The new year is coming at us fast: 2026, here we come! At this time of year the reports and articles about travel trends are rife, and I like to look through them all and see what might be happening in tourism and whether or not I like it (by which I mean, of course, does it fit with a thoughtful travel ethos?).

In this episode, I take you through some of the key trends identified by numerous players in the travel industry and also figure out which destinations are being predicted most often as being 2026 hotspots. I also chat with some experts, starting with Brett Mitchell, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel for Australia and New Zealand, who describes key trends Intrepid has identified and discusses their annual "Not Hot" list. I then chat with Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global PR for the Expedia Group, who explains how their "Unpack 26" study has included a new feature this year which I particularly like.

Links:

• Intrepid Travel's Not Hot List 2026 - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/newsroom/releases/2026-not-hot-list
• Unpack 26 from Expedia - https://www.expedia.co.uk/unpack26/
• Hilton 2026 trends report - https://stories.hilton.com/2026-trends
• Booking.com 2026 trends report https://news.booking.com/the-era-of-you-bookingcom-predicts-the-top-trends-defining-travel-in-2026-with-individuality-taking-center-stage/
• Skyscanner 2026 travel trends - https://www.skyscanner.com.au/travel-trends
• Priceline 2026 travel trends - https://www.priceline.com/partner/pcln-promotions-2026-travel-trends-report-pr
• Explore Worldwide 2026 travel trends - https://www.exploreworldwide.com.au/travel-trends-2026
• Traflagar 2026 travel trends - https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/2026-travel-trends/
• Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2026 - https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel
• Contiki top 2026 travel destinations - https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/top-travel-destinations-in-2026/
• Virtuoso best destinations 2026 - https://www.virtuoso.com/travel/articles/the-best-travel-destinations-2026
• Forbes 26 best trips for 2026 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/08/21/the-26-best-trips-for-2026-according-to-travel-experts/
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/371

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this final episode of the Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985, we return to England, drive through Scotland and Wales, and catch a ferry to Ireland. Then it's back to London, a farewell to our beloved campervan, on to Singapore for a few days and finally we end up back home in Perth, Australia, after six months away. What a strange feeling!

This is the sixth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

• Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
• Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
• Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
• Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355
• Listen to Part 4 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 359 - https://notaballerina.com/359
• Listen to Part 5 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 364 - https://notaballerina.com/364
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/370

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel and learning other languages often go hand in hand, whether we're cramming in a few words before we visit somewhere for the first time or we are intentionally travelling to practice a language, perhaps even heading to a language school for full immersion.

This episode covers all manner of language experiences, starting with Chris Magnuson who was a brave and confident teenager, boldly striking out on French streets with the goal of just talking French with as many people as possible. Spiri Tsintziras then chats with me about her relationship with Greek - the language spoken in her childhood home in Australia, and a language she wanted to pass on to her children. Next, Ros Belford describes her initial learning of Italian and some tips for new learners of any language, involving focusing on a passion. Finally, Megan Frye talks about choosing a language school when you are specifically taking a trip to practice another language.

Links:

• Preply to find language tutors - https://notaballerina.com/preply
• Chris’s website - https://www.streetviewvagabond.com/
• Streetview Vagabond on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/streetviewvagabond/
• Spiri Tsintziras - https://www.writingspirit.com.au/
• Spiri’s new book Twelve Golden Gifts - https://amzn.to/4mWCqCa
• Ros Belford - https://rosbelford.com
• Ros’s book Children of the Volcano - https://amzn.to/4dq2vpz
• Megan Frye - https://www.meganfrye.com/
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/369

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.