Munich – November 03, 2026 -- German travelers planning for 2027 want to book by mood, drop the extras they won't use and, in some cases, hand their inbox to an AI agent while they are away, according to Booking.com's latest forecast.
It is the eleventh edition of the annual forecast. It draws on a survey of German travelers and on insights from the industry. For its 30th anniversary, the company also added input from its own travel and technology experts, who identified nine trends.
76% of German travelers would pick a destination by feeling first
Three-quarters of respondents would choose a trip mainly by how they want to feel, not where they want to go. Some 55% would use a search tool that suggests destinations based on their mood. Gen Z leads here: 70% of German Gen Z travelers would share wearable and smartphone data with a travel provider to personalize a trip, compared with 30% of baby boomers.
60% want packages that let them skip what they won't use
Six in ten Germans would like to deselect services they probably won't use, such as an open bar or a buffet. Another 44% would factor their eating habits into their choice of accommodation or destination. And 58% say a health, physical or lifestyle change has influenced where they go or what they do on trips in recent years.
62% are open to a trip far outside their comfort zone
For 24%, part of the appeal is surprising friends and family with their choice. Meanwhile, 22% say a past trip felt too ordinary to share on social media.
Budgets now decide who joins the trip
Almost a third (31%) of German travelers have reconsidered whom to travel with because of different spending habits. Some 39% have experienced tension on a trip over diverging spending expectations, and 22% have deliberately left someone out of a travel group. Among German parents, 41% could imagine traveling without their children to spend more on themselves.
47% are interested in paranormal travel experiences
Ghost stories and encounters with the supernatural are drawing interest. In the survey, 34% would seek an experience in hopes of communicating with someone on the "other side," and 35% are curious about experiences exploring the "afterlife."
44% would let an AI agent handle their work during vacation
Nearly half (48%) say thoughts of returning to work cloud their last vacation day, and 23% bring a laptop to keep an eye on email. Beyond the 44% open to an AI agent, 30% could imagine letting AI manage email and administrative tasks, and 26% would trust it to brief them on everything they missed.
55% of solo travelers made lasting friendships through shared sport
Among those who have traveled alone, 55% say group sports or challenges produced lasting friendships. Some 45% of travelers would be interested in joining a community of like-minded people on the road, and 35% of German solo travelers want trips built around fitness or sporting events.
83% would take a long-haul flight if they were guaranteed to arrive rested
On board, 30% want food, drink and caffeine guidance that supports better sleep. Another 17% are interested in skincare kits, 14% in lighting designed to reduce jet lag, and 22% would prefer a designated child-free quiet zone.
