Control, customization and convenience – these words have become the philosophy of millennials in their journey for new experiences. Easy access to information has removed the need for a middleman and travel is no exception to this trend. With bookings just a few clicks away, a holiday or vacation has never been closer.
A generation of Do It Yourself travellers is on the rise who choose where to stay, places to visit, cuisines to try out and make their vacations more meaningful and personal.
Here are some key trends that have led to the rise of DIY travel –
- Online Travel Agencies – Websites like makemytrip.com and ayantours.com have everything you need in one place, be it hotels, flights or holiday packages. To boot they often have offers and amazing deals running throughout the year. Say goodbye to expensive travel agents!
- Travel blogs – There are many professional bloggers out there who travel and write about their experiences. These blogs are a great resource when it comes to planning any trip as they have useful tips, ideas, places to visit and food to try out. They have huge fan followings and their stories are an inspiration to thousands.
- Ratings and Reviews – Online reviews have made travel destinations, hotels and restaurants transparent in terms of what they have to offer, services you can expect and more. Marketing efforts are often exaggerated and online review portals like TripAdvisor help cut through the nonsense and paint a truer picture. Ultimately, they make better choices and more meaningful travel.
- Social Media – Pictures from vacations are always trending on social media, be it Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or what have you. Posts from friends keep popping in our feeds at scenic spots or famous places. Sharing pictures of food while trying out different cuisines has become the norm. Your friends’ choices often influence your travel destinations and the things you try out at these new places.
- Immersive experiences – People are in search of authentic experiences today and this trend has seen a lot of young, independent and travel-hungry folks seek out immersive experiences that are experiential in nature. They want to meet the locals and get a taste of their culture. They prefer planning their holiday in a completely unconventional manner, staying away from the popular tourist locations in their search for an authentic local flavour.
- Solo Travelling – The number of people travelling alone has increased in the last few years. People prefer solo travel because you get absolute freedom in terms of planning your holiday and many see it as a chance to free your mind and get to know yourself better. These travellers plan their trip and arrange the basics like transport and accommodation by themselves and rarely opt for an external travel agent. Portals like Airbnb have made such journeys easy to plan and kept them pocket-friendly at the same time.
The wonders of technology have made travelling closer to our heart and easier on the mind. Travelling today is budget friendly and highly customizable to our needs due to various resources like web portals and apps that not only provide information but also connect us to new places to visit, stay and meet new people. The future is bright.
The role of online travel providers like AyanTours has changed to that of facilitators who curate the information and create tools for DIY travellers. The ability to stay to true to the needs of customers like you and giving you the freedom to define your holidays your way would be a key parameter that differentiates a good travel agent from the rest.