Five new travel trends for 2015
Well, 2014 is just about in the books. 聽What does 2015 hold for travel? 聽Here are my thoughts about where travel is... um... traveling going forward into the new year.
1. 聽Free Wifi
We've seen announcements from Marriott,聽, and聽聽regarding free wifi for guests insome way, shape or form in 2015. 聽Additionally, the聽added free Boingo Wifi in 2014, and is adding聽聽to its list of benefits in 2015.
2. 聽Harder Upgrades
With United and Delta moving to a revenue-based loyalty system, it will be harder to earn status in those programs in 2015. 聽"Mileage Runs" are no longer a possibility in those programs, as you must spend a certain amount with them to reap benefits. 聽As a business traveler whose company pays for their traveler, this won't affect you as much as the leisure traveler (or simple travel hacker trying to travel the world for free).
American Airlines is now the last major legacy carrier in the States to offer status based on miles flown only, but when they merge programs with US Airways in 2015, there will be many more elites in their system, making it a bit harder for first class upgrades. 聽Still, it's better than having to spend a certain amount of money to have that privilege!
3. 聽A Stronger Dollar
The United States is experiencing a strengthening of its dollar as other central banks around the world聽聽to stay competitive in our global marketplace. 聽This means different things for different industries, but for international travelers from America spending money with dollars, this is a good thing! 聽Countries that I've lived in, like Argentina, will becoming even more cheaper than they already are for the average American. 聽In 2013, I was eating a filet mignon at lunch for less than $7 in Buenos Aires. 聽Prices have dropped聽even more聽since, a combination of our dollar strengthening and their currency weakening.
4. 聽New Destinations
I love traveling to familiar, popular cities, but I also love finding an untouched destination that I can keep a secret to myself. 聽Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more difficult, as international travel becomes easier and more popular for my wanderlusting fellow Millennials.
2015, I fear, is the year that Americans discover Colombia. 聽JetBlue has started flying there in recent years, and as a result more and more Americans are discovering a paradise that is no longer overrun with violence and drug running. 聽I've spent a month and a half there in 2014, and some of the nicest people on earth live there, with great beaches, jungles, and cities. 聽It's only a matter of time before the secret is out.
5. 聽More Local, Shared Experiences
聽from CNN identifies more advances in the "shareable" economy that's expanding nowadays. 聽Localized meals, more home-stay opportunities, and better access to authentic experiences are all a result of better technology and it finding the entrepreneurial 聽hands of those abroad.
What are your plans for 2015? 聽Any destinations that you had never heard of that you would like to visit?
