The Belmond Andean Explorer luxury train. Belmond Some destinations are practically industry infrastructure — St. Barts, Aspen, Cabo, Maui, the Amalfi Coast — an extension of Hollywood wrapped in the pretense of escape. But a certain restlessness is setting in. Entertainment’s most well-traveled are quietly drifting off the familiar circuit, trading it for places where anonymity is still possible and travel is less about spectacle than seclusion.
To understand where Hollywood is going now — and why — The Hollywood Reporter speaks with luxury travel advisers and entertainment-industry insiders about the top trends of 2026:
Related Stories
Lifestyle How Luxury Travel Is Going Overboard for Superyachts
Lifestyle The Big Life in Big Sky Country: What to Do in Montana
The End of “Revenge Travel” From go-go-go to slow-slow-slow. “The biggest shift is that [entertainment clientele] are traveling less but traveling better and with more intentionality. The frenetic energy of post-pandemic revenge travel has completely burned out. Now it’s about genuine disconnection and meaningful experiences, not just ticking boxes or being photographed somewhere enviable. They’re [also] seeking permission to be bored. That sounds odd, but entertainment clients are so overstimulated that they’re craving slowness — long train journeys, multi-day treks, places where there’s nothing to do but be. The new status symbol isn’t the Aman you stayed at; it’s that you were off grid for two weeks and nobody could find you.” — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
“Two years ago, travel was making up for lost time. Now it’s more about embracing time. Our entertainment clients aren’t trying to do more but experience more, so they’re doing longer stays and focusing on whatever destination they’re in.” — Star Lasam, director of entertainment travel services, First in Service Travel
“I had a family spend Christmas in Dominica at Secret Bay, and that trip really highlights a shift I have seen toward low-key travel that actually feels like a break. Dominica is not the flashy Caribbean. There’s no scene, no parade of recognizable faces at the pool bar. It’s dramatic and wild and genuinely unspoiled. They spent the whole trip just absorbing where they were, letting the property take care of them, not constantly on the go trying to check things off a list. They came back completely restored.” — Erica Gray, founder, Spotlight Travel
A private villa at Secret Bay in Dominica. Secret Bay Dominica Caribbean Privacy Is the Point Nothing is more luxurious than going unnoticed.
“The privacy aspect isn’t even a perk anymore — it’s just the baseline requirement. They want things that are limited for them … like the Private Suite at LAX or other hubs, private excursions, private tours of the Louvre after hours — experiences they can enjoy without worrying about being bothered.” — Star Lasam, director of entertainment travel services, First in Service Travel
“One of the things that I have seen in travel is that because of the pandemic, a lot of high-end resorts basically just jacked up the prices because they simply couldn’t accommodate as many guests. And then they found that they were able to maintain the same prices and reduced occupancy and actually make the same if not more money with less stress on the resorts. And a lot of that relates to the K-shaped economy, where basically the upper echelon of society is getting exponentially richer, while the lower end is struggling even more. The wealthier people have more expendable income. They don’t care if a hotel is five times what it used to be. They care that they can go. The Amalfi Coast is through the roof. Greece is through the roof. And these are through the roof in a way that they never have been before, simply because it’s such a finite amount of space. People are willing to pay three, four, five times to go stay at the Belvedere Hotel Mykonos and at Il San Pietro di Positano in Amalfi. And it is because there is value add for peace of mind and privacy.” — Entertainment business manager John McIlwee, founder, J. McIlwee & Associates, Inc.
“People in Hollywood are venturing back to their favorite places religiously right now versus constantly trying out new and unknown destinations. Uncertainty and current world events have triggered this and with all the unknowns in Hollywood right now, everyone wants their familiarity and peace. You still want to be in your comfort zone whether you choose to vacation close by in Laguna Beach or across the world in Madagascar.” — Chuck James, founder, Ascend Artist Representation
A suite at Gundari on the Greek island of Folegandros. Gundari “Clients are moving away from the obvious European hotspots in high season — not just because of crowds and heat, but because discretion has become impossible. St. Barts still has its devotees, but there’s definitely a shift toward places where they won’t be recognized or photographed. Think St. Lucia or St. Vincent and the Grenadines — or Folegandros over Mykonos. What’s interesting is that it’s not just about hiding from fans or the public. They don’t want to run into work colleagues in the same places everyone goes. In practice, this means private villas, avoiding Capri in August entirely, and private guides who understand that confidentiality isn’t just about discretion during the trip but after. The other thing is that they want staff who don’t recognize them or, if they do, genuinely don’t care. That’s one reason Nordic countries are performing so well. There’s a cultural indifference to celebrity that’s incredibly refreshing for these clients. — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
“Think private charters through the Galapagos, early morning access at Machu Picchu, or a fully staffed yacht around the Amalfi Coast. These are iconic destinations, but what matters most is controlling how the experience unfolds and who has access to them while they’re there.” — Edita Sgovio (vp, yachts and villas) and Brianna Chrisopulos (director, ultraluxe product) at Kensington
The Instagram Era Has Peaked Travel is no longer a performance.
“Luxury used to be about being seen at the hottest hotel. Now it’s not being seen unless you want to be seen. It’s also about getting away from the crowds and the influencer stuff. They’re avoiding hyper-exposed party islands, and anywhere that’s highly visible.” — Gen Hershey, founder, Genuine Access Travel
“There’s fatigue with performative travel. The Instagram validation cycle has lost its appeal for this group. They’re not interested in the place everyone else just went. They want the opposite. They want to disappear, often with family, and have experiences that feel genuinely transformative rather than just impressive. And exclusive to them.” — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
“There is a growing frustration with social media culture at traditional ultra-luxury hotels — people who aren’t even guests coming for lunch just to take photos, or booking two-night stays specifically for social content. — Michael Torbiak, founder, M.Domo Travel
The Journey Is Now the Destination By land or by sea, luxury travel is taking on new formats.
“Belmond trains have seen a big uptick, particularly through South America. They’re adding more trains, too, and I think we’ll see more luxury train lines come online over the next few years. Adventure cruises as well as niche luxury cruises are [also] becoming popular. Think Antarctica departing from South America. Explora is a new brand that’s really exploding, and Aman and Four Seasons have launched cruises as well.” — Matthew Lawrence, travel adviser, LuxRally Travel
“I’m booking a lot of yacht charters, as well as the Aman yacht and the Four Seasons Yacht. I feel like I’m doing those all the time.” — Gen Hershey, founder, Genuine Access Travel
The Belmond Andean Explorer train. Belmond An itinerary with andBeyond travels to Antarctica and Chile’s Lake District. Summer sunshine and waves created the hole in this iceberg encountered at sea. andBeyond Where Hollywood Is Going Now Japan, Scandinavia and the new global “It” list.
“Japan is still very hot. For the last five years, it’s definitely been a top destination. There’s absolutely no sign of it slowing down.“ — Star Lasam, director of entertainment travel services, First in Service Travel
“One thing we’re seeing in Japan is skiing. The conditions this year have been phenomenal. Everyone goes to Hokkaido, but Hakuba has become popular. — Andrew Steinberg, luxury travel adviser with Modern Travel LLC
“Scandinavia is having a real moment, specifically Norway. It’s ideal for summer because the weather is pleasant — not too hot — and it isn’t super crowded. Many people who visit Europe every summer have still never been to Scandinavia, so it feels ‘up and coming.’ The private lodges and cruises through the fjords offer a unique, non-commoditized experience compared to the Amalfi Coast or the French Riviera. — Michael Torbiak, founder, M.Domo Travel
A sauna with water views at luxury igloo retreat Isbreen the Glacier in Norway. Katie Farr Photography “Personally, I’ve sort of rediscovered Tulum. It got out of control with the kids and the raves and all the craziness. But there are still a lot of celebrities who go down there. There are places to stay that are very under the radar. There’s one place that has its own helipad. It’s very private and you don’t really want to leave. In Tahiti, experiential kinds of places like The Brando have become very popular. And Portugal is still popular with executives in the business. Discovery Land Company opened a place in Portugal [CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club] a couple years ago, which is very popular with celebrities because they can go and just be themselves. Portugal’s hot.” — Will Ward, founder and managing partner, Fourward Ventures
“New Zealand has been very hot for us — nature is becoming important, and people want to experience these destinations before they’re overdeveloped. Rosewood took over a number of hotels and rebranded them, but they’re still small and charming.” — Andrew Steinberg, luxury travel adviser with Modern Travel LLC
Grand Ocean View Junior Suite at Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand. Courtesy Rosewood Hotels & Resorts “We’re also seeing unexpected demand for the Brazilian Amazon and parts of Central America like Panama’s San Blas Islands, where regenerative travel intersects with genuine remoteness. These clients want to feel like they’re contributing something, but they’re allergic to anything with virtue signaling, as are we. — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
“Nantucket is a huge buzz word now, versus the Hamptons. A lot of L.A. people go to Nantucket. Sun Valley is a little more chic than Aspen — it’s like the new Aspen for West Coast people. Mexico City is where people go for the weekend, versus Vegas or something like that.” — Cory Weiss, luxury real estate broker, Cory Weiss
“Iceland was big years ago, then it quieted down. People are doing Iceland again. If someone asks me for Iceland at a private jet level, I usually send them to Eleven Deplar Farm. It actually started as a sheep farm and is a tiny lodge in the Troll Peninsula with only about 13 rooms, and guests arrive by helicopter. It’s the kind of place where you can heli-ski in the morning, fat bike through the valleys in the afternoon, and soak in a geothermal pool at night without seeing another guest. It’s very cool.” — Gen Hershey, founder, Genuine Access Travel
Scenic helicopter tours are available at Eleven Deplar Farm on Iceland’s Troll Peninsula. Eleven Experience Where Hollywood Is Going Next Slovenia, Taiwan, Oman and other places quietly gaining momentum.
“Slovenia and the Slovenian Alps are quietly becoming the summer answer for clients who want Alpine beauty without the St. Moritz crowd. It’s spectacular, accessible and completely under the radar for this demographic. [Slovenia’s] Lake Bled has some tourism, but move slightly off-piste and you are in territory that feels genuinely undiscovered. The food and wine scene is exceptional, and crucially, there’s no celebrity infrastructure whatsoever.” — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
A dish with edible flowers at three-Michelin-star restaurant Hisa Franko in Kobarid, Slovenia. Ciril Jazbec “Oman feels like where the Maldives was 15 years ago, but with more cultural depth and far less exposure. … Puglia and [other] smaller Mediterranean enclaves that are away from the Saint-Tropez paparazzi circuit. … Bhutan for a spiritual reset. … AlUla, Saudi Arabia, for ultra-curated desert experiences, Aman-level privacy and dramatic landscape—it’s the new ‘If you know, you know.'” — James Harris, luxury real estate broker, Carolwood Estates
Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, a wellness-inclusive luxury resort in Bhutan. Courtesy of Small Luxury Hotels of the World “Canouan is definitely the up-and-coming luxury destination that’s under the radar at the moment. It’s a little island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and it only has three properties, two of those being the Soho House and Mandarin Oriental. It’s a place they can go that’s private, and they can go recharge, but there are still hotels they’re familiar with and that know how to cater to this type of entertainment clientele.” — Star Lasam, director of entertainment travel services, First in Service Travel
“Everybody’s still going to Portugal, and a lot of people are going to Menorca in Spain because [art gallery] Hauser & Wirth opened there. It’s become a destination now. It’s less developed [than Mallorca] and you get incredible value for the same kind of privacy.” — Entertainment business manager John McIlwee, founder, J. McILwee & Associates, Inc.
Palazzo Daniele in Puglia. Matteo Verzini “Taiwan is the most surprising one. It offers something incredibly rare: complete anonymity in a place with serious cultural depth. The food culture rivals far more established Southeast Asian neighbors, but without the tourism infrastructure that’s made Tokyo or Kyoto feel overexposed. It’s bite-sized and easily navigable, which matters when you’re trying to genuinely disconnect.” — Tom Marchant, co-founder, Black Tomato
“Remote areas of Patagonia continue to trend upwards.” — Edita Sgovio (vp, yachts and villas) and Brianna Chrisopulos (director, ultraluxe product) at Kensington
“I have a lot of entertainment clients that want to find these special little places that nobody knows about, which are sometimes really challenging to get to. Malta is one of them.” — Gen Hershey, founder, Genuine Access Travel
This story appears in The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Travel Issue. Click here to read more.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day
Subscribe Sign Up
