Where to Go and How to Travel According to These 5 Hot Travel Trends in 2026

A new year brings new reasons to wander, explore, and reconnect. From the insights of seasoned travel advisors to the feedback of our most loyal guests, one thing is clear: travelers in 2026 are seeking experiences that are effortless, immersive, and meaningful. Easy to reach and rich in natural beauty and culture, the Caribbean continues to set the pace for unforgettable travel.

Here are five trends influencing how guests at Sandals and Beaches explore in 2026.

1. Decompression Travel

Travelers are craving vacations that soften the edges of daily life, creating space to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with their inner rhythm. With seamless comfort and zero distractions, these tranquil escapes are referred to as “quietcations” – speak to a timeless longing: to feel grounded, restored, and truly at ease.In fact, this is at the top of BBC’s 2026 Travel Trends — a return to stillness.

Best Fits in 2026:

Well ahead of the curve, Sandals has tapped into the Caribbean’s tranquil DNA to create exclusive Rondoval villages. These villages are the epitome of quiet luxury, tucked away in seclusion, with personal plunge pools, some with rooftop terraces and telescopes for stargazing, and concierge service. Guests say a weeklong stay in a Rondoval is natural therapy for the mind, body, and soul.

Where to find Rondovals?
• Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (new in 2026)
• Sandals Dunns River
• Sandals Royal Curaçao
• Sandals Regency La Toc (new)
• Sandals Grenada

2. Trust Over Choice

There is a growing appreciation for vacations designed with care and personalization, as noted by the travel experts at Condé Nast Traveler. Travelers are embracing the ease of having flights booked, rooms selected, and itineraries crafted to reflect the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. At the heart of it all is trust and knowing your trip is in the hands of someone who understands how to bring it together seamlessly.

Best Fits in 2026:

• Certified travel advisors. They’re also travelers. It’s why they can listen to the vision of another traveler and turn it into reality — far less stressful than piecemealing a plan yourself.
• Butlers. At Sandals, the role goes far beyond service. Celebrated for their passion and precision, Sandals butlers act as personal concierges and destination experts, offering thoughtful guidance and a level of trust that allows guests to fully relax and enjoy every moment.

3. One Escape, Multiple Views

What could be better than a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea? How about two or three spectacular views, from beachside to cliffside to topside (yes, an overwater bungalow can change your view of life).

As noted by Hotels.com, more than half of travelers would like to experience multiple angles of a single destination. The same desire for variety applies to restaurants because why have 12 options when you can have 20? Maybe check into a suite on this corner of an island and on that corner. Scuba dive here and check out a waterfall there, kayak through mangroves on this side, and visit a street market on that side.

Best Fits in 2026:

Sandals and Beaches anticipated the hotel-hopping trend years ago. On islands with multiple resorts, guests are free to shuttle from one to another. Sit at different pools. Dine in different restaurants. Or stay four nights here and then four nights there. Travelers can do this at:

• Sandals resorts islandwide in Jamaica
• The three Sandals resorts St. Lucia (Grande St. Lucian, Regency La Toc, Halcyon Beach)
• Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados

4. Together With Purpose

Group travel isn’t just surviving the logistics—it's about meaningful connection. On the family front, over the past few years, trips that bring grandparents, parents, and kids together have surged, not merely to share costs but to share time, stories, and memories in ways screens and schedules never can. According to Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends, global hotel bookings using family filters jumped dramatically, and nearly a third of travelers this year plan trips with family members, including multi-generational journeys. This trend isn’t slowing with travel embraced as a way to unplug, reconnect, and explore together.

Best Fits in 2026:

• At Sandals Ochi, a Four Bedroom Butler Villa is tailor-made for both close-knit friends and today’s modern multi-gen trips. Each guest enjoys their own private, hotel-style suite, while shared spaces—from the private pool to expansive outdoor lounging—make it effortless to come together on your own terms, without giving up independence.
• At Beaches Turks and Caicos’ new Treasure Beach Village CrystalSky Reserve Villas, bigger doesn’t just mean more space—it means intentional design for the whole fam. Private pools, expansive indoor-outdoor rooms, a resort movie theater, and food hall with endless options, it's easy for three generations and beyond to vacation without compromise.
• At Beaches Negril, the Firesky Reserve Villas and the Eventide Penthouse Collection allow multi-gen groups to spread out without losing the feeling of togetherness. Thoughtful layouts, generous living spaces, and shared amenities mean grandparents can relax oceanside, parents can savor a quiet moment by the pool, and kids can splash and play with ease—all within steps of one another.
• What makes these stays special: shared breakfasts and separate afternoon adventures, stories traded over sunset strolls, and the kind of ease that turns a group trip into a treasured tradition.

5. The Year of Sports

The flags of the countries we visit — and love — remind us of distant homes, that’s why Sports Tourism made it to multiple 2026 Travel Trend Lists like USA Today10Best. This year, some of those flags will fly at the Winter Olympics and at soccer’s World Cup. The most unforgettable places to be, other than the actual venues, are in those countries, celebrating and connecting with the people.

Best Fits in 2026

• As Jamaica sends a bobsled team to the Winter Olympics in Italy (February 6-22), the Island Routes team in Ocho Rios, including Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ochi, and Sandals Royal Plantation, sends guests to a bobsled-inspired ride high above the Jamaican rainforest.
• The energy of the World Cup (beginning in June) will extend all the way to Sandals Curaçao. Curaçao is the smallest nation and one of only five Caribbean islands in history to qualify for the World Cup. Resort guests can make a deeper connection by donating to the Sandals Foundation’s Future Goals program, which partners with AFC Ajax and local recycling company, Limpi, to repurpose plastic into soccer nets for children on the island.
• And then there’s the flag of USA Pickleball, flying virtually over Sandals and Beaches across the Caribbean. The sport that brings couples, groups, families, and friends together is a perfect fit for the personality of the resorts and for the key travel trends in 2026. Convenience. Flexibility. Ease. And views that transcend time.