mindholiday wrapped

Where I sent my clients in 2024 + how much they spent on travel, travel trends I saw, and predictions for 2025 📈 👩🏼‍💻

Dec 05, 2024

Greetings readers,

As 2024 comes to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on what has been a whirlwind year for both my travel agency and my own journey as a travel advisor.

This April marked the launch of my boutique travel agency backed by Fora, MindHoliday (and this Substack companion newsletter) — a milestone I never dreamed of last year when I quit my corporate job to dive headfirst into the world of custom travel planning. It felt like a leap, but it was driven by my love for discovering hidden gems and sharing those finds with friends and family.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of crafting unforgettable itineraries, booking stunning hotels, and uncovering destinations I can’t wait to share with you. I’ve learned so much about the world of travel, and I’ve had so much fun along the way!

So without further adieu, welcome to “Mindholiday Wrapped” — a look at where my clients explored in 2024, how much they spent on travel, the trends that shaped their trips, and my predictions for where the winds will take us in 2025. One thing that’s always fascinated me is data and the stories it can tell. That’s why I wanted to share this report — not just as a reflection of my year, but as a way to bring transparency to the travel industry and maybe even inspire your own adventures!

xx,

Bella

Where I sent clients:

Italy: 13 trips
Mexico: 11 trips
United States: 11 trips
Spain: 10 trips
United Kingdom: 5 trips

Other popular destinations included France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turks and Caicos, and Switzerland.

In Italy, Lake Como was wildly popular this year! I get the hype, but next year, I want to convince clients craving an Italian lake vacation to branch out and visit Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Lugano. They’re less touristy, less expensive, and just as gorgeous.

I didn’t book anything in Asia, Australia, or the Middle East, but that wasn’t surprising. I specialize in European and Mexican trips, and that’s where I focused my energy in 2024.

By the numbers:

Total clients: 26
Total bookings: 84
Total amount spent on travel: $334,185*
Average spend per client: $12,853*
Average spend per trip: $3,978*
Average spend per day of travel: $1,326*
Average trip length: 3 nights
Highest single trip spend by a client: $142,234.49*

*These figures include:

Planning fees that clients paid me to do trip research/ extensive itinerary planning
Client spend on hotels, train and car transportation, private tours and experiences, etc.

*These figures don’t include:

What my clients spent on air travel. I don’t always book flights for clients, and 50% of the time, my clients get their flights using points. Interestingly, not a single client of mine this year (to my knowledge) paid for a business class/first class ticket. My clients are smart and would rather ball out on luxury hotels and personalized experiences rather than pay $$$ for lie flat seats that come with ice cream sundae service and slippers!

Why my clients traveled:

Shoutout to all of the “just because” travelers! You don’t need a reason to catch a flight.

I had fun working on all of the itineraries I planned this year, but the most special to me were the babymoons. I planned two, and they were the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and romance! I sent my babymoon couples to the Azores and to Basque country (San Sebastian and Biarritz).

The largest trip I planned in 2024 was a 40th birthday + 10 year wedding anniversary party at a Chateau in France. It was a four day event for 80 people, and it was Saltburn themed. Most of the attendees stayed on site, and we rented two additional properties nearby for overflow. The grounds had 20 acres of forest, pétanque courts, a swimming pool, caves, and formal gardens. I was supposed to attend to see it myself, but was sick and couldn’t. The pictures did it justice, though!

The craziest request I got was someone wanting to book a trip to Paris for the Olympics… the day before the Olympics started. He wanted the best tickets possible to the opening ceremony and the duplex terrace Eiffel tower room at the Shangri-La. He told me the trip was for his son, and if I accepted the challenge, I’d be reporting to every need of his 14 year old, who was apparently impossible to impress. Somehow an Eiffel tower view room at the Shangri-La was available, but when I told him the price of the room ($17k/night) and the opening ceremony tickets ($5k/person), he yelled at me because it wasn’t the room he wanted, and then he ghosted me. I’ve never been so happy to receive rejection in my entire life.

Top client booking requests:

Quiet hotel rooms, away from the street and elevator. My clients prioritize rest on trips.
Five star accommodations in Europe with adjoining rooms. A super common family request, but adjoining rooms aren’t all that common in Europe. Luckily, I know the best spots.
Personalized food tours/experiences that highlighted regional cuisine. I booked a lot of street food crawls, Michelin dining experiences, and cooking classes.
Locations that had the opportunity for nature immersion and gorgeous hikes. I had clients hiking all over the damn place, and that makes me so so happy!
High quality, unique spa experiences. Everyone wanted to chill hard, whether it overlooking a lake or getting a massage on the beach.

My predictions for 2025 travel

Trends:

Sustainable splurges. In 2025, I think we will see the rise of destinations and accommodations that balance indulgence with eco-conscious practices. Think lodges that actively restore their surrounding ecosystems or exclusive tours that support local artisans and communities. Goodbye, big chain hotels.
Once-in-a-lifetime, personalized experiences. Next year, demand will rise for personalized, bucket-list adventures with a luxury twist, like hot-air ballooning over Cappadocia paired with a stay in a private cave suite.
Wellness immersion. Wellness travel will also evolve into deeply personalized and transformative journeys. In 2025, expect trips that combine destination appeal with holistic wellness—like retreats offering sleep diagnostics, immersive nature therapy, or even digital detox getaways at remote (yet lavish) locations. Everyone wants an excuse to get off the grid for a few days.
Under-the-radar destinations. Luxury travelers in 2025 are leaning toward destinations that feel exclusive but untapped. Instead of Paris or Rome, they’ll head to places like Slovenia, the Madeira Islands, or Namibia — destinations that offer rich cultural experiences, dramatic landscapes, and a sense of discovery, without the thick crowds and tiktok influencers.
Multi-generational journeys. These will continue to thrive. Families are investing in shared experiences, like renting a private villa in Tuscany or embarking on a safari designed to engage everyone from kids to grandparents. These trips are less about ticking boxes and more about creating memory dividends that span generations.

Locations:

Puglia, Italy. The rustic charm of Puglia’s whitewashed villages, olive groves, and crystal-clear waters will continue to draw luxury travelers looking for a more under-the-radar Italian destination. Expect boutique masserias (farmhouses) turned five-star retreats and private boat charters along the Adriatic.
The Algarve, Portugal. Portugal’s sun-drenched southern coastline offers everything from clifftop resorts to exclusive golf courses. For 2025, luxury travelers will seek villas with panoramic ocean views to rent with friends and personalized food and wine tours.
The Dolomites, Italy. Known for its dramatic peaks and serene valleys, the Dolomites combine adventure with refinement. High-end travelers will flock here for exclusive ski-in/ski-out chalets in winter and luxury hiking lodges in summer, complete with unbelievable dining options.
The Greek Islands. Beyond the usual Mykonos and Santorini (please skip these spots for the love of god), islands like Paros, Naxos, and Milos will continue to shine in 2025.
Thailand. With The White Lotus sparking renewed interest, Thailand is primed for a luxury boom in 2025. Expect high-end travelers to flock to destinations like Phuket and Koh Samui for beachfront pool villas, wellness retreats, and private excursions to hidden islands.

Ok, that’s it for 2024 stats! If there any other numbers/trends you’re curious about that I didn’t elaborate on, or any questions I can answer, drop them in the comments.