From Rawdogging To Dark Tourism: The Quirkiest Travel Trends of 2024

2024 was a wild ride for travellers who tossed the rulebook out the airplane window. This year, travel trends were less about five-star stays and more about embracing the weird, the bold, and the unexpected. From doing nothing on flights to visiting macabre destinations, here are the quirkiest ways people travelled this year!

Rawdogging

We all have our own ways of dealing with boredom on a long-haul flight. Most of them involve staring into a screen till sleep takes over. But a new travel trend is seeing men do what is almost ‘impossible’ in the age of phones- do nothing on flight. Coined “rawdogging” by its participants, the only exception to the no-screen, no-headphones approach is looking at the in-flight map for the entirety of a long-haul flight. Some took it to the extreme, refusing water, snacks, or even blankets. It’s minimalist flying in its most hardcore form – just you and the bare essentials.

Dark Tourism

Dark tourism, a term coined for travel to sites associated with death, tragedy, or the macabre, has become an increasingly controversial topic, and made its way to India in the aftermath of the landslides in Wayanad. From battlefields and concentration camps to disaster zones and crime scenes, these places attract visitors seeking to confront their mortality, learn from history, or simply experience the extraordinary. This trend has given rise to a new breed of travel shows, like Chernobyl and The Dark Tourist, that explore these dark destinations, offering viewers a glimpse into the world of dark tourism.

Sleep Divorce

Turns out, lovebirds might sleep better apart! The quirky new travel trend of “sleep divorce” had couples rethinking their vacation zzz’s. According to Hilton’s 2025 Trends study, 63% of travellers admit they snooze best solo, with 37% secretly dreaming of separate beds from their partners while away. And parents? Three out of four would gladly ditch the kids for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Sleep Tourism

Forget sightseeing—2024 travellers just wanted to catch some Zs. Hotels rolled out sleep-enhancement packages with noise-proof rooms, lavender-scented pillows, and even “sleep concierges.” Properties like Six Senses, Ananda in the Himalayas, and SwaSwara in Gokarna offer sleep programs with personalised assessments, Ayurvedic therapies, yoga, and relaxation techniques to improve your sleep quality and overall routine.