5 Nostalgic Trends Dominating Travel In 2025

From facial recognition at airport security lines and concierge robots in hotels to the dawn of space tourism, travel has become more futuristic than the Jetsons could have ever predicted. But amid all the cutting-edge newness, an interesting counter travel trend has emerged: Nostalgia.

At Hotel Rangá in Iceland, guests can add on an “analog” package that includes a deck of cards, disposable cameras, and a coloring book inspired by local folklore. Delta recently launched a retro-style game with an 8-bit feel called Sky Hopper that SkyMiles members can play in-flight. And ahead of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, hip, renovated roadside motels are Instagram-ready along the Mother Road—like The Mystic in Santa Fe, New Mexico which has two time-capsule rooms with decor like a Roy Rogers lunchbox and vintage cowboy curtains curated by interior designer and co-owner Amanda Tucker.

From cute A-frame cabins to summer camp programming at luxury hotels and the new wave of popularity for pontoon boats, travel experts are taking note of the nostalgic trends influencing wanderlust in 2025 and beyond.

“The next big trend is often rooted in a revival of the past—what I like to call ‘newstalgia,’” says LaDell Carter, founder of Royal Expression Travel, a luxury custom travel company. “In a world that feels increasingly fast-paced and digitally driven, the craving for simplicity, authenticity, and a touch of vintage charm has never been stronger.”

Here’s five nostalgic travel trends that are back in a big way in 2025 and well into the future.

Renovated Roadside Motels Making A Major Comeback on Route 66

Once icons of mid-century Americana, roadside motels have become appealing to younger generations for their vintage feel and the fact that they’re often more affordable, says tourism expert Dr. Missy Varao, director of the Business and Economics Department at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.

The comeback of roadside motels has been mounting for a couple of decades. With a boutique feel, these madeover motor lodges gained momentum during an Instagram era, with nostalgic pre-set filters like “Gingham” a ready-made match for neon lights and Googie architecture. Then COVID-era road trips made roadside motels popular places to stop, especially since travelers could avoid elevators and common areas.

But in addition to the neon lights and the cute amenities like rattan swing chairs and courtyard pools with retro umbrellas, the renovated roadside motels resonate with Millennial and Gen Z travelers who value eco-friendly lodging.

Making over existing roadside motels is also generally more sustainable than new builds due to reduced waste and materials, Varao says. She points to a survey conducted by OnePoll that shows approximately 77% of travelers ages 18-29 consider sustainability in their travel decisions, with many actively looking for lodging that minimizes environmental impact and supports local communities.

In 2026, Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and leading up to its centennial, there’s been a boom in renovated motels that pay homage to the folklore of the Mother Road. At Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, travelers will find sly references to the No. 66 and astronomy (Flagstaff is an International Dark Sky City). The retro-futuristic roadside retreat’s amenities include telescopes, a heated pool, and a fire pit and its green features include EV charging stations and minimal lighting to keep the sky dark.

Last summer in Santa Fe, the hospitality group behind the iconic La Fonda on the Plaza debuted Piñon Court by La Fonda, a cozy and stylish 58-room boutique court hotel furnished with gas adobe fireplaces and local art. The Spanish Colonial Revival building dates back to the 1930s, when it first opened as The Galisteo Inn, catering to motorists traveling Route 66. The hotel is close to Santa Fe’s bustling Railyard District, which is an epicenter for local markets, shopping, entertainment, and dining.

Weary travelers can also retreat to Blue Swallow Inn, a meticulously restored, historic Route 66 motor court inn known for its retro charm and iconic neon sign (this is the motel that inspired the Disney movie Cars) in Tucumcar, New Mexico. Or enjoy a stay at El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, which was once a hub for Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn filming Westerns in the area.

These Aren’t Your Grandfather’s Pontoon Boats

In Miami, you’ll spot a growing number of SeaDoo Switch boats jetting around waterways amid the yachts and with views of Magic City’s glittering skyline in the backdrop. With handlebars like those you’d find on a personal watercraft instead of traditional steering wheels and with speeds that can kick up to 46 miles per hour, these zippy boats are a far cry from your grandfather’s pontoon boats.

The SeaDoo Switch pontoon from BRP was named the “Boat of the Year” by Boating Magazine in 2022 and 2023, with the publication touting the boat’s accessibility factors. This newly imagined pontoon has brakes, can breeze into reverse, turn on a dime (even do a 360), features a cruise control button, and is easy to dock for first-time captains.

Modern-day pontoons originally launched in the 1950s, and they became synonymous with lake vacations, puttering around for leisurely sunset rides, towing kids on tubes, and getting out on the water to fish.

The launch of the SeaDoo Switch in 2021 synced up with a pandemic boom in outdoor recreation: That year, 164.2 million Americans participated in an outdoor activity, up about 7% since 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Tyler Krebs, Sea-Doo global product strategy analyst, said the team saw an opportunity to design the Sea-Doo Switch so that it could renew pontoon boating interest among the next generation.

“It’s much less intimidating to drive for first-time boaters,” Kreb says. “It’s simple and intuitive. This has a lot to do with the jet propulsion system—it has the same propulsion system as a PWC [personal watercraft] and with the handlebars, it’s like riding a bike.”

The modular design allows deck chairs to be rearranged or removed, and Sea-Doo customers can also buy accessories for the boat’s deck, ranging from coolers to wakeboard holders and Bluetooth speakers.

“It’s about having fun on the water,” Krebs says.

Outfitters at lake destinations throughout the United States are also adding the SeaDoo Switch to their inventory for on-water adventures. Designated Wakesports in Big Bear Lake, California rents out the boats to those who want to tube, wakeboard or water ski and in Three Lakes Wisconsin, families can rent a pontoon with Anchor Marine and Storage and get out on the water to soak up the sun, plunge into the fresh water for a swim, or have a picnic on deck.

Records Are Spinning in Hotel Rooms

We’re in an age where you can login into Netflix on a hotel TV and sync your Bluetooth to speakers to stream your playlists. Yet still, there’s something special about vinyl and a number of hotels have record collections for guests to borrow from to play on in-room record players.

At the Outpost Inn in Highlands, North Carolina, owner Jason Reeves created a modern 14-room inn that was inspired by the hippie retreats in Topanga and the Catskills from the late 19600s and early 1970s. Rooms come with vinyl record players and typewriters, and the communal lobby space is intended to promote connection among guests.

In Denver, at Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, vinyl record players are available in every guest room and travelers can choose from a selection of records from the hotel’s Gear Garage, which is also stocked with Piaggio scooters, board games, and cruiser bikes. A Vinyl Brunch provides breakfast with a soundtrack every Sunday at Local Jones, which is located in the hotel’s lobby.

Down in Savannah, Georgia, The Alida’s collection of records for guests to borrow feature artists like Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Presley and in Honolulu, the Wayfinder Waikiki not only has in-room record players but also a ground-floor coffee shop called B-Side Cafe that’s plays vinyl records.

Historically, record players weren’t actually a standard in hotel rooms, Varao says, but vinyl records and retro music players have recently become a feature in boutique hotels to evoke a nostalgic, sensory experience.

“These items play on the sensory nostalgia that many Millennial and Gen Z [travelers] are currently seeking, combining a tactile experience with a sense of connection to a past era,” she says. “The idea is often appealing to these travelers, who often prefer analog moments that encourage slower-paced, immersive experiences.”

A-Frames For a Vacation State Of Mind

A-frames spark nostalgic vacation vibes: After World War II, during an era of prosperity, many Americans started buying seconds of everything—including homes. Vacation homes set in lake towns and in the mountains became places to escape during the summer or on the weekends.

For years, renovated A-frames have been popular on vacation-rental platforms, offering cozy-cute stays often in remote locations.

But a new trend? A-frames have entered the luxury space and there are even collections of A-frames making up resorts.

Available on Avant Stay, a short-term rental site, the sprawling Lazy River Glamp-House in Central Oregon can accommodate 11 guests and is set on 1.4 acres near Mt. Bachelor and the Deschutes River Trail. Nostalgia meets modern design with heated floors, steam showers, 50 feet of folding glass doors, a chic fire pit, and a sauna.

In Winter Park, Colorado, the A-Frame Club is home to 31 cabins that have retro touches like Malm fireplaces as well as a soaking tub and an on-property saloon and wood-fired restaurant. In New York, Callicoon Hills has a grove of rustic-but-luxe A-frame cabins set in the 23-acre forest in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The A-frames (open from May until October) feature floor-to-crown windows and a plush bed with solar-powered lights.

Summer Camp Programs To Relive Your Youth

Summer camp-like programming appeals to today’s travelers by offering a chance to disconnect from the digital world and truly engage with a destination, says Rena Shah, head of lodging and experiences at Chase Travel. Thoughtfully curated activities let travelers experience a destination more deeply, whether it’s hiking through scenic trails, participating in local crafts or other activities that spark adventure or camaraderie.

As such, hotels are rolling out classic summer camp-like amenities, whether they’re branded as camp activities or simply reminiscent of them.

In upstate New York, Cedar Lakes Estate is set on the grounds of a 1930s-era summer camp, and, a collection of cottages, cabins and suites are spread throughout the grounds. Activities include winter curling, playing old-school board games, and going on scavenger hunts. The property’s “Treehouse” is stocked with old-school Nintendo games and a 90s junk food foraging table filled with Ring Pops, Gushers, Fun Dip, Fruit Roll Ups, and more.

A 22-acre retreat that spans a river, apple orchard and a meadow, Dawn Ranch, in Guerneville, California allows guests to choose between cabins, cottages, chalets, and luxury glamping temps. They can lean in to the summer camp feel with campfire singalongs, lessons on Fender guitars, bird watching with Swarovski Optik binoculars, and flower pressing workshops. The spa is set in a bungalow and those seeking some extra R&R can slink into redwood soaking tubs.

At Barnsley Resort, a 3,000-acre property in northwest Georgia, guests can go horseback riding, play disc golf, and canoe on a 10-acre lake—all of which are staple activities at the resort that have been offered for a long time. But over the last few years, the resort has added even more camp-like activities to its activities catalog, including archery and ax throwing as well as the addition of pickleball courts. Of course, the best way to end the evening is commanding an Adirondack chair, gathered around a fire pit toasting s’mores.

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