Dog-Friendly Travel Experiences See Unprecedented 260% Surge in Bookings
Tripadvisor's latest Trendcast report reveals that 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for pet-inclusive travel, with bookings for dog-welcome vacation activities skyrocketing by an astonishing 260 percent compared to the previous year.
Vacations Built Around Four-Legged Family Members
According to the travel guidance platform, modern travelers are increasingly designing their entire holiday itineraries around what will work best for their canine companions. This shift represents a fundamental change in how people approach travel planning, with pet satisfaction becoming a primary consideration.
The data indicates that travelers are seeking out specialized experiences that cater specifically to dogs, ranging from luxury amenities to unique animal encounters. Examples highlighted by Tripadvisor include:
- The Monterey Bay Famous Dog Friendly Electric Bike and Sidecar Tour
- The Dog Friendly Sedona Outlaw Trail experience
These findings are based on comprehensive analysis of search patterns, booking data, behavioral information, and user-generated content drawn from over one billion reviews and contributions on the platform.
Broader Travel Trends Emerging in 2026
While pet-friendly travel dominates the conversation, Tripadvisor's report identifies several other significant trends reshaping the travel landscape:
Extreme Adventure Tourism Gains Momentum
The appetite for adrenaline-fueled experiences continues to grow substantially, with specific activities showing remarkable increases:
- Glacier tour bookings have risen by 29 percent
- Lava field excursions have jumped by 79 percent
- Heli-hiking adventures have increased by 56 percent
Fitness Tourism and Family-Focused Travel
Tripadvisor is also documenting a significant boom in fitness-oriented vacations, with travelers planning trips around participation in running marathons from Patagonia to Chicago.
Family travel patterns are evolving too, with child-led trips becoming increasingly popular. Experience bookings involving children's tickets have grown by 19 percent year-on-year, with particular strength in:
- Heritage tours (up 40 percent)
- Cooking classes suitable for families (up 47 percent)
Musical Experiences and Local Connections
Bookable music experiences represent another growth area, with DJ sets on the water increasing by 29 percent and visits to vinyl-focused venues like Tokyo's Bar Martha and New York's Public Records surging by 64 percent.
A Fundamental Shift in Travel Planning
Laurel Greatrix, chief communications officer at Tripadvisor, commented on these findings, stating: "This year's Trendcast continues to reflect a shift in how people are approaching travel, with experiences increasingly leading travel decisions."
"Travelers are prioritizing experiences that create local connection, offer physical challenge, and make it easier for the whole group to say yes," Greatrix added. "These aren't fringe behaviors — they're reshaping how trips get planned."
The comprehensive data suggests that the travel industry is responding to changing consumer priorities, with experiential elements now driving booking decisions more than traditional destination choices alone.
