All Aboard for 2014: The Travel Trends that will Define 2014

CEBU, Philippines - Here are some of the upcoming trends to watch out for, frequent flyer, before you take on 2014 head on:

1. Vacation Rentals

While people are moving from budget accommodations to more decent hotels, a considerable number are considering the more personalized, homey take that can only be found in vacation rentals. What exactly are vacation rentals?  These are private villas, apartments, and condominiums up for rent for a certain period of time.  Those planning to take on longer vacations will find this option giving them more value for their money while those who simply want a real home away from home will find this a worthy option to try.

2. Boutique Hotels

This year, our notion of accommodations will be undergoing a major facelift.  For the more stylish set, boutique hotels are taking center stage versus their more traditional, hotel chain counterparts.  Boutique hotels are destinations in themselves with every detail painstakingly taken into consideration to offer a feast for the senses like no other.  The experience is like living in an entirely different era, as the case may be.  My top picks are Bangkok's The Siam, Hong Kong's Mira Moon Hotel, the Hullet House, and the Luxe Manor, and Singapore's The Forest by Wangz.

3. Voluntourism

Haiyan, the most devastating typhoon to sweep across the country has brought the need for people to just band together and lend a hand.  This year, travelling takes on more heart by putting the usual sightseeing to the sidelines in favour of spending two to three days volunteering to read stories to children, teach a new skill or two to an ethnic tribe, or engage in wildlife conservation with local and international NGOs.  As the name implies, it marries volunteer work and tourism for a vacation that will indeed be a story to tell.

4. The Unstoppable

     Young and Old

Who will be travelling the most this 2014?  First are the millenials who, today, belong to the 18-30 age range.  These are the folks with the money (okay, the 20-somethings to 30 segment) and the energy to globetrot.  Many of the millenials may not exactly be a very demanding set, but they will look to more leisure travelling and in groups at that.  Second are the seniors who will be travelling for relaxation and leisure.  This group will have the money and will be one of the most demanding groups travelling around so hotels and tour operators better be ready to provide maximum comfort that are up to par with the unstoppable elders' standards.

5. Social Media Leisure

Blame it on the prevalence of Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter but going on vacation or plain and simple travelling has risen to become social currency. This goes beyond simple snapping of a photo of yourself in some foreign or exotic locale. What ups the ante is the uniqueness of the activity and the sights.  Snapping a photo with the Louvre in the background?  Better think again.  Twenty fourteen will be a race to be one of the first and the few to get to wherever.  This means posting photos of being in a luxe hotel only a chosen few can ever set foot inside, shots of ethnic encounters, or standing at the tip of the highest peak of wherever.

6. Travel Technology

In the age of impatience, more and more travellers in 2014 will be thinking that TripAdvisor, the most popular travel portal to date will not be enough.  What today's travellers need is an instant answer to their many questions which is accounts for the rise of mobile concierge capable of giving up to the minute info on where to shop, what route to take, what to eat, what to bring home.  A perfect example is TUI Travel which recently launched a Digital Assistant App which travellers can access anywhere, anytime.

7. Cruising

The recently launched Singapore Cruise Center as well as other cruise centers mushrooming in China will see a boom in cruising throughout East and Southeast Asia.  This won't simply be a trend for those who are already on retirement.  More so, it's something the younger set will look forward to as shore excursions and on-board activities and parties will be a perfect marriage between relaxation and sheer partying.