Travelers are increasingly looking backward to move forward in their vacations. Industry reports even dub this nostalgia-driven trend “New Heydays,” reflecting how many are gravitating toward comfort-driven trips that evoke simpler, happier times.
In an uncertain world, these throwback getaways offer familiarity and escapism. Trailblazing hotels and rental owners have caught on, rolling out quirky themed experiences, from retro resorts to childhood-inspired stays, that transport guests into bygone eras.
How Travel Trends Are Rewinding to Simpler Times
Amid global uncertainty, travelers are finding solace in the past. According to travel trend forecasters, nostalgia travel has surged as people seek the familiar joys of earlier decades.
This phenomenon is seen as an “antidote to change fatigue,” giving weary tourists a psychological balm by rewinding to times perceived as carefree.
In fact, experts note that 2025’s symbolic milestone has many reminiscing about the 20th century “good old days,” a sentiment driven by rosy retrospection (viewing the past through a fond, rose-colored lens).
Such nostalgia is shaping real travel decisions. Surveys indicate a majority of parents are eager to recreate the magic of their own childhood vacations with their kids. One recent report found 58% of travelers have revisited a favorite childhood destination with their children.
Naturally, families want the next generation to experience those same simple joys and fun. To meet this demand, hospitality brands are tapping into themed hotel trends – offering vintage-style decor, throwback activities, and even connecting “family suites” that let parents relive memories while kids have space for their own adventures.
Major hotel chains have noted the nostalgia boom too: ultra-decked-out retro themed suites inspired by pop culture saw record-breaking bookings and social media buzz in 2024, encouraging more such offerings into 2025.
It’s no coincidence that the 1980s and 90s are at the heart of this trend. Pop culture from those decades is having a renaissance – from ’90s bands like Oasis reuniting, to vintage tech and fashion making a comeback.
Millennials who grew up in the 80s/90s are now adults (often with families of their own) and they’re chasing experiences that let them relive those formative years. Travel companies report Millennial parents booking the same “fly‑and‑flop” resort holidays and summer camps that were popular in the ’80s and ’90s.
The appeal lies in recapturing a time of life when vacations meant waterparks, road trips, and unplugged fun – a stark contrast to today’s fast-paced, always-connected lifestyle. In short, nostalgia travel experiences offer a comforting retreat into the past, where travelers can briefly rewind to simpler times.
From Polly Pocket Homes to Retro Resorts
Hospitality providers are responding to this wistful yearning with imagination and flair. Even major brands are thinking outside the box – literally – to deliver nostalgia.
In one extreme example, Airbnb went so far as to construct a giant Polly Pocket toy house that guests can actually stay in. Painted in signature bubblegum pink and filled with a closet of doll-sized outfits and plastic furniture, this life-sized dollhouse in Massachusetts turns childhood make-believe into an overnight reality.
It’s a prime illustration of how nostalgia is in: travelers are flocking to novel stays that bring their favorite childhood icons to life.
Hotels and resorts around the world are likewise dialing up the retro charm. In California’s wine country, for instance, The Meritage Resort and Spa has reimagined the classic family road trip as a luxury getaway.
The Napa Valley resort channels the golden age of the American vacation – only this time with a high-end twist. Guests can play nostalgic lawn games and even bowl at a retro-inspired alley on the property, all while surrounded by vineyard views and indulging in farm-to-table dining.
It’s essentially a grown-up version of those summer road trips with mom and dad – trading motel pools and fast-food stops for cabana lounges and fine wine, yet still capturing the carefree spirit of a mid-20th-century vacation.
The Meritage is a case of a trailblazing spa hotel riding the nostalgia trend: it delivers the comfort and simplicity of yesteryear’s holidays, wrapped in the conveniences of today.
An embrace of nostalgia is also revitalizing historic spa resorts. In Calistoga, California – a town famous for its hot springs – the iconic Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs (originally opened in the 1950s) has been lovingly reinvented for modern travelers.
The hotel strikes a careful balance between retro and modern: original mid-century mosaics and vintage furnishings have been restored, and even a 1952 Buick is parked at the entrance as a nod to the resort’s roots. True to its nostalgic spirit, this mid-century spa hotel lets guests soak in thermal mineral pools and mud baths just like visitors did decades ago, but now in updated comfort.
By preserving its classic Americana feel – from neon signage to throwback decor – Dr. Wilkinson’s taps into travelers’ nostalgia while still delivering a top-notch wellness retreat. It’s the kind of place where stepping onto the property feels a bit like time travel (in the best way possible).
Not all nostalgic stays are about period décor; some are about reviving the pace of past vacations. In Iceland, the remote Hotel Rangá has embraced nostalgia not through looks, but through lifestyle.
The four-star lodge enjoys a pristine location under dark skies – ideal for Northern Lights spotting – and it encourages guests to disconnect from modern technology, much as travelers did in years gone by.
As part of this, Rangá offers an “Analog Menu”: upon check-in, guests can request a kit containing a disposable film camera, paper maps, a deck of playing cards, and even a coloring book of local history. There’s no WiFi distraction in these activities – they’re intentionally low-tech and old-school.
The idea is to let visitors re-center and de-stress by enjoying simple pleasures, effectively recreating the feel of a pre-internet era vacation. It’s nostalgia through experience rather than appearance – tapping into memories of family road trips with folded maps and the excitement of getting photos developed after the trip. At Hotel Rangá, yesterday’s simplicity becomes today’s luxury amenity.
Quirky themed accommodations are popping up everywhere, proving just how “in” nostalgia has become. For example, a vintage treehouse in southwest France – aptly named Cabane Spa Vintage – elevates childhood camping dreams into a whimsical glamping reality.
Perched 8 meters up in an oak forest, this cozy treehouse for two is brimming with throwback fun. There’s a bright pink 1970s-era mini car “parked” on the deck, a foosball table inside, and pops of retro color at every turn. There’s even a private hot tub, blending old-fashioned charm with a bit of indulgence.
It feels like a secret clubhouse from decades past, magically equipped for grownups. Such playful details transport guests straight back to the atmosphere of childhood summers – yet with all the comfort of a modern spa getaway.
Themed hotels are catering to specific nostalgic passions as well. In Stuttgart, Germany, the V8 Hotel delights petrolheads (car lovers) by immersing them in retro automotive culture.
Here, Bauhaus-era design meets the heyday of 20th-century racing: guests can even sleep in beds made from classic cars, surrounded by car memorabilia that harks back to the 1970s. It’s a car enthusiast’s dream come true – essentially a mini vacation to a retro motorsport museum, but one where you spend the night.
Meanwhile, on the coast of England, a property called Seventies Studio Margate invites visitors to step into a perfectly preserved 1970s time capsule. This seaside apartment is outfitted entirely with authentic ’70s furnishings and color schemes – a riot of avocado greens, burnt oranges, and shaggy textures that scream 1975.
From rotary dial phones to vintage board games, every detail is meant to re-create the feel of a bygone era. Guests say it’s like staying on the set of a classic ’70s film.
These examples show the range of nostalgic themes now on offer – whether you yearn for the Americana of cross-country road trips, the groovy vibe of the 1970s, or the pop culture kitsch of 90s toys and TV, there’s likely a hotel or rental embracing that very aesthetic.
Ultimately, travel is no longer just about where we go – it’s also about when we go, at least in spirit. By rewinding the clock through decor, activities, and ambiance, these nostalgia-rich stays give travelers the comforting sense of returning to a simpler era, even as they create new memories for the future.
Industry leaders are witnessing a “powerful surge of nostalgia” shaping trip choices heading into 2025. From cushy spa retreats to fantastical themed suites, the message is clear: nostalgia is in.
As long as people long for the feelings of yesterday, this retro revival in travel is here to stay – inviting everyone to revisit their happy places and “good old days”.
