Airbnb recently released its 2026 travel trends predictions, forecasting what kinds of trips people will prioritize this year — and we’re sharing how you can do it from Lakeland.
We’ve paired each prediction with travel recommendations that are easy to get to from Swan City + some pro tips. We ended things with our pitch for traveling to Lakeland; feel free to share with your cross-country friends who never visit.
Quick trips
The predicted trend: Quick, 1-2 day trips to “vibrant cities filled with music, dance, historic sites, and authentic cuisine”
Our recommendation: San Juan, PR. Fly out of Lakeland International Airport on a Wednesday and return on a Saturday when you need a lightning-fast getaway to a beach destination.
The Everglades are gorgeous any time of year, but the National Park Service recommends visiting during the dry season from December to April.
Photo by Charles Patrick Ewing
Touching grass
The predicted trend: National Park travel
Our recommendation: Everglades National Park. Reconnect with nature by exploring 2 million acres of swampland on foot or by airboat. It’s just over a 3-hour drive from Lakeland.
Tourism travel
The predicted trend: Trips coinciding with major cultural, sporting, and music events like the FIFA World Cup + Coachella
Our recommendation: Miami, FL. This bustling metro will serve as a host city for the FIFA World Cup this summer. It will be the place for nightlife and international culture, even if you didn’t score tickets.
Passport vs. pals
The predicted trend: Solo travel heats up, with solo voyagers “uncovering the next wave of up-and-coming hotspots.”
Our recommendation: Key West, FL. Airbnb says this will be one of the year’s hottest solo travel destinations, thanks to its outdoor adventures + fresh food served seaside. It’s one of Editor Connor’s favorite places to visit — you might even make new friends on a Conch Train tour.
Add LAL to your itinerary
Consider this our pitch for why Lakeland should be on everyone’s travel wishlist:
- If you want a “vibrant city,” you’ve found one in Swan City. From historic architecture to exciting places to stay, there’s plenty here for a quick trip.
- Outdoorsy travelers will find plenty to explore here, from America’s top-rated park to the expansive Circle B Bar Reserve.
- Lakeland is home to the high-flying SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo — Florida’s most popular convention of any kind.
- If your guest is traveling solo, Lakeland’s cozy rental homes will make them feel right at home during their stay.
