So much has happened in the world of travel over the past couple of years. Much of it, frankly, we would much rather forget, like the Covid shutdown, the attendant massive layoffs, and then the ensuing staffing shortage when travel resumed. Both travelers and travel professionals could sure use something to look forward to.

But thankfully we seem to be emerging from the chaos, and looking forward to what lies ahead on the travel landscape. Thankfully, there’s plenty, in particular, exciting developments regarding security, sustainability, and passengers’ rights

Here’s our breakdown of the hottest travel trends for 2023.

TREND #1 – European travel will be easier

One of the most promising developments in European travel has been the establishment of the Schengen Area, the largest visa-free travel zone in the world. The Schengen Area is roughly, although not completely, synonymous with the EU, and comprises 26 European countries that have opened their borders to allow free travel among the various independent states. The area covers most of Europe — although not the U.K. or Ireland — and will soon include Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Croatia. Non-EU countries Norway, Iceland, Switzerland are also part of the area. Why “Schengen”? Well, quite simply, Schengen is the name of Luxembourg town where France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed to first Schengen Agreement in 1985.

Perhaps the most exciting new development in the EU travel experience is the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. ETIAS will basically be an EU version of the U.S. electronic travel authorization system, providing e-visas for travelers from outside the EU and Schengen Areas. ETIAS users will need to be fingerprinted and pay a nominal fee (€7, or about $8) to visit EU countries. They also need to pass a security screening, i.e. have no demonstrated history of being a threat to EU security. Travelers to Europe will need to obtain an approved ETIAS online prior to their departure, beginning in November 2023, delayed from May 2023.

TREND #2 – Real ID will definitely go into effect. (Oh, no, wait…)

Well, Real ID was supposed to become a thing as of the spring of 2023. But in December 2022, federal authorities delayed the official rollout to 2025 because many states didn’t have their administrative act together. The whole process has been long and rather tortuous. In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act of 2005 in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. Travelers will now be required to have Real ID before they can board a plane. Real ID was intended to go into effect in 2008, but that date has been continually pushed back, and will now — if we’re lucky — go into effect a full 20 years after the fact.

Real ID will essentially be a turbo-charged version or your standard driver’s license and government-issued IDs. The Real ID designation will, confusingly, vary by state. Real IDs will have a star in some states, or an American Flag in others. Some states haven’t decided yet. To obtain a Real ID designation, you’ll need to submit to stricter standards of verification of personal information — many states are requiring birth certificates or unexpired passports. The IDs will also be part of an electronic database that all U.S. states will share.

So, come 2025, we will all need to have a Real ID to travel. Definitely. Maybe. Who knows? Stay tuned.

TREND #3 – Disabled passengers will know their rights

This one isn’t exactly new as newly codified. The general Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights has been around since 1999. It covers such important aspects of travel as knowing the full cost of your ticket, including fees for baggage, meals, changes, cancellations, and advanced or upgraded seating. The passenger Bill of Rights also contains provisions regarding travelers getting bumped from a flight and losing their baggage, as well as the process for filing complaints.

The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights has been around since 1986, but the Department of Transportation recently issued a consolidated version to succinctly clarify what the Bill of Rights covers. The provisions include the right to be treated with dignity and respect; to receive information about an airlines services, capabilities, and limitations for disabled passengers; and to receive that information in an accessible format. The Bill of Rights also specifies the right to accessible airport facilities, the right to assistance at airports and on aircraft, the right to travel with an assistive device or service animal, the right to seating accommodations and accessible aircraft features, and the right to resolve a disability-related issue.

The Bill of Rights for disabled passengers applies to all airlines operating out of U.S. airports, whether U.S.-based or not. The problem is, airlines and airports have been having some trouble fully accommodating passengers with disabilities. The news is full of reports of lost or broken wheelchairs, travelers who have been poorly treated, and staff members who are insufficiently trained about how to accommodate different disabilities. Again, we can go back and blame this on the continuing staffing shortage, but it also comes down to insufficient accountability and a lack of transparency and the part of both airlines and airports.

So, what’s new for 2023? Well, this could be the year that airports and airlines finally get their act together. Or not.

TREND #4 – Flying taxis will take off (Get it?)

Airlines finally seem to be taking sustainability seriously. Many are funding or very closely watching developments in electrically powered aircraft, also known as electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or eVTOLs. As the name implies, these “vertical takeoff” craft will be more like helicopters than conventional planes. And eVTOLs, as the name also implies, will be powered entirely by electricity, which is why they’re such a big deal right now in aviation circles. Innumerable startups around the world are working on their own eVTOL models, and many have working “air taxi” prototypes ready for takeoff, captain.

So what’s the hold up? In short, regulations and infrastructure. Think about the changes that need to occur to accommodate more electric cars on the road: all the charging stations that need to crop up around the landscape to make this a reality. The same goes for eVTOLs. Before eVTOLs can really be a thing, there will need to be enormous investments in infrastructure. And there’s bound to be a lot of wrangling as to who is going to pay for what: private companies or municipal governments.

Another obstacle comes from waiting for regulatory agencies to develop standards for vehicles that really have no current equivalent. These eVTOLs may look like helicopters, but they’re battery powered, and are therefore a completely different beast in terms of their inner workings. And if, as many plan, these vehicles are going to become ubiquitous the the skies of major cities like New York City and Los Angeles, the FAA is going to need to develop a new set of rules to govern eVTOL use and operation.

So will there “air taxis” in 2023? Well, a lot of pieces would suddenly need to fall into place pretty darned quickly for this to happen. But, hey, any thing is possible, right?

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TREND #5 – Passengers will seek authenticity

Another major shift in travel is coming from what travelers want to get out of the experience. Increasingly, people are looking for travel experiences that are more authentic, i.e. that give tourists a deeper understanding of the people culture, and history of their destinations.

Authentic travel has a number of essential features. One is to make an effort to learn and speak the local language. Thankfully, translation apps have made this a whole lot easier. Authentic travelers also try to use local public transportation, eat at locally owned establishments, and show a genuine interest in the local people and their culture. Again, apps can be very helpful here, including Meetup to find area events and Couchsurfing to find a place to crash with the locals. Folks are even using Tinder as a way to just meet locals, not necessarily for any romantic entanglements, just to socialize. (And if romance happens to blossom? Well, hey…).

Authentic travel is closely related to another recent trend, which is slow travel. In fact, the two are part and parcel to each other. Slow travel means you stay longer in one destination rather than jetting from place to place. Think of it as the opposite of “checklist travel,” in which travelers try to see as much as possible, crossing off key tourist sites, and leaving themselves no closer to understanding the actual culture of a place than when they started.

Remote work has added an extra layer of feasibility to authentic and slow travel. These days, you can literally work from wherever you like in a surprisingly large number of jobs. Why not take advantage of the emerging world of remote work and take on a more itinerant lifestyle. Hey, it’s all the rage.

Is there a travel trend that you think we missed? Tell us about it in the comments below!