Tropical Locales, Adventure Travel and Splurging: The Spring Travel Trends of 2025

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Mon February 17, 2025

Warm-weather trips, adventure travel experiences and paying more are the main travel trends of spring 2025, according to the latest survey by travel insurer Squaremouth.

It surveyed over 8,000 travelers about their vacation plans, and over 60 percent of them noted their primary travel goal was “seeking adventure.” When compared to last year’s 42 percent, this is a notable jump.

Squaremouth also noted an 18 percent increase in adventure travel insurance policy purchases this spring, with insured experiences ranging from safaris to scuba diving to horseback riding and more.

In fact, safaris are seeing a newfound popularity, with 28 percent increase in bookings for popular safari locales such as South Africa, Botswana and Kenya.

“I am booking more adventure travel,” said Claire Schoeder, Luxury Travel Advisor at Elevations Travel. “Lindblad is popular with my clients as are other companies offering similar adventure travel. My clients are looking for a variety of activities based on ages. I look to match them based on their abilities. In the Galapagos, for instance, I talk with clients about the options and share my personal experience there…I do the same for the Antarctic. Most of my adventure bookings are Antarctic, Arctic, Alaska and Galapagos.”

Travelers are also ditching last year’s “coolcation” trend of visiting cooler places in favor of once more visiting warm-weather locales. Destinations like Switzerland and Iceland have dropped at most 60 percent from 2024, with Mexico and the Bahamas reigning supreme this year. Japan and Italy have also risen in popularity from the year before.

Yet spending more remains a growing trend—both from higher prices in general and an increased desire for more premium travel and bucket list experiences. The average insured trip cost for this year’s spring break with Squaremouth is $8,306, which is a 26 percent increase from 2024 and a 33 percent increase from 2023.

“It’s exciting to see how much adventure travel has taken off this spring,” said Elyse Zerwick, Travel Advisor at Jetset World Travel. “I’m seeing an incredible surge in clients seeking truly transformative experiences—they’re trading traditional luxury getaways for private expeditions and adventures to untouched parts of the world, as long as there’s a spectacular lodge and a great bottle of wine waiting for them at the end of the day.”

“Yes, trips are costing about 26% more than last year, but as one client told me, ‘After everything that’s happened these past few years, life’s too short not to have these adventures.’ They realize they are investing in moments they’ll cherish forever. It’s the new luxury—being able to access the extraordinary while still having those special comforts that make it feel effortless.”

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