Fred. Holidays Launches 2026 [un]packed Trends Campaign Guide Highlighting the Future of Travel

 

Fred. Holidays is kicking off 2026 with the launch of its annual trends campaign guide, bringing together the key insights shaping holidays in 2026 and beyond. The guide reflects growing demand for longer, more immersive journeys – from extended stays that allow travellers to truly connect with a destination, to expedition cruises exploring warmer waters and remote wonders – and will be indispensable to agents as it includes many of the products that their customers will be booking this year.

 

The 44-page Fred. Holidays [un]packed guide features 40 products across five core categories: independent touring, rail holidays, river cruise, cruise and stay, and expedition cruise. The collection builds on insights from 2025 and focuses on what today’s travellers value most.

 

Key findings by category include:

 

Independent touring:

• Europe was the most popular region in 2025, with Spain, France and Italy the top-selling destinations
• Consumers are visiting an average of three cities in one break

 

Rail holidays:

• Rail holidays were the top travel choice in 2025
• The Bernina Express was the most popular rail journey
• Bookings are up 42% year on year

 

River cruise:

• Bookings are up 10% year on year
• Kerala Backwaters upstream and the Lower Mississippi are strong performers
• As GSA for Amadeus River Cruises, Classical Rhine bookings have seen exceptional growth, with demand now more than three times higher

 

Cruise and stay:

• North America is the number one cruise and stay destination
• 15+ nights is the preferred duration
• 90% of cruise and stay bookings are made by the trade

 

Expedition cruise:

• Holidays was appointed GSA for National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions in September 2024
• The Galapagos is the stand out expedition destination, with bookings rising at an exception pace
• The average expedition cruise booking is between nine and 11 nights

 

Julie Berry, Managing Director of Fred. Holidays, said: “We’ve spent the past year analysing what matters to travellers and the answer is clear – experiences that go deeper, journeys that feel effortless and adventures that inspire. Our research shows that customers want to stay and explore longer, and this new guide – which agents should treat as a peaks bible – reflects these trends with thoughtfully curated journeys designed to immerse, enrich and surprise, while showcasing the future of travel.”

 

Highlights of the campaign guide include:

 

Independent touring:

• Four nights Berlin, Krakow & Auschwitz Tour. Daily departures with prices from £779 per person.
• 13 nights Southern Spain & Portugal Fly-Drive. Daily departures with prices from £2,399 per person.

 

Rail  holidays:

• Nine nights Lake Garda by Rail via the Bernina Express. Daily departures with prices from £1,599 per person.
• Nine nights Venice, Florence & Rome Fly-Rail. Daily departures with prices from £1,499 per person.

 

River cruise:

• 14 nights The Mekong, Angkor Wat & Saigon. Departures 23^rd January 2027 with prices from £3,999 per person.
• Nine nights Mississippi by Paddle Wheeler. Departures between February and November 2026-2028 with prices from £4,799 per person.

 

Cruise and stay:

• 15 nights Luxury Transatlantic – New York, Niagara & Toronto. Departs 22^nd May 2026 with prices from £2,879 per person.
• 23 nights Blissful Bali to Barrier Reefs. Departs 13^th November 2026 with prices from £4,469 per person.

 

Expedition cruise:

• Eight nights Costa Rica & the Panama Canal with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Departs 20^th March 2026 with prices from £5,699 per person.
• Nine nights Exploring Galapagos with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Depart 3^rd April 2026 with prices from £6,499 per person.

 

To coincide with the launch of the new [un]packed guide, Fred. Holidays has introduced a new year-round trade incentive offering up to £1,000 per booking. Valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026, the incentive applies to all new Fred. Holidays package bookings made during this period and rewards agents with Amazon vouchers based on booking value.

 

The campaign guide is being distributed to 400 strategic partners, with business development managers visiting agents across their regions to hand-deliver additional copies. A digital, along with supporting sales assets, is also available via the Agent Portal at www.agentfred.co.uk.

Learn more about Fred. Holidays

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