2025 Rental Trends
In 2025, we are seeing a huge shift in how people are traveling. For property owners, keeping up with emerging trends is crucial, as they present opportunities to stay competitive and set their property apart from the competition. Travelers are gaining interest in new places inspired by social platforms, TV shows, and movies. They`re seeking out hidden gems that offer breathtaking views of natural phenomena, and vacations that allow them to reconnect with loved ones while focusing on their overall well-being.
Adventurers have big plans for 2025, and we`re here to break down what they will be looking for.
Detour Destinations refer to locations offering a more off-the-beaten-path experience compared to typical tourist magnets. The Outer Banks would be a detour from popular East Coast beaches such as Ocean City, MD, or Myrtle Beach, SC.
Detour Ideas for Annual OBX Visitors:
- Manteo – detour from Nags Head
- Buxton – detour from Duck
- Currituck – detour from Kitty Hawk
- Hatteras – detour from Corolla
Elizabeth II ship in Manteo
Waveney Cottage on Currituck Mainland
MerSea, Aqua Sol, and Hidden Gem on Hatteras Island
2025 will see a lot of people entering their wellness era, and we are so here for it. Say goodbye to FOMO (the fear of missing out) and welcome JOMO, the joy of missing out. Travelers are looking for wellness and mental health-focused trips that also allow them to spend quality time with loved ones. Survey data via Vrbo showed that charming beach houses were among the top vacation rentals for JOMO travel, along with swimming pools, hot tubs, and views from their porch.
Other amenities that can help properties stand out to wellness seekers are home gyms, saunas, locations near nature trails, and community wellness amenities.
"Sixty-two percent (62%) of travelers say JOMO Travel reduces stress and anxiety, and nearly half say JOMO Travel allows them to better reconnect with loved ones." — Vrbo
Travelers will be heading all over the grid for a chance to view natural phenomena up close, as seen with vacation rentals in the paths of recent eclipses. While the Outer Banks may not be the first destination that pops into your head to view natural wonders, what it has to offer may surprise you. Seeing the Northern Lights in North Carolina is not a typical occurrence, but this past October they provided quite the show.
Other natural phenomena that can be viewed on the Outer Banks include:
- Sea Turtles Hatching: Typically seen between July and October
- Tundra Swan Migration: Begin to arrive in early November and depart around early March
- Purple Martin Migration: Arrive typically by late March, and depart around late September to early October. They can commonly be found around the west end of the William B. Umstead Bridge
- Bioluminescence: Usually seen from summer to fall on dark, cloudy nights
- Whale Migration: Migration patterns vary but can usually be spotted in the fall heading south to their calving grounds
- Wild Horses: Typically spotted year-round on the beaches of the Northern Outer Banks, with the best chances of seeing them from March through November
- Starry Night Skies: Constellations are visible on clear nights year-round, with fall and winter offering the clearest views
"80% of travelers say it`s important that they can stay in a place that offers a prime viewing spot for these events*. Often located in wide open spaces, private vacation rentals give travelers unobstructed views of natural marvels." — Vrbo
How many times have you seen a photo or video of a vacation spot on social media—whether posted by a friend or an influencer—and felt inspired to go there too? Chances are probably high, and you`re not the only one.
"Half of consumers say they have wanted to book a trip they saw on their social feeds" — Sprout Social
That`s why we regularly encourage guests to share user-generated content (UGC) and keep our social feeds full of the best OBX vacation content, along with occasionally hosting influencers to widen our audience.
Make sure you`re following us:
Event-Cation
Taking an event-cation means traveling to a destination based on an event taking place there, such as a concert or a seasonal celebration. While this trend is predicted for winter, for sports games and holiday events, it seamlessly carries into the summer. Luckily, the Outer Banks offers an incredible lineup of events throughout both seasons, making it a top destination for event-focused travel.
Winter in the Outer Banks offers a cozy charm and plenty of celebrations to enjoy, including the 12 Bars of Christmas and Misfits Bar Crawl, WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens, the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival, and local holiday farmers markets. Learn more about winter events here.
In the summer, the Outer Banks comes alive with exciting events like the VusicOBX Summer Concert Series at Roanoke Festival Park, Outer Banks-wide Fourth of July Celebrations, and numerous festivals celebrating local culture, food, and music.
"Relaxation, cultural immersion, and adventure are top of the list this winter season as guests seek out ski slopes, sand, and shores." — Airbnb Winter Release 2024
WinterLights at Elizabethan Gardens
12 Bars of Christmas at Jack Browns Beer & Burger Joint
VusicOBX Summer Concert
Image by Holly Carter Photography
This trend emerged over the past few years and remains prevalent as we head into the new year. Set-jetting is visiting destinations from your favorite movies or TV shows. With the popular Outer Banks show streaming Season 4 this past fall on Netflix, the Outer Banks will gain new interest in viewers. In the new season, the Pogues set out on another treasure hunt, this time to search for something that belonged to the notorious pirate, Blackbeard. While the amulet and the Blue Crown they were searching for are both fictional, the ties between the Outer Banks and the intimidating pirate are very much real.
Blackbeard, formally known as Edward Teach, was infamous for hiding out among the Outer Banks` shallow waters, particularly around Ocracoke Island. It was there that he and his crew were attacked, leading to Blackbeard`s beheading. The wreckage of his ship, Queen Anne`s Revenge, rests in North Carolina`s waters where it has remained since 1718. This new season will bring more visitors interested in Blackbeard, mysterious treasures, and experiencing the Outer Banks like the Pogues — or the Kooks, if that`s more their style.
While I live on the Outer Banks year-round, that exact example may not apply to me, but, I can confirm Yellowstone sparked my interest in visiting the northwest.
"Two-thirds of travelers shared that movies, streaming services and TV shows have influenced their travel choices" — Expedia
The graph shows the Google Trends Report for users searching Blackbeard.
Blue indicates Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 and red indicates Dec 2022 to Dec 2023, showing Blackbeard searches spiked around the time a new season of the Outer Banks show was released.
Blackbeard`s final battle off the coast of Ocracoke
Image courtesy of NPS
Amulet found in Season 4. Image by Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
View of Teach`s Hole from Springers Point in Ocracoke
Travel in 2025 is all about meaningful experiences, reconnecting with loved ones, and soaking in the beauty of nature. Whether it`s discovering hidden gems, chasing unforgettable events, or prioritizing wellness, travelers are seeking trips that truly matter.
The Outer Banks is the perfect spot to bring these trends to life. From breathtaking beaches to unique places to stay, it has everything you need to make 2025 a year to remember. Whether you`re planning a couple`s getaway, a family trip, or an adventure by the ocean, the OBX is calling.
Ready to experience it for yourself?
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