Recently updated on December 4th, 2023 at 03:13 pm
Everyone has those life moments you’ll never forget. Maybe it’s the day you got married, or had your first child, or moved to a new country. Maybe it was your first holiday or an amazing festival. These are the moments that make our lives so very special… And according to Google, we’re going to be travelling more for these big “life moments” in 2022. From proposals and birthdays to sabbaticals and bucket list trips, we take a look at the best life-changing travel moments and experiences.
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Meaningful travel – Google’s 2022 travel trends
New research from Google has revealed that meaningful travel with a rise in “life moments” is one of the key travel trends we’ll see in 2022, as the travel industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. After lockdowns and restrictions saw countless events postponed or cancelled, the meaningful travel trend is all about travelling for those big “life moments” that people have had to put on hold due to the pandemic.
A survey shows that 56% of Americans are likely to celebrate a “life moment” in 2022, such as a proposal, a wedding, a new job, a move, or a retirement. Of that group, 78% are considering travelling for these life moments.
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Since travel has been put on hold for so long, we’ve all had plenty of time to plan out these trips – and 2022 is becoming the year to make it happen. More travellers are wanting to take these important and meaningful trips now instead of waiting for later. That means we’re more likely to see people taking those once-in-a-lifetime bucket list trips and holidays they’ve been dreaming about for a long time.
So what are these big life moments that we love to travel for? We take a look at the travel experiences and life moments that are back for 2022…
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Marriage proposals
While some couples like to keep their marriage proposal local and intimate, others search the world for the perfect spot to declare their undying love. Many couples pick a romantic holiday as the perfect time to propose and there are so many incredible places to do it.
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Whether you’re planning to pop the question in romantic cities like Paris, London or Rome, or get down on one knee in a natural paradise like the Greek Islands, the Canadian Rockies or the Grand Canyon, 2022 is the year to do it.
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Weddings and honeymoons
Whether you’re dreaming of a destination wedding, or you’re waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted so you can travel to a loved one’s wedding – it’s time to start planning for a wedding in 2022.
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And don’t forget the honeymoon (arguably the best part of any wedding). Whether you’re planning to go on safari in Kenya, wine tasting in Italy, or island hopping in Thailand, honeymoons are one of the best travel life moments you can get. And if you’re already married? 2022 is the perfect year to take a trip to celebrate your wedding anniversary.
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Milestone birthdays
Whether you’re turning 21 or 80, many people love to celebrate their big birthdays with a special trip. You might want to have those special travel experiences you’ve been dreaming about for a while, or maybe it’s time to let loose and party in cities like Las Vegas or Barcelona. Whatever you do, it’s time to start planning your birthday travel life moment for 2022.
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Sabbaticals
Almost everyone is in need of a getaway after enduring the pandemic. And 2022 is the perfect year to take a sabbatical and get that much-needed break. Whether you’ve just graduated from school or you’re looking to take an ‘adult gap year’ and a career break, a sabbatical is all about new travel experiences you don’t usually have time for. Whether you want to go on a long journey to far-off places like Australia or Argentina, or you’re looking to get immersed in a new culture in India or Vietnam, 2022 is the year to take a sabbatical.
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Retirement
For many people, retirement is synonymous with travel. If you’ve got plans to retire in 2022, you’ve probably thought about those big travel life moments you’d like to experience in your golden years.
Ever dreamed of driving along the Amalfi Coast of Italy? Or going on safari in Namibia? Maybe you’d like to sail around the islands of Zanzibar or explore the streets of San Francisco. You’ve worked hard for decades and waited your entire life for this… And 2022 is the year to do the things you’ve always dreamed of.
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Bucket list travel experiences
You’ve had plenty of time to dream up your perfect bucket list… And 2022 is the year to make it a reality. We’ve all been itching to get out there, so why not go big with your ultimate bucket list trip.
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Whether you want to see the Great Pyramids in Egypt, explore the Sahara Desert in Morocco, or hit the streets of New York, travel in 2022 is going to be all about those ‘pinch me’ life moments.
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Festivals and events
When you think of those big travel life moments, you often think of an amazing festival or event. From celebrating Diwali in India or the Lunar New Year in China, to the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro or the Mardis Gras in New Orleans, these are the travel experiences that we cherish forever.
Since countless events were postponed in the past years due to the pandemic, we’ve all missed out on a lot… But with 2022 looking set to be the year of the comeback, we’re all getting excited to make new travel memories and celebrate those moments that make life so special.
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Have you had any life-changing travel moments? Let us know in the comments below…