Kyrgyzstan's capital tops Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2027 list, with Australian flight searches up a striking 877% year-on-year. It's the clearest sign yet that Aussie travellers, despite cost-of-living pressure, are still booking — they're just hunting somewhere fresh that costs less. The report found 78% plan to travel as much or more next year, while 64% say the household budget is shaping their choices.
Bishkek's appeal is outdoorsy and cheap: mountain trails, horse trekking and alpine lakes, all within reach of a city most Australians have never considered as a base. It leads a trending five that reads like an antidote to overtourism.
Marseille (+98%) is pitched as the Mediterranean alternative to Paris and Nice — same coastline culture, fewer crowds, friendlier prices. Iloilo in the Philippines (+96%) brings heritage architecture and a food scene that's just starting to get noticed, at a slower pace than Manila or Cebu. Lord Howe Island (+95%) is the domestic pick, with hiking and snorkelling inside a World Heritage-listed setting. Da Nang (+81%) rounds it out with beaches, food and easy access to Hoi An.
The report also tracks how Aussies plan to travel, not just where. A quarter of Gen Z want to switch off from their phones on holiday — though 35% admit anxiety when they can't check the news, and 41% of all travellers say it takes days to properly unplug. Fitness is shaping itineraries too, with walking and cycling built into trips rather than treated as an optional extra. And history matters: 40% plan to visit historical sights in 2027, while 35% will hit a museum or gallery.
Money is driving decisions down to the destination level. Skyscanner flags value picks where airfares have already dropped — Mexico City return fares fell 27%, Hamilton 23%, Montreal 19%, Okinawa 16% and Vienna 14% — though those figures reflect early-2026 bookings, not guaranteed 2027 deals. Once there, travellers want purchases with a story: artisanal crafts and location-exclusive items are turning shopping into part of the itinerary.
Big events are changing shape as well. Nearly four in ten travellers would consider a shared pre-wedding celebration combining both families' guest lists — cheaper and less hassle, respondents say — and local music and festivals are increasingly the reason to pick particular dates. On spending, 31% will put more into flights and 26% into accommodation, but add-ons are falling: room upgrades, extra baggage and lounge access are all in decline. The lesson is that people will still pay — they just want the extra money to buy something obvious, like a shorter connection or a better-located hotel.
For anyone planning a 2027 trip, the takeaway is simple: the fresh, affordable list is long, and the smart money books curiosity before everyone else does.
