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From the Blog

2026 luxury travel trends | What today's guests are looking for in UK breaks

Posted by Sophie Boyce on
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The trends shaping 2026 holidays

As experts in the luxury holiday home industry for over 15 years, we know that today’s guests want more than a place to stay. In 2026, they're looking for experiences that blend luxury with lifestyle - whether that's through restorative yoga retreats, high-end bleisure trips or eco-minded getaways.

Perfect for guests booking a 2026 break, or property owners hoping to upgrade their luxury homes, here are the top five travel trends set to take off next year.

Use the page links below to navigate the blog post:
• Sauna-cations
Yoga retreats
Garden-first design
Bleisure trips
Eco-minded getaways
Book your 2026 holiday

 

1. Sauna-cations

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Just like at: Red Cove in Mawgan Porth (left) and Gwelefan in Porthtowan (right)

The rise of the "saunacation" is something we've kept a close eye on through 2025 and don't see slowing down any time soon. Earlier this year, The Global Wellness Summit revealed that a so-called "sauna renaissance" is heating up the wellness scene, and the Perfect Stays team couldn't agree more. We saw a surge in unique sauna-themed events throughout 2025. From ambient DJ nights designed for relaxation, to poetry sessions for inspiring creativity, it seems the combinations are endless, and especially popular among young adults.

Commenting on our guest's booking behaviours and an increase in sauna-specific requests sent to our Concierge team, our Head of Marketing and Brand said:

"Wellbeing has become a clear priority for our guests, with an increased demand for wellness-focused activities and facilities. People are seeking more than just a standard staycation — they want a fully immersive wellness experience. Cornwall and Devon, with their mix of cold seas and hot beach saunas, are quickly becoming a hub for sauna enthusiasts."

It's easy to see the attraction. Booking a holiday home with a sauna offers the perfect touch for a range of themed trips, whether it's a spa weekend with friends or a romantic getaway. Our collection features a mixture of indoor and outdoor saunas - some, like Red Cove, look out onto open ocean and are accompanied by heated swimming pools, while others have been designed as a unique addition to luxurious spa-like bathrooms, like Gwelefan.

As our Portfolio team will tell you, there are plenty of benefits from a commercial perspective, too:

Facilities like saunas play a significant role in a property’s performance in the luxury holiday market. They increase a home’s visibility in filtered searches and enhance guest appeal year-round. Saunas also help secure bookings outside of peak season, when guests place greater value on experience-led amenities. Thoughtful investment in these facilities translates into stronger occupancy, improved guest satisfaction, and higher overall revenue.

Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to unique sauna experiences, particularly in Devon and Cornwall. For those wanting to dip a toe into the sauna community, our favourite day saunas include Saunassa near Newquay, Wavehunters at Watergate Bay, and The Wildwood Spa in Mawgan Porth. You'll find a combination of pop-up saunas with breath-taking beach views, and others with plunge pools and drench buckets for the full hot and cold therapy experience.

 

HOLIDAY HOMES WITH SAUNAS

 

2. Yoga retreats

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Just like at: Noordhoek in Porthcothan (left) and Pentyak in Harlyn Bay (right)

Whether it's a reformer Pilates programme in Cornwall, or a weekend of Vinyasa on the Devon coast, it's safe to say our guests have been loving yoga retreats of all kinds. In the UK alone, Google searches for "yoga retreats" have increased by over 8.5% in the last year (as of December 2025). More people are looking for "digital detox retreats" too - we spotted a 120% uplift in those searches in a three-month period earlier this year.

Predicting big things in the retreats landscape, we launched an inspiration page to help our guests organise commercial themed retreats of their own. Alongside walking holidays and surf breaks, it's yoga retreats that have since proven most popular, as our Head of Sales and Guest Experience explains:

In the relatively short time we’ve dedicated to facilitating retreats at our properties, we’ve seen a notable increase in booking opportunities, attracting a new segment of clientele. We're already benefiting from repeat business, with some guests having secured bookings as far ahead as late 2026 for their second, or even third, commercial yoga retreat through Perfect Stays.

Some of our homes lend themselves effortlessly to hosting yoga and Pilates retreats. Featured above, Noordhoek and Pentyak each have dedicated garden studios where guests can escape for a solo morning stretch or a guided evening flow. Our team make a real effort to personally visit our properties, so we're ready to answer our guests' questions about mats, blocks, bolsters, and everything in between.

Plus, our Concierge team can arrange in-house yoga sessions with local instructors, and put retreat organisers in touch with our recommended private chefs for tailored menu planning.

HOLIDAY HOMES FOR RETREATS

 

3. Garden-first design

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Just like at: Constantia in Constantine Bay (left) and Wharf House in Mousehole (right)

In 2025, we coined the term "alfres-staycation". We noticed a shift in our guests' booking behaviours: people weren't looking for homes with beautiful gardens as an afterthought, but rather as a focal point for their holiday. It came as we launched two stand-out new properties onto our portfolio; Wharf House and Constantia. With a hot tub, a garden room, an outdoor kitchen, two saunas, and two outdoor baths between them, both are shining examples of how garden-first design can make all the difference when it comes to launching a truly unique holiday home that books.

Constantia has since been praised by Gardens Illustrated for its "elegant Mediterranean-inspired space for entertaining". With a design that originated on the back of an envelope, garden designer Matt Keightley of Rosebank Landscaping was given a clear brief by the owners: "to transform the rotting deck, rough grass and deep boundary hedge surrounding their property into a beautiful outdoor space, where they could host parties for friends and family, and enjoy the spectacular views".

On the benefits of incorporating unique garden features into luxury rental properties, our in-house Portfolio experts commented:

"With so much choice in a competitive market, guests can afford to be selective — which is why beautifully landscaped gardens and thoughtful outdoor dining features, like built-in kitchens, now play such a powerful role in creating that irresistible "family gathering" feel.

Wellness spaces are also rising fast; wood-fired saunas, hot tubs, and outdoor baths don’t just set a home apart, they elevate its entire story. When integrated with care, these features are not only in high demand, they also look incredible in the marketing material — helping attract a wider range of guests, again and again."

HOT TUB HOLIDAYSSEA-VIEW HOLIDAYS

 

4. Bleisure trips

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Just like at: Trevenek in Mawgan Porth (left) and Clifftop in Bigbury-on-Sea (right)

When we saw that 60% of UK business travellers now extend work trips into personal holidays (following a report from American Express Global Business Travel), it showed us the lines between holidaying for business and holidaying for leisure are blurring. With flexible travel dates making it easier than ever to combine work and play, the once-controversial "bleisure trip" is becoming mainstream.

Because these guests tend to stick to familiar, comfortable properties rather than exploring new destinations, we think holiday homes with dedicated workspaces will thrive in 2026. Homes that offer high-speed Wi-Fi, flexible layouts, and sociable features like hot tubs allow bleisure travellers to stay connected without sacrificing the relaxation they crave. South West properties like Trevenek and Clifftop are particularly well placed to capture this trend. With stunning coastlines and charming villages on the doorstep, guests can mix productive mornings at their laptops with leisurely afternoons exploring local attractions.

More than ever, travellers are seeking unique after-work experiences that complement the 9-to-5 schedule. Short walks to local pubs and restaurants, twilight surf sessions, and early morning gym classes are among the most popular, ensuring there's still plenty to enjoy when work is over.

If you're planning a work-meets-play weekend, we also recommend Ferryside in Rock, Red Cove in Mawgan Porth, and Sea House in Porth.

SHORT AND WEEKEND BREAKS

 

5. Eco-minded getaways

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Just like at: Brynia in Daymer Bay (left) and Salt Spray in Porthleven (right)

In 2026, sustainability isn't just a consideration - it's a travel trend driving decisions. Research from Booking.com shows that 84% of UK holidaymakers planned to think more carefully about sustainability when travelling in the past year. With features like solar-powered hot tubs, borehole water supplies and wildflower meadows among the most popular, we think eco-minded holiday homes will soon lead the way.

Today's guests are looking for unique holiday destinations that incorporate fresh, thoughtful sustainability without compromising the luxury they expect. High-end homes like Brynia and Salt Spray strike just the right balance. During both builds, 85 - 100% of trades were local to the area, a conscious decision to minimise travel. Brynia uses solar panels to power the home, hot tub and EV charger, while Salt Spray's carbon neutral design produces 105% less carbon than the typical household.

Helping our guests minimise their carbon footprint while on holiday - and continuously improving our own environmental impact - remains a priority for us in 2026. Working with the Green Future Solutions team at the University of Exeter, we highlight the positive steps taken by homeowners across our portfolio. We assess each property not only for its eco credentials, but for how it’s managed, and how it's used by our guests.

We also use our concierge service and tailored Local Area Guides to spread the eco-minded message. Reducing food miles is a key part of this shift, and set to reach new heights in 2026. Each year, we support independent bakeries, dairies, delis and vineyards across the South West, and we encourage our property owners to include locally sourced produce in their welcome hampers.

To further reduce reliance on cars - another major focus for 2026 travel - we recommend beaches, restaurants and attractions within walking distance of our properties, and offer information on local bike hire and public transport options.

Interested to see what we achieved in 2025? Read more in our impact report.

ECO-MINDED GETAWAYS

 

Set your own trends in 2026

If you're ready for a luxury UK break, allow our Property Advisors and Concierge team to plan the perfect getaway. We listen to your holiday wishlist and create something totally tailored to you, whether it's a sauna-cation in Cornwall, an eco-minded getaway in Somerset, or a bleisure trip with a hot tub in Devon. Explore our collection, then get in touch on 01208 895 570 or info@perfectstays.co.uk.

EXPLORE OUR COLLECTION

 

Image credits: All images used are our own.

 

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Posted by Sophie Boyce

When she's not out for a roast by the coast, Soph loves walking with her husband and their golden retriever pup, Obi. She writes about all things Cornwall and is a strong believer that there’s no such thing as too many houseplants.

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