Travel Trends 2026: Why Teaching English Abroad Is The Smart Way To Travel This Year

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Written by

Lauren Johnstone

Edited by Kirsten Colquhoun

January 15, 2026

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In The News, Teach and Travel, Teaching English Abroad Jobs
Travel Trends 2026: Why Teaching English Abroad Is The Smart Way To Travel This Year

Travel trends for 2026 indicate that we’re over the Instagram highlight reel and pickier about how we spend our time.

So, kiss those old school bucket-list ideas goodbye. We want MORE: more meaning, more health, more wellness, more freedom, and more flexibility – in our travels and in our lives.

What better way to build that kind of life than teaching English abroad?

The rise of online teaching and digital nomadism has already shown us what’s possible. You can prioritise wellness without sacrificing income. Can I get a hell yeah?

In 2026, TEFL teachers can have it all: purposeful travel, richer cultural experiences, a great work-life balance and overall improved well-being, all while exploring your favourite corners of the earth!

So if you’re a traveller at heart and you’ve been mulling over how you can make this year a year of travel, then you should be considering a TEFL qualification.

Without further ado, let’s explore the top travel trends taking 2026 by storm that you can enjoy as a TEFL teacher.

Trend #1: Work-and-travel integration

While some have grown accustomed to following the 9–5 work routine, some have flipped the script and have work follow them instead.

Gaining traction in 2024 and persisting through 2025 into 2026, work-travel integration continues migrating from a niche lifestyle into the mainstream.

Thanks to remote work, digital nomad visas, and working holidays, you can enjoy a workcation — the combination of work and leisure.

Digital nomad visas enable legal remote work (for non-local employers) during extended stays abroad. In 2026, over 50 countries, including popular destinations like Spain, Japan, and Italy, offer digital nomad visas.

Remote work is the catalyst for the digital nomad lifestyle, and teaching English online is popular in digital nomad circles – enter the “education nomad”.

Teachers are getting creative with how they earn and live. They are:

Combining online teaching and side gigs: Teachers are boosting income streams by teaching on platforms like Cambly or italki and taking on side hustles (e.g., creating educational content or lesson materials).
Specialising: Teachers are gravitating to specialised TEFL niches — also known as English For Specific Purposes — such as Business English, Aviation English, allowing them to charge higher rates to support a remote work lifestyle.
Going hybrid: TEFL teachers are blending in-person and online teaching through seasonal in-person contracts, followed by remote work from enviable locations, like lakeside retreats in Slovenia!

A workcation in 2026 isn’t just about a short-term change of scenery; it’s about mid-term living.

Travellers are increasingly choosing to stay put in one location for up to three months. This travelling trend is driving an increase in co-living spaces and digital-nomad-friendly accommodation kitted out with reliable high-speed internet and ergonomic desks — an online teacher’s dream!

Ultimately, you get to feed your travel bug while clocking mandatory work hours. That’s a win-win if we don’t say so ourselves!

Trend #2: Sustainable & responsible travel

Travellers are focused on sustainable, community-centred journeys that leave a positive footprint. Instead of just seeing a destination, responsible travel is about giving back (and not just taking), transforming travel from consumption to contribution.

Teaching English abroad supports cultural exchange while boosting a country’s economic prospects.

Apart from supporting English acquisition, which boosts local employment prospects, expat teachers integrate into local life, supporting small businesses and building authentic relationships.

Teaching abroad can be a remedy for overtourism — it redirects travellers from tourist hotspots toward underserved communities, enriching and supporting them in the process.

Travelling during shoulder season (the travel period between a destination’s peak and off-peak seasons) helps prevent overtourism.

People are being more mindful about their impact on local infrastructure. Travelling during shoulder season helps sustain local businesses year-round and reduces the strain on their resources, so that there’s enough left over to keep them thriving!

A busy Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia on a summer afternoon

Trend #3: Secondary destinations on the rise

As much as we love Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, they’re all expensive. That’s why secondary cities, like China’s Tier 2 and 3 cities, as well as off-grid destinations, are trending as top travel destinations..

Move aside Shanghai and Beijing — both Tier 1 cities where a TEFL teacher’s life is convenient but fast-paced and stress-prone.

Mid-sized cities like Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xi’an offer less competition for TEFL jobs and come with better perks, like free housing, larger apartments, and improved support. Goodbye, shoebox apartment!

In Central America, Costa Rica leads the pack when it comes to travel hotspots, with emerging must-visit destinations like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama.

Other secondary destinations dominating 2026 include:

Dominica, the Caribbean: An eco-hotspot with new luxury resorts, a boiling lake cable car and whale reserve.
Sardinia, Italy: Mediterranean charm along scenic shores with a quieter vibe.
Quito, Ecuador: Cultural depth and gateway to the Andes.
Mongolia, Central Asia: Traditional nomadic lifestyle and vast grassy plains with polar extremes.
Svalbard, Norway: Experience iconic wildlife like polar bears, walruses and Arctic foxes, and see the jaw-dropping Northern Lights IRL!

Trend #4: Health & wellness travel

Let’s face it, travel is tiring, especially those long-haul flights (think Sydney–Seoul or London–Bangkok) that are notorious for jetlag. If you’re regularly jetsetting to a new location, prioritising rest is a must.

Often, once people get to their destination, excitement takes over, and you can find yourself signing up for group tours, exploring markets and daytripping to every nearby attraction in a two-hour radius. Your FOMO won’t let you rest, and by the end, instead of feeling well-rested, you may need a vacation from your vacation!

Try one of these health and wellness travel trends to recharge your batteries.

Slow travel

Hello, slow travel, the antidote to whirlwind tours. Cast aside the urgency to visit every attraction in favour of downtime.

Choose a tranquil location (perhaps a small town, near water or the mountains) and experience your surroundings at your own pace. TEFL contracts are built for this! Since you’re generally contracted for a year, there’s plenty of time for exploration AND relaxation.

Quietcations

A portmanteau of quiet and vacation, it’s exactly what it sounds like: no noisy crowds, traffic or tours and ample space to just breathe. 🧘‍♀️

If you’re teaching abroad, you can easily enjoy a quietcation by simply spending a comfortable weekend in your town doing… nothing.

Slow travel vs quietcations

Slow travel is about taking your time: staying longer in one place, settling into routines, and gradual exploration.

Quietcations are about intention: choosing rest, downtime, and low-key experiences.

The two are not mutually exclusive, meaning you can do one without the other, but for TEFL teachers, the two are a winning combination. Living somewhere long-term makes it easier to slow down, skip the pressure to see and do it all, and regularly enjoy time out.

Blue-health escapes

TEFL teachers often have to choose between city and rural locations. Choose scenic locations near water (hence the term blue health travel) for a restorative experience that enhances your well-being.

Try coastal towns like Busan, South Korea and Da Nang, Vietnam, or riverside cities like Seville, Spain, and Prague, Czechia. The sound of the water alone can lull you back to your senses after a packed teaching schedule.

Access to nature

It’s not only water that is calming; so is greenery. People are seeking out nature to counter burnout and engage in a digital detox.

According to a Forbes article on 2026’s Natural Travel Trends, the great outdoors is beckoning more people, and that comes with increased physical activity. Hiking, cycling and kayaking are a welcome relief from the daily grind and really get those endorphins flowing!

Trend #5: Tech-driven travel experiences

AI has extended its reach to include travel. AI is now helping us plan and book trips, and travel sites are using it to ease the process. Live chatbots double as travel agents: answering questions, offering recommendations, and guiding travellers.

And the innovation doesn’t stop there! Here’s how tech makes travel easier in 2026:

VR & AR previews: See destinations using virtual/augmented reality before you go, and reduce travel regret.

Smart AI and predictive planning: AI can rebook your flights, spot delays or cancellations beforehand, and fix them — fast! Throw in keyless hotel doors, and that’s one less thing to worry about.
Live travel tech: Biometric flight boarding and live luggage tracking are designed to maximise convenience.
Smart personalisation: Your flights, hotels (think personalised room settings), and itineraries are synced for a stress-free journey.
TEFL teacher tools: Lesson-planning apps, ChatGPT, and AI-powered tools like Magic School AI make prep faster, tweakable, and reusable.
Remote teaching: Online teaching platforms plus file-sharing and collaboration tools let teachers earn and keep the lines of communication open so students never miss a beat.
Translation support: Language-learning and translation apps facilitate cross-border communication, so you’re never feeling lost in translation.

All this tech comes with downsides, like overtourism driven by algorithms and safety risks, such as scams — but nothing a bit of caution and street smarts can’t fix.

Trend #6: Cultural immersion over tourism

The Amadeus Travel Trends 2026 report lists “pop culting” (travel inspired by pop culture) as a 2026 travel trend where fans visit locations from their favourite films, TV shows, music, or other cultural icons.

For example, Seoul’s K-Pop Demon Hunters programme offers fans experiences like visiting filming locations and participating in Korean culture activities.

How does this relate to teaching English abroad?

For one, since we’re currently enjoying the K-pop boom, for English teachers in Seoul, Korea, it means helping students engage with English to access global fan culture.

But for the TEFL teachers, the cultural immersion goes deeper than a trip to a filming location. Teachers are integrating into the culture with:

Homestays & temple stays: Live with local families or stay in traditional temples, gaining spiritual and historical context.
Volunteering: Teachers are choosing to use their skills selflessly to support local communities in meaningful ways, like teaching English to monks so they can engage with the modern world and share their wisdom.
Language exchange: Participating in neighbourhood meetups helps teachers learn the local language while helping locals with their English.

Trend #7: Budget-savvy travel

Budgeting means knowing where your money is going. It doesn’t mean taking the fun out of travel and teaching abroad, but it does mean tracking expenses and implementing money-saving strategies that work.

For example, travelling during shoulder season (see trend #2) when flights are cheaper. You’re essentially killing two birds with one stone: doing your bit to prevent overtourism while saving money. But there’s a lot more you can do in 2026 to travel more for less.

Budget-savvy tips for 2026:

Cash in your travel points for discounts: Use loyalty points from flights, hotels, or credit cards to reduce costs.
Use budget airlines: Compare flight costs, and if you’re travelling nearby, check out alternative commutes like trains and buses.
Get a side hustle: Teach and travel or freelance in your spare time and fatten your bank account (see trend #1).
Budgeting apps: Make use of apps like TravelSpend or YNAB (You Need A Budget), or draw up a simple spreadsheet and track your expenses and manage your money like a pro.
Get a roommate: If free housing isn’t on the cards, TEFL teachers can share accommodation costs by sharing apartments or houses.
Choose secondary destinations for a lower cost of living (see trend #3).

Trend #8: Safe & secure travel

For TEFL teachers, safe and secure travel in 2026 means destinations and employers that offer reliable healthcare, legal work visas, housing support, and low crime rates. Well-established programmes like EPIK in South Korea or the JET Programme in Japan are trusted options, which make them good choices for new and inexperience teachers.

Practical tips for enhanced travel safety:

- Choose expat hubs like Seoul, Taipei, or Doha for English-speaking hospitals and 24/7 support.
- Have an emergency fund handy and budget for international insurance.
- Join Facebook groups for intel.
- Save emergency numbers on speed dial in your phone and have it written down too — just in case.
- Learn and memorise a few local phrases to ask for help.
- Check crime hotspots before you travel.
- Keep a friend in the loop. Always let someone know your movements, whether it’s a solo trip in the city or a nighttime outing.

Trend #9: Pop-up work/travel communities

Travel industry trends in 2026 highlight growing community focus, with TEFL teachers forming micro-communities via short-term projects, like summer camps and coworking retreats.

The digital nomad space was made for pop-up work made possible by short-term retreats, workcations, and rotating community events. These gatherings blend remote work with travel, often lasting one to eight weeks in destination hubs like Bali in Indonesia, Mexico, or Portugal.

Pop-up work examples:

WiFi Tribe: Runs monthly pop-up retreats where nomads work from coworking spaces, join events, and explore together.
Noma Collective & The Nomad Escape: Host wellness-focused work trips in Belize or Tulum, supporting instant networks among remote workers.

This global tourism trend gives TEFL teachers the chance to build a diverse portfolio of international teaching experiences without the pressure of lengthy commitments.

Other 2026 travel trends to look out for

Glowcations: Travel focused on skin and wellness treatments, such as K-beauty in Seoul or Ayurveda in Kerala, and returning home with a visible glow. Glowcations often include personalised skincare, spa treatments, circadian lighting in hotels, and plant-based eating to support rejuvenation.

Noctourism: Travellers are seeking after-dark experiences, from night safaris to stargazing, like moon-and-star bathing retreats accompanied by guided meditations and wellness rituals for the 3Rs: rest, reflection, and renewal.
Agrotourism: People are seeking out farm experiences as part of their digital detox strategy.
Cruising: Cruise lines are gaining popularity among the younger crowd, with many cruise lines catering to their entertainment needs with TikTok-friendly spaces, wellness programmes, and high-energy activities, to name a few.

And that’s your 2026 travel trends wrapped!

With so many new travel trends to explore, from wellness retreats to smart travel booking, your inspo should be through the roof! There is truly something for everyone. So mull over your Pinterest boards, pick a favourite, and pin your next destination.

Author Bio

Written by

Lauren Johnstone

Edited by Kirsten Colquhoun

Lauren is a Web Content Writer & Editor for The TEFL Academy with a background in media, film, and education, and a passion for language and learning. A University of Cape Town graduate, she holds a PGCE, is a licensed teacher, and is TEFL-qualified. She has taught English to learners of all ages and levels, both in South African and South Korean classrooms, as well as online. When she’s not writing, she’s likely deep into academic readings or enjoying a well-earned gym session. Read Lauren Johnstone's story →

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