Staycations 2025: Hot trends in a cool climate
Armagh Planetarium, a wonderful family-friendly attraction for anyone who'd like to learn more about the skies above us.
Cometh the new tourism season, cometh the latest surge of the new travels trends.
Over the past number of years, Irish tourists have seen the rise of myriad holiday habits, from staycations and haycations (that’s a staycation on a farm, no less) to bleisure trips and digitals detoxes.
However, beyond the buzzwords and TikTok-friendly fads, these concepts can reflect real market shifts in not only where we are taking our holidays but also when we’re traveling and with whom! From luxury travel for 20-somethings to summer night astrotourism, here are six trends which may well steer your travels this spring and summer…
Think of a luxury stay in Ireland, and you may conjure up an image of a plush suite in one of the country’s finest grand dame hotels or sinking into a sumptuous four-poster bed in an iconic luxury castle. But the demographics of high-end travel are changing in Ireland, and so are their demands.
Pinterest-perfect luxury aesthetics are in — and stays that will transcend to an Instagram feed are a key criterion for many travellers, particularly Gen X and Millennials.
However, consumers are seeking the substance to back up the style, too and perhaps the most premium player to answer that call now are the Woodlands Suites, a collection of supremely stylish escapes at The Montenotte Hotel in Cork City.
Enjoying its first spring season in 2025, the accommodations brings a fresh dimension to luxury getaways in Ireland, with soothing Japandi (a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian inspired) interiors. Local is in demand too so expect embellishments of Irish textures and touches, from cozy Donegal throws to a welcome carafe of Jameson whiskey. If that all isn’t luxury enough, guests are also spoiled with a private Champagne check-out, complimentary sundowners and a gourmet breakfast which is as tasty as it is aesthetic.
Speaking of social media feeds, you, like me, may have seen your grid recently filled with another buzzword: #wholesome. The trending hashtag has been stitched to everything from baking to gardening, but when it comes to travelling, it tends to convey a low-octane, pared-back getaway.
There’s no prescribed formula for a wholesome weekend, but when it comes to travel, access to the great outdoors, hearty food and a cozy base to soak it all up seem to be the ultimate trifecta for the perfect break.
Being in Ireland, we’re spoiled with myriad options for wholesome weekend locations—from surfing breaks in Sligo to hiking in the often overlooked Galtee Mountains, which straddle the borders of Tipperary, Limerick, and Cork. Ciara O’Brien, opened Barnahown Guesthouse, just outside Mitchelstown last year, and has identified and invested in the potential for creating a wonderful cozy base for lovers of the outdoors. Earthy interiors showcasing local suppliers, hearty breakfasts showcasing local products, and views showcasing some of Munster’s most picturesque peaks is very much the vibe here.
For a good decade, FOMO (the fear of missing out) has been a major driver in the travel market, spurring tourists to live their best travel life and fill their global bucket lists to the brim. Now, the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) is the latest evolution. Lesser-visited destinations — lacking the usual must-visit attractions and low on noise and drama pollution — have become top qualifiers for JOMO-worthy spots, where travellers feel less pressure to check-off an itinerary checklist.
The Swedish capital of Stockholm was voted the world’s best city for embracing this trend and naming Ireland’s top JOMO destination might be a tricky (and possibly controversial) task, but for an unplugged, serene break, I’d rate a Shannon Cruise as one of the best possible contenders. Imagine long, languid days on the river mooring up at charming towns from Enniskillen to Carrick-on-Shannon. You’ll be utterly delighted you’re nowhere else.
Summertime is always a peak season to embrace the Irish language with Gaeltacht regions swelling with students every year. But the language is going through a revival, with artists like Kneecap bringing Irish to a whole new audience. How often do you hear Irish rap while tuned into BBC Radio after all? With that comes a growing grá for Irish language experiences.
Did you know that Belfast has its own Gaeltacht Quarter mar shampla? Located on the Falls Road, it features the Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich where you enjoy visual arts exhibitions between ordering your flat white as Gaeilge. For an even more immersive experience, why not invest in a five-day Irish language course with Coláiste Gaeilge Inis Meáin, surely one of the most spectacular locations in the country to take your Irish to the next léibhéal!
Night tourism is shooting for the stars around the world — and in our own airspace. From dark sky preserves to planet spotting or even observing the Aurora Borealis, Ireland’s latitude and lack of light pollution make it a great spot to take in some epic astrological action. With Ireland’s naturally low levels of light pollution, dark sky preserves provide the perfect setting for stargazing. The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve on the Iveragh Peninsula is the first of its kind in Ireland; visitors can go on a guided tour in the area or camp under the stars, this weekend (Mar 27-30) even sees the reserve’s annual dark skies festival taking place!
For an even closer look at the cosmos, the OM Observatory in Tyrone is a wonderful tourist centre where you can learn more about the night skies, you can even stay overnight in an A-frame cabin at Sperrinview Glamping, allowing you to stargaze while staying toasty inside. Just next door in Co. Armagh, the Armagh Planetarium (which sits beside the historic and still-functioning Observatory) is another fantastic, family-friendly attraction to learn more about the skies above us.
Finally, for a different kind of night-time spectacle, enjoy a kayaking evening on Lough Hyne in West Cork, one of the best places in Ireland to witness bioluminescence. Here, plankton in the water react to clear night skies, creating a twinkling glow in the dark waters. You can actually experience the phenomenon right across Ireland’s coasts from now until October. Keep an eye out during any night swimming!
Irish customers are continuing to become increasingly discerning when it comes to genuine, sustainable efforts when they travel nowadays. They want to experience the locality on a plate — whether they’re visiting Cork or Cavan — and appreciate touches from locally sourced toiletries to locally roasted coffee. The Armada Hotel in County Clare is one of Ireland’s leading sustainability-focused hotels and the only one in the county to have B Corp certification.
This globally recognised accolade acknowledges businesses committed to positively benefitting both the planet and the local community. In practice, that means everything from a wonderful locally-focused menu to banning plastic straws and eliminating plastic wrap on their in-room slippers. They’ve also removed bottled water from rooms, instead installing water stations on each corridor. A pretty pioneering move … perhaps more hotels will start to flow in this direction!
