Your Year in Travel, Wrapped
It is a truth almost universally acknowledged that we fear what we do not know. Yet even as the world looks a little unpredictable these days, our intrepid and passionate readers—that’s you!—are criss-crossing the globe with open minds and hearts, seeking adventures and new experiences, hoping to get a little closer to their loved ones, and connect with newfound friends they meet on the road. Sure, when put that way, life and travel may not feel totally different from last year; experiencing new places is always a good idea. But it’s safe to say this kind of openness to the unfamiliar is now more important than ever.
So, how exactly did you travel in 2024?
Consider this your year in travel, wrapped. The results below, pulled from Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 survey, and submitted by our readers around the globe—spanning our editions in the United States, Spain, India, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.
Nothing, it seems, will stop you all from achieving your travel dreams: You’re traveling to learn about new-to-you cultures. The way to your heart is through experiencing exciting cuisines. Your definition of “luxury” is evolving (and it doesn’t just mean business class flights anymore), while “wellness” still means as much about going outside and touching grass as it does the quality of the spa. But above all, you’re traveling to be with loved ones—which is as good a reason as any to book a ticket somewhere. Bask in good company, have a tasty meal, and take care of yourselves. That’s what travel—and life on our one green Earth—is all about.
For more of the highlights and takeaways of how you traveled this year, read on. May they invite you to reflect on some of your favorite experiences—and get excited for what’s to come next.
One third of you took at least two or three trips this year—and for all sorts of reasons
…and saw traveling with loved ones as a top priority
As much as solo travel has been on the rise, there’s really nothing that beats getting the entire friend group to finally book that trip to Bali. When you shared the primary motivations influencing your decision to book a trip, more than half of you said you traveled to spend time with your loved ones: 38% said the top factor was to take a family vacation; 21% said it was to share experiences with friends.
We’ve long believed at Traveler that time is one of the ultimate luxuries, and a fair number of you agree. When asked about the aspects of luxury most important to you while traveling, 7% of you identified time—by treating yourselves to extended stays (two-week trips!) or more time off from work (use your vacation days!)—as an important consideration. You’re granting yourself more time to immerse yourself and get lost somewhere exciting, relaxing, or both. Now more than ever, unplugging is the ultimate way to rest.
Once you were on the ground, though, it was all about the experiences
These days, there are as many types of travelers as there are colors under the sun, from setjetters seeking their favorite on-screen locations (think Emily in Paris and The White Lotus itineraries) to folks traveling for entertainment (here’s to you, intrepid Swifties). All that to say, culture is one of the top reasons we travel. According to our survey, some of you are going further in search of novel adventures: When asked for the key factor that influenced your decision to book a trip, 39% of you said that you traveled “to discover new cultures,” chasing that thrill of learning more about the once-isolated kingdom of Mustang in Nepal, or the convivial surfing communities of Siargao in the Philippines.
This desire for cultural education and engagement is also a crucial part of how you chose your destinations; 47% of you who took the survey said “cultural attractions” helped you choose where to go in 2024. It’s also a prime reason to revisit, with 17% of you saying cultural attractions, like local arts and customs—whether it’s the Indigenous craft and design in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or dancing with the diverse communities of Panama City—are a strong draw for repeat visits.
Speaking of local culture, where you spend your money is a top priority: 15% of you said that supporting local businesses is an eco-friendly practice that you prioritize while traveling. In short? Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword for today’s savvy travelers; 55% of you rated sustainability—environmental and cultural—as important in your travel choices.
You prioritized wellness wherever you went
This is nothing new, but it’s nice to see that you’re all taking good care of yourselves: 59% of you rated wellness as key to vacationing. We think travel, among other things, is a method of self-care—after all, a good spa treatment is the cure for even the most hectic of travel days—and about 20% of you agree, saying that booking spa experiences is the way you travel well, as it were. Others said wellness on the go is about prioritizing sleep (12%), eating healthily (8%), or exercising (6%). We’re glad to hear that those hotel gyms are being used.
But by far the top way you seek wellness while traveling is by spending time outdoors; 25% of you said that getting outside—whether by fly-fishing in Montana, hiking in Sweden, or surfing in the waters of Costa Rica or Ghana—soothes your spirit and feels good for your bodies.
Meanwhile, good trips meant good food
Ever and always, food is front of mind for Traveler readers. When it comes to picking where to visit, 41% of you said restaurants and food culture are a critical component in determining your destination—and rightly so. Culinary experiences are some of the best ways to learn more about a place and its people, whether it’s through the creative restaurants of Guatemala, the wine scenes of Uruguay or even Thailand, or Indigenous foodways in the United States.
This emphasis on food also extends to where you stay. When selecting hotels or accommodations, 22% of you consider a property’s food and beverage offerings to be the top factor, after location (61%) and price (34%). In fact, you all love food so much (it makes sense, so do we) that 11% of you said that culinary experiences, from local cuisine to gourmet dining, encourage return visits.
Furthermore, 9% of you consider fine dining and award-winning restaurants an essential part of the luxury travel experience. Depending on the type of traveler you are, perhaps that sense of luxury is less about white tablecloths and crystal goblets and more about the creativity of the chefs who are cooking up delicious dishes that tell a story about the place you’re visiting. (And their opinions on where to travel for food are the most valuable intel you can get—for chef-approved recommendations for the tastiest places to eat all over the world, check out our global food map of the world’s best restaurants.)
“Luxury” still begins with the hotel room
When asked about your travel priorities, you told us that you define “luxury” as a more nuanced thing. Luxury is also about everything from opportunities to spend time away from home to the immersiveness of a food experience. But the absolute number one factor that makes a trip feel like a luxurious indulgence? It’s still all about the hotels. In the survey, 32% of you ranked lodging and accommodations as the primary component when it comes to luxury travel, emphasizing comfort and exclusivity in where you stay. We tend to agree; check out our latest iteration of the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2025 where we share our editor-favorite hotels that we keep coming back to again and again.
But your definition of what luxury can be evolved
Not far behind the hotel factor, however, was the importance of unique experiences; 27% of you ranked this highly, which tells us that you, as always, seek memorable and distinctive activities no matter which corner of the world you’re exploring. And fun fact: only 6% said that transportation options—as in, things like flying first or business class—are what make a trip feel luxurious. This could indicate your shifting priorities, proving that comfort at the destination and once-in-a-lifetime experiences are more prized than Champagne and caviar in the front of the plane. That said, a lie-flat bed at 35,000 feet in the air doesn’t hurt though, right?
Finally, you stayed loyal to your most trusted hotel brands. Here's your top 10 (and some inspiration for where to book:
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Oberoi Hotels
Taj Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Belmond
Already planning next year? For more inspiration, see our complete list of Readers’ Choice Awards winners here.
Credits
Lead editor: Lale Arikoglu
Editor: Arati Menon
Writer: Matt Ortile
Lead visuals: Matthew Buck, Pete Winterbottom
Visuals: Andrea Edelman
Social media: Mercedes Bleth, Fatama Choudhury
Audience Development: Abigail Malbon
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
