfront café in Bali or a coworking space in Medellín has become reality for millions embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. This movement combines remote work with constant travel, enabled by technology and flexible employers.
The pandemic accelerated this trend dramatically. Countries now offer special visas targeting these location-independent professionals who bring spending power without taking local jobs.
Though it sounds idyllic, this lifestyle requires serious planning around time zones, reliable internet, and community building. Many digital nomads form tight-knit groups in hubs like Chiang Mai, Thailand or Lisbon, Portugal, creating temporary homes while maintaining their wanderlust.
3. Regenerative Tourism
Moving beyond sustainability, regenerative tourism aims to leave destinations better than we found them. This revolutionary approach transforms travelers from passive consumers to active contributors in local ecosystems and communities.
When I participated in a regenerative travel experience in Costa Rica, we planted trees in the morning and learned traditional farming techniques from local experts in the afternoon. The tour company reinvested profits into community education programs.
Hotels embracing this concept might harvest rainwater, generate renewable energy, and employ at-risk community members. The goal isn’t just minimizing harm but actively improving environmental and social conditions through thoughtful travel choices.
4. Bleisure Travel
Blending business trips with leisure activities has created this portmanteau term that’s reshaping corporate travel policies worldwide. Extending work trips into weekends or adding vacation days to conference visits maximizes both professional opportunities and personal experiences.
Companies increasingly support this trend, recognizing that employees return more refreshed and engaged. Major business destinations like Singapore and Dubai have capitalized on this by developing attractions specifically targeting bleisure travelers.
My recent business trip to Chicago turned into an architectural boat tour and deep-dish pizza adventure once meetings concluded. This approach transforms obligatory business travel into opportunities for cultural exploration and relaxation without requiring separate trips.
5. Undertourism
Seeking out less-visited destinations represents a conscious rejection of overtourism’s negative impacts. While Venice drowns in visitors, savvy travelers discover equally charming places like Trieste or Bologna that offer authentic Italian experiences without the crushing crowds.
Local economies in these undertouristed regions benefit tremendously from visitor dollars. Infrastructure improves gradually rather than being overwhelmed, creating sustainable growth patterns.
During my trip to Portugal, skipping crowded Lisbon for the historic university town of Coimbra rewarded me with empty plazas, student-priced meals, and fado performances where I was the only foreigner. Finding these hidden gems requires research but delivers richer experiences and more meaningful cultural exchanges.
6. Voluntourism
Combining volunteer work with travel creates opportunities to contribute meaningfully while experiencing new cultures. Building schools in Guatemala or conducting marine conservation in the Philippines attracts travelers seeking purpose beyond typical tourist experiences.
Though well-intentioned, voluntourism requires careful research to avoid harmful programs. Effective initiatives address genuine community needs, employ local leadership, and create sustainable impact beyond visitor participation.
When selecting voluntourism opportunities, I look for organizations with transparent funding models and long-term community partnerships. The most valuable programs prioritize skill transfer and economic benefit to locals rather than centering visitor experience. When done right, these experiences transform both communities and travelers.
7. Workation
Taking your regular job to an inspiring location for an extended period defines the increasingly popular workation trend. Unlike digital nomads who travel continuously, workations typically last weeks to months before returning home.
Hotels and rental properties now advertise high-speed internet, ergonomic workspaces, and time zone compatibility to attract these temporary remote workers. Popular destinations like Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and Portugal’s Algarve region offer affordability alongside beautiful surroundings.
My month-long workation in Puerto Vallarta transformed my productivity. Morning swims before logging on and evening beach walks after work created perfect work-life balance. The routine felt sustainable in ways that vacation-only or work-only modes never achieve.
8. Staycation
Exploring your own city or region as if you were a tourist has become a legitimate travel category, especially since the pandemic limited international movement. Booking local hotels, trying restaurants in different neighborhoods, and visiting attractions you normally bypass creates refreshing experiences without airport hassles.
The financial benefits are significant – no flights, currency exchange, or international phone plans to worry about. Environmental impact decreases dramatically compared to long-distance travel.
My weekend staycation downtown helped me rediscover why tourists love my city. Viewing familiar surroundings through a visitor’s eyes revealed architectural details, cultural offerings, and local specialties I’d overlooked for years. Sometimes the best adventures happen just miles from home.
9. Microcations
Short, frequent getaways of 2-4 days have replaced the traditional two-week vacation for many time-pressed travelers. These bite-sized adventures fit easily into busy schedules while still providing the psychological benefits of breaking routine.
Weekend road trips to nearby destinations maximize experience while minimizing planning complexity. Many travelers find multiple microcations throughout the year more rejuvenating than a single extended trip.
Last month, my three-day mountain retreat felt like pressing a reset button on work stress. The focused nature of microcations encourages deep engagement with a single location or activity rather than attempting to see everything. Quality over quantity becomes the guiding principle for these compact adventures.
10. Set-jetting
Traveling specifically to visit filming locations from favorite movies or TV shows has exploded in popularity. From Game of Thrones tours in Croatia to Bridgerton-themed experiences in Bath, England, entertainment-inspired travel drives significant tourism.
Streaming services have dramatically expanded this phenomenon. After Squid Game became a global sensation, South Korean tourism surged with fans seeking locations from the series.
During my set-jetting adventure to New Zealand’s Hobbiton, I joined hundreds of Lord of the Rings enthusiasts exploring the meticulously preserved movie set. Local economies benefit tremendously from these fan pilgrimages, with specialized tours, themed restaurants, and merchandise creating entire tourism ecosystems around popular productions.
11. Carbon-Conscious Travel
Measuring and minimizing the carbon footprint of journeys has become essential for environmentally concerned travelers. This approach involves choosing trains over planes when possible, selecting eco-certified accommodations, and participating in legitimate carbon offset programs.
Apps now calculate emissions for different transportation options, helping travelers make informed choices. Some tour operators advertise carbon-neutral packages where offsetting is built into the price.
My recent train journey across Europe produced roughly 90% less carbon than flying the same route would have. Beyond transportation, carbon-conscious travelers seek accommodations with renewable energy sources, plant-based meal options, and waste reduction programs – turning environmental values into concrete travel decisions.
12. Glamping
Glamorous camping combines nature immersion with luxury amenities, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who don’t want to sacrifice comfort. From safari-style tents with real beds to tricked-out airstreams with hot tubs, these accommodations create Instagram-worthy experiences in natural settings.
The pandemic accelerated glamping’s popularity as travelers sought outdoor experiences with built-in social distancing. Remote locations offer stargazing opportunities and wildlife encounters impossible in traditional hotels.
My glamping experience in Joshua Tree featured a queen bed with premium linens inside a transparent dome, allowing unobstructed night sky views. Though considerably pricier than traditional camping, the combination of natural surroundings with creature comforts creates a unique category between roughing it and resort stays.
13. Revenge Travel
Making up for lost time after pandemic restrictions created this phenomenon of ambitious, bucket-list trips. Travelers splurge on dream destinations and premium experiences to compensate for years of canceled plans and limited movement.
Travel industry data shows higher average spending per trip compared to pre-pandemic patterns. Many travelers book longer stays or multiple destinations in a single journey, maximizing their return to global exploration.
After postponing my safari plans twice during lockdowns, I finally booked an extended version with additional experiences and upgraded accommodations. This “revenge” approach satisfies the pent-up desire for meaningful experiences after feeling confined. Though the term may fade, the emphasis on prioritizing significant travel experiences will likely continue.
14. Ancestry Tourism
Tracing family roots through travel has gained momentum as DNA testing services reveal unexpected heritage connections. Visitors explore ancestral villages, access local archives, and sometimes connect with distant relatives.
Countries with significant diaspora populations actively court these travelers. Ireland’s tourism board runs targeted campaigns for Americans with Irish heritage, while Ghana declared 2019 its “Year of Return” for African diaspora visitors.
My journey to my grandmother’s hometown in Sicily revealed architectural details she had described throughout my childhood. Standing in the church where my great-grandparents married created an emotional connection no ordinary tourism could match. These deeply personal journeys transform abstract family histories into tangible experiences and sometimes forge new connections with previously unknown relatives.
15. Nakation
Clothing-optional travel has evolved from niche interest to mainstream vacation category with dedicated resorts, cruises, and beaches worldwide. These experiences range from family-friendly naturist villages in Europe to adults-only luxury properties in the Caribbean.
Contrary to common misconceptions, nakations focus on body acceptance and natural living rather than sexuality. Many participants report profound psychological benefits from temporarily abandoning clothing-based social signifiers.
First-timers often discover surprising comfort in these judgment-free environments. The naturist community emphasizes respect, consent, and environmental consciousness alongside the freedom from clothing. With specialized booking platforms and travel agencies dedicated to this market, nakations have become a legitimate travel category serving millions of travelers annually.