The Quiet Gap Between Christmas and New Year Is a Great Time to Start Thinking About Travel

There is a short stretch between Christmas and New Year that I really value. The world feels quieter, conversations slow down, and there is a bit more mental space than usual.

I use that time to think about my own travel. Not to book anything, and not to make decisions, but to notice what I am drawn to and what no longer feels right. Over the years, I have found that this small pause often leads to much better holidays later on.

January is for action. This quieter gap is for clarity.

Why the Quiet Period at the End of the Year Is Ideal for Travel Planning

The quiet days at the end of the year offer rare headspace.

I think it works because you can research without pressure. You’re not trying to get everything nailed down in one sitting. You’re simply giving yourself space to notice what you’re curious about, what feels exciting, and what feels like a hard no.

If you’d like a simple next step, I often suggest spending ten minutes jotting down what you want more of next year. More rest, more nature, more culture, more comfort, more adventure, more time together. That list becomes surprisingly useful later on.

What I’m Noticing People Want More of Now

The way people travel is shifting, and I see it clearly in conversations with clients. There is less appetite for rushing and more interest in how a trip actually feels, day to day.

Where you stay increasingly shapes how a trip feels.

People are paying closer attention to where they stay, not just where they go. Hotels with character. Design-led properties. Quirky, interesting places that add something to the experience rather than simply serving as a base. Comfort still matters, but so does atmosphere and a real sense of place.

There is also a growing desire for travel that feels restorative or enriching rather than relentless. Fewer boxes ticked, more time to settle in. Travel that fits into life, rather than trying to escape it entirely.

None of this is about following trends. It is about recognising when something resonates with you and understanding why.

Using AI as Part of the Thinking Process

Early research helps refine ideas before decisions are made.

A lot of people are using AI tools when they start thinking about travel, and I understand why. It can generate ideas quickly, suggest itineraries, suggest destinations you might not have considered, and even recommend hotels and routes.

AI can do all of that.

What it cannot do consistently is get things right. Plans are often impractical, timings optimistic, details inaccurate, or assumptions wrong. AI also cannot judge what will genuinely suit YOU, how flexible you want to be, or which compromises will matter once you are actually travelling.

I see AI as useful at this stage for refining ideas and sharpening preferences - I use it myself for just that. It can help you work out what you like the sound of and what you definitely do not. Where it falls short is turning those ideas into a trip that works smoothly in the real world. It does not know you.

This Is a Good Time to Notice Patterns

The days between Christmas and New Year are ideal for gentle research. Reading articles, saving ideas, and noticing what keeps catching your attention.

Are you drawn to calm rather than busy itineraries? To smaller places rather than headline destinations? To hotels that feel thoughtful and well-designed rather than grand. To travel that allows for unstructured time as well as planned moments.

• What do I want my days to feel like?
• How much movement is enjoyable, and how much is too much?
• What matters more this time: comfort, design, location, or privacy?
• Do I want to explore independently, or have more taken care of?

Those details shape a holiday far more than most people realise.

Why January Is When Experience Makes a Difference

Once January arrives, ideas start turning into plans. Availability matters more. Flights firm up. The most interesting hotels and distinctive stays begin to book out, often earlier than people expect.

This is where I come in.

I take the thinking you have already done and help turn it into something that works. I sense-check ideas, flag where expectations might not match reality, and refine the details so the trip feels balanced and personal. I look at how everything fits together, not just how it looks on paper.

AI can generate options. It cannot take responsibility for how a holiday actually comes together.

The best holidays often begin with a thoughtful conversation.

A Calm Way to Begin Planning

If you use this quiet time simply to understand what you want a little more clearly, you are already doing something valuable. There is no rush to decide everything now.

When you are ready to move from ideas to action, that is when a proper conversation helps most.

If you would like to talk through what you have been researching, whether that is destinations, hotels, or just a sense that you want something different from your next trip, I am always happy to help. The best holidays usually start long before anything is booked.

If it helps, you might also like my Why Book With Me page for a feel of how I work, and my approach to Responsible Travel.