A laid back beach town on Sri Lanka’s southern coast is quickly becoming one of the most talked about destinations for 2026. According to HomeToGo ’s newly released 2026 Travel Trends Forecast , Weligama tops the list in the category “The Seaside Slowdown: Restorative beach retreats in far away coastal locales,” with a 223% increase in searches over the past year.
Weligama is best known for its beginner friendly surf breaks and palm-lined beaches . Visitors can spend mornings learning to surf, watching stilt fishermen along the coast, or taking a short boat trip to spot blue whales and dolphins during the migration season. Yoga studios, beachfront massages, and open air restaurants serving fresh seafood and Sri Lankan curries add to the town’s slow, wellness focused rhythm.
Affordability is another big draw. Weligama’s median nightly price per person sits at just $16.33, making it an appealing long haul escape for travelers who want more time abroad without overspending. It also feels less crowded than nearby hotspots, offering a more relaxed alternative to busier beach towns.
Weligama isn’t the only destination catching travelers’ attention. HomeToGo’s list also includes Flic en Flac in Mauritius, Pulau Perhentian in Malaysia, Tropea in Italy, Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico, and Hout Bay in South Africa.
The broader survey shows travel demand continues to climb. 76% of U.S. travelers plan to take a vacation in 2026, with 43% already having at least one trip booked. More than a quarter say they are planning longer or more extravagant breaks, and 57% expect to spend more on travel than they did in 2025.
At the same time, value still matters. Price remains the top factor for 52% of travelers, and 68% are open to traveling during less busy seasons to save money and avoid crowds. Nearly one in three, or 27%, say they are actively seeking hidden gems.
“2026 seems set to be a mammoth year for travel,” said Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo spokesperson and travel expert. “Travelers are looking for affordable, under the radar destinations that still feel exciting and restorative, and places like Weligama fit that perfectly.”
Dreaming of escaping to a private island in the Maldives? For a cool $100,000, you can now have an entire island to yourself, complete with luxury accommodations and some of the world’s most spectacular coral reefs.
V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection has introduced an exclusive island buyout experience, allowing guests to reserve the entire resort for a minimum three-night stay. Located in the South Ari Atoll, the tiny island spans less than four acres and is accessible via a 30-minute seaplane ride from Malé.
Twenty years after my first visit, I went back to Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. Most national parks celebrate what nature built. This one celebrates what people built more than 700 years ago, in stone, beneath the overhanging cliffs.
The setting helps. The name is Spanish for “green table,” and the park is a forested plateau above the Four Corners, cut by deep canyons with mountains in the distance. But scenery isn’t the reason to come. At most historic sites, you have to imagine what once stood there. Here, entire villages are still tucked under enormous rock alcoves.
Austin is a city that really wants you to leave your hotel. There’s live music spilling out of every other doorway, a brisket line with your name on it, and a whole street of bungalow bars on Rainey begging for your attention. So naturally, on my most recent trip, my friend and I did the opposite. We checked into Thompson Austin, by Hyatt, and treated it less like a home base and more like a destination.
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