‘Skillcations’ gain traction as tourists seek learning over leisure
Travelers looking for more than a tan are embracing “skillcations,” trips that blend discovery with self-improvement. With over 60% of tourists now guided by the activities a destination offers, vacations are evolving into hands-on learning experiences. Each trip becomes an opportunity to return home with new skills and stories to share.
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The skillcation trend covers cooking schools, artisan workshops and short-term language programs that weave a destination’s culture into every lesson. Your next journey could leave you with pasta-making skills and creative techniques that open fresh ways to engage with the places you visit.
Data show rising demand
Skillcation is this year’s trend that transforms how people travel. More travelers choose destinations that offer meaningful ways to connect with local culture and communities. This growing interest in hands-on learning has turned leisure into a form of personal growth, where time off feels like an investment rather than an escape.
“Travelers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are motivated to book thoughtful, meaningful trips this year,” said Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel. Her words confirm a clear shift toward travel that prioritizes connection and growth, turning the idea of a holiday into a classroom without walls.
Cooking getaways
Italy is seeing a rise in culinary trips where tourists learn from local chefs and pair regional traditions with hands-on lessons. One standout is Mama Florence Cooking School, winner of the 2024 Traveller’s Choice Award. Here, guests join group or private classes, explore Italian food and wine culture and make fresh pasta and Tuscan sauces with local, sustainable ingredients.
France also draws visitors eager to explore its cuisine through interactive cooking sessions. Le Cordon Bleu Paris offers short-term classes in cooking, pastry and boulangerie, with only 16 participants per room under the guidance of chefs who teach recipes from start to finish.
Across Asia, Thailand has become a hotspot for travelers who want spice-filled lessons with local cooks. The Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School stands out with half-day courses in modern facilities led by professional English-speaking instructors. Participants use high-quality ingredients to prepare five dishes that reveal the nation’s flavors and history.
Creative crafts
In the U.S., woodworking workshops and artisan craft programs appeal to travelers who want creative escapes. Craft Alliance in St. Louis stands out as an inclusive community where students of all levels learn from professional artists across studios for blacksmithing, ceramics, fibers, glass, metals, print and paper, and woodcraft. The organization also hosts exhibitions and events, reinforcing its mission to make the arts accessible while using craft to inspire, connect and transform lives.
Peters Valley School of Craft in New Jersey also invites beginners and seasoned artists to join engaging workshops across disciplines, from blacksmithing and ceramics to jewelry, fibers, glass and woodworking. Virtual classes run throughout the year, extending opportunities to those who cannot travel. This mix of studio-based programs and global talent supports its belief that collaboration fosters growth, connection and a deeper understanding of each participant’s work.
Language learning overseas
Travelers are signing up for short-term language programs that include cultural experiences as part of the lessons. These schools design their courses for flexibility, appealing to visitors who want to learn while exploring a new destination.
In Latin America, Casa Xelaju in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, offers Spanish programs that range from exam preparation to medical Spanish while also guiding students through markets and Mayan ruins. This accredited school balances expert instruction with cultural immersion, giving travelers flexible short-term options trusted by educators, healthcare workers and international learners.
CLIC International House in Spain runs flexible short-term programs in Seville, Cadiz and Malaga. They offer intensive classes with cultural immersion in Andalusia’s sunny, historic cities, and its native-speaking faculty ensures high-quality teaching.
In Japan, Kyoto Japanese Language School has built a reputation since 2012 for award-winning short-term study that combines intensive language lessons with cultural activities such as tea ceremonies, calligraphy and temple visits. This warm, family-like school emphasizes both practical skills and deep cultural connections, helping travelers feel at home while gaining lasting experiences.
A new kind of souvenir
Skillcations mean that your next trip can deliver more than photos and postcards, sending you home with stories, skills and a sharper sense of the world. These experiences act as souvenirs of growth, the kind that money cannot buy but travel makes possible, and they may be the most brilliant addition to your passport.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.