Taking Our Time Off

How these new travelers—whose numbers are only slated to grow—will eventually spend their time and money is anyone's guess. What's clear is that traditional holidays will continue to evolve, becoming more personalized and in-depth. Among travelers, the sense of urgency—Climb Kilimanjaro before it melts away! See the Sistine Chapel before you die!—so prevalent in the workday world is fading. Despite all the fretting about climate change, the world is not going to disappear any time soon; in fact, environmental activism seems to be gaining traction. And if you missed the "Mona Lisa"? Oh well. There's always next time.

With Jesse Ellison in New York and Tracy McNicoll in Paris

© 2007