Cycling Travel Trends for 2024
2023 was a year. Dubbed ‘The Year of Revenge Travel’ we are happy to welcome a calmer 2024. Rushed and hurried, do-it-all, see-it-all, post-covid travel is well in the rearview and many of the travel trends for 2024 align perfectly with BICI ITALIA. What are the cycling travel trends for 2024? We asked our travel planning associates what they expect in the new year, here is what they predict:
Slow Your Roll
Cycling adventures will be in high demand as people want to explore a destination by experiencing nature, scenic views not seen on main roads and hidden landscapes reachable only by bike. But unlike years past, gone are the days of breakneck speed travel and cycling from destination-to-destination tours. Nature experiences meet Slow Travel in 2024. Settling in one home-base destination, cycling local roads at an enjoyable pace, with planned downtime to relax and immerse in local culture is at the center of travel for the new year.
Personalized Experiences
Following the need for a more chillaxed cycling vacation, the call for fully planned, all-inclusive, local experiences not found in a travel guide are high priority. Gone is the acceptance of ‘one size fits all’ group tours, as part of their holiday, cyclists are seeking custom routes on the bike and culture immersion that matches their personal hobbies and interests off the bike. Private journeys into familiar destinations with a deeper exposure to local living is the preference for 2024.
Pretension Stays Home
Wine and food snobs be gone! 2024 gladly accepts a transition from uppity wine tastings and multi-course tasting menus to more casual holidays. Dining with locals at a festival, walking vineyards with wine makers, shopping and preparing meals with local chefs are some of the ways travel is moving to a more humble experience. Goals of eating, drinking and general hospitality will be anchored by the desire to learn about the history of local recipes, ingredients and local activities. Enjoying life as and with a local has an authenticity that will be valued more than cost or prestige. Showing off is out.
Shoulder Season, New Reasons
As weather patterns shift, travel time frames broaden to Spring and Fall. Summer remains popular, but for those that are seeking less people and more relaxation, the Shoulder Season of April, May and September, October will be most appealing in 2024. Weather in Tuscany varies and is hard to predict, but the last few years have seen more sun in the shoulder months than in the past. For cycling, avoiding the immense summer heat and imposing crowds makes for an improved experience.
Early Cyclist Gets The Worm
Early booking ensures a hassle-free trip and is crucial in 2024. Accommodation inventory is tight and last minute booking is not expected to be possible in the new year. Revenge Travel had Italy booked solid in 2023, and the coming year is expected to make bookings harder still. Moreover, most accommodations offer 2023 pricing through January, so booking early is also a cost savings. (See our Pre-Season Booking Special).
All Together Now
Family, extended family and friend group travel is a thing in 2024. Sure, group travel is usually part of annual vacations, but the new year has people expanding to overseas travel that brings their inner circle together in meaningful ways. Making shared memories on a grand scale is the driving force behind this trend. At BICI ITALIA, we have always been private and custom, primarily to be non-cyclist inclusive. We have experiences for every age and ensure everyone has an itinerary just for them. Cyclists can push pedals as long as they want while family and friends enjoy their own experiences. Everyone regroups to enjoy the balance of their day and night together.
Concierge For The Win
Our lives are busier than ever and we are just learning the importance of balancing work, play and personal care. Younger generations are leading the way back to using travel planners and local guides to help ensure relaxing travel. Taking the pressure off of trip planning, whether for the weekend or extended holiday, 2024 allows us to take back hours of travel planning and deposit that time into our wellness banks by using professional travel help or tours.
Pedal With Ease
Even experienced cyclists are finding the value in e-bikes. A trend we saw coming via our 2023 clients is e-bikes as equalizers. Use of e-bikes make difficult routes enjoyable and allows cycling friends of varying ability to comfortably share their cycling experience. While we do not recommend 100% non-cyclists jumping on an e-bike for the first time on holiday, these bikes are helping to bridge gaps for hardcore cyclists and hobby cyclists creating deeply meaningful memories for family and friends.
Retreats To The Rescue
Already mentioned as a core theme for 2024 is wellness. While ‘Retreat Travel’ is not new in 2024, it is entering the new year in a more accessible way. All-Inclusive pampering holidays are the norm and organized, conscious, mind and body care will be offered by resorts and accommodations as a general rule. At BICI ITALIA, we have an indoor heated pool with jacuzzi with its own recliner-lined terrace, sauna and more, reserved daily for our clients’ private use. We offer yoga, meditation, massage and other specialized wellness activities to rejuvenate after cycling. We offer similar private wellness experiences in Abruzzo as well. The last few years we have offered a Womens’ Cycling Retreat and are pleased to continue this trip in our yearly offering.
2024 is here, and we are here for it! Call us ahead of our time, but all of the above are central to our passions. At BICI ITALIA, with a travel concierge and a pro cyclist who live in Italy leading the way; we remain client-focused, private, custom and local. Hassle-free, unpretentious, concierge, unpack once and done, ‘your trip your way’ have always been buzzwords describing our tours. Whether these 2024 travel trends resonate with you or not, we are here to help you craft your ideal cycling holiday - solo or with your most important people.
Visit our tours and packages to learn more. Ready to book a cycling holiday with non-cycling family and friends? Let’s do it! Want to set up an exploratory call? Let us know! Have your own cycling trend you want us to incorporate in your custom travel? We are here to help!