With the holidays behind us, avid travelers are focusing on one thing and one thing only: Where to travel this year. The most dedicated probably already have their trips booked, but the more thorough are still doing research.
According to travel expert Samantha Brown, the answer isn’t about chasing viral TikTok hotels, but about finding places that deliver meaning, beauty, and connection without excessive price tags.
“It’s wanderlust-meets-value-seeker,” Brown says of how people are approaching travel right now. “We’re all going to be seeking value no matter what our price point is.” Inflation, rising costs, and a collective desire for less stress have shifted priorities, she explains, prompting travelers to seek destinations that feel enriching and memorable, rather than overhyped or overpriced.
This philosophy has guided Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, the two-time Emmy Award-winning PBS series now in its ninth season. The show highlights destinations with soul and unique character. “Those places that maybe aren’t the five-star resort,” Brown says, “but still give us that sense of romance or discovery...that’s what people are actively seeking out.”
Season 9 is particularly noteworthy as Brown completes her multi-year journey along historic Route 66, coinciding with the road’s 100th anniversary. The new episodes follow the route through New Mexico, Arizona, and California, providing a nostalgic yet grounded look at the communities that shaped American identity.
With 2026 outstretched in front of us, Brown’s travel picks reflect what she believes travelers want most right now: trips that feel doable, rewarding, and transformative. From American road trips to overlooked cities and well-timed international travel, these are the journeys she recommends.
2026 travel trends, according to Samantha Brown
Take the long way (just not all of it): Route 66
If you’re craving a reset, Brown believes a classic American road trip still delivers one of the most powerful travel experiences. The key is editing it to fit your life. You don’t need weeks or thousands of miles to feel the magic of Route 66 — just a thoughtfully chosen stretch.
“I just completed the entire Route 66, and it was absolutely life-changing,” Brown says. “If you start in Albuquerque and fly out of Los Angeles, you have this three-state, mega-packed itinerary of early Americana, amazing history, great people, local shops, little roadside inns, and stops.”
Her advice mirrors how many travelers are thinking about 2026. According to a travel trends report released by Hilton, road trips are top of mind for both U.S. and international travelers. Over 70 percent of Americans expect to drive on their next vacation, and 76 percent of global car travelers say their next trip will involve driving for one simple reason: flexibility. Behind-the-wheelers are drawn to the freedom to change plans on a whim, linger longer in places they love, and take detours that aren’t dictated by boarding times or gate changes.
For Brown, road trips are a reminder that adventure doesn’t have to be exotic to make a mark; it just has to slow you down enough to notice the people and stories along the way.
Lean into romance: San Antonio, Texas
Not every whimsical getaway requires passports or sky-high hotel rates. Brown believes San Antonio hits a sweet spot many travelers are craving right now: beauty, culture, and the ability to truly slow down. As travel becomes less about checking boxes and more about restoring energy, she’s drawn to destinations that feel rewarding without feeling demanding.
“You’ve got the River Walk, the missions, great food, and a laid-back atmosphere,” says Brown. “It’s easy to fly into, and you’re right near Texas Hill Country, where you can do a wine tour.”
That sense of itinerary simplicity is increasingly appealing as travelers prioritize rest and recharge over nonstop sightseeing. As travel trends this year point toward quieter, more restorative experiences, San Antonio stands out for what it doesn’t demand. There’s nothing particularly restful about waiting in long museum lines or scrambling to secure restaurant reservations months in advance. In San Antonio, the pace is gentler. You can wander without feeling like you’re competing for space or time. For Brown, that’s what makes the destination feel so rewarding. You can fill your days with culture and history, or do very little at all, entirely on your own terms.
Make history personal: Williamsburg, Virginia
As the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary this July, Brown recommends a revisit to America’s origins. If you were dragged there as a kid, we promise it will be more exciting as a curious, contemplative adult. “Williamsburg, along with Jamestown and Yorktown, is this trifecta of early American colonial roots,” she says. “How did we get here? It’s an amazing adult classroom.”
Rather than feeling like a school field trip, Brown describes the experience as grounding, reflective, and a reminder of how travel can deepen understanding, not just offer escape.
Travel smarter, not later: Europe in winter
If Europe's been sitting on your vision board for years, Brown says this is the year to finally book it, just not during peak season. “If it’s been your dream to go to Vienna or Paris or Barcelona, January and February are your prime months,” she explains. “You’ll see a third of the cost, no crowds, and you’re skipping the high prices.”
The weather may require a heavier puffer, but the payoff is quiet streets, shorter lines, and lower prices. And for travelers eyeing late 2026 trips, there’s still plenty of time to plan strategically. Booking during known travel “dead weeks” — such as the week after Thanksgiving and the first two weeks of December — can help lock in more affordable fares (often 30 to 50 percent off.)
Rethink popular destinations from the inside out: Costa Rica
Brown isn’t suggesting travelers abandon beloved destinations. Instead, she encourages experiencing them differently. “The trend we’re seeing is people departing from the coasts and going into the mountains and volcanoes,” she says of Costa Rica. “Same country, same beauty...just a different, less crowded view.”
It’s a shift toward depth over highlights, and a way to reconnect with places that may have felt overrun in recent years.
Choose ease on purpose: Tampa, Florida
Sometimes the best trips aren’t about being wowed. They’re about feeling relaxed the moment you arrive, which is why Brown keeps coming back to Tampa.
“I love Tampa. It’s not Miami crazy, it’s not super expensive, and it has what I consider the best airport in the United States,” she says. “It’s just an enjoyable, easy place, and ease of use really matters right now.”
In a year when uncertainty continues to shape travel decisions, destinations that feel manageable are gaining appeal. The New York Times’ 2026 travel outlook notes that travelers are increasingly factoring unpredictability into their plans, from fluctuating prices to global events. Tampa’s appeal lies in its simplicity: it’s domestic, effortless to navigate, and refreshingly low-stakes, the kind of place where you can book a trip without contingency plans layered on top of contingency plans. You arrive, settle in quickly, and actually enjoy yourself, without the sense that you’re constantly managing the trip instead of living it.
For Brown, the common thread running through her 2026 picks isn’t geography, it’s intention. “That sense of newness, that sense of a fresh start that travel gives you,” Brown says, “no matter where you’re going or how far, is what makes a trip truly meaningful.”
