Embracing JOMO fosters a sense of peace and freedom in travel.

“Gig-tripping.”“Sleepcations.”“Hush trips.” The list of quippy terms and trends in the travel industry is ever growing. Lately, another new concept has been circulating: JOMO travel.

As we race through spring break season and into summer 2025, people planning trips might want to consider embracing the JOMO approach. But what exactly is JOMO travel and how does it work?

Below, experts break down the benefits and downsides of this trend ― and how to best embrace it in your future travels.

For starters, what is JOMO?

“Most people are familiar with the term FOMO, or the ‘fear of missing out.’ JOMO is the opposite of that – it stands for the ‘joy of missing out,’” Melanie Fish, a travel expert and head of global PR for Vrbo, told HuffPost. “The JOMO mentality is all about protecting your peace and personal needs rather than staying super busy and compelled to always be doing something.”

In contrast to FOMO, JOMO is about redefining what brings you happiness and appreciating what’s actually important.

“For me, JOMO is the freedom to slow down, say no to the pressure of ‘doing it all’ and fully enjoy what really matters,” said travel blogger Sean Lau. “It’s about being present and intentional ― not feeling like you have to be everywhere or see everything just because it’s trending.”

He believes choosing “presence over pressure” makes life feel much more fulfilling.

“I’m a fan of the Chinese ‘lying flat’ movement, which is about living simply and opting out of the socially conditioned trappings of hustle and work culture,” said travel journalist and content creatorLa Carmina. “I feel JOMO fits in well with ‘lying flat’ ― both are about putting the emphasis on simple joys and prioritising stress reduction. To me, JOMO is realising the pointlessness of playing the social climbing capitalist game, especially now when purchasing power and the rewards for grinding are fewer.”

What does JOMO mean in a travel context?

“For travelers, JOMO is giving yourself permission to ditch the packed itinerary and just experience a place more naturally,” said travel blogger Esther Susag. “It’s choosing to spend an extra hour at that local café instead of rushing to the next attraction ― embracing where you are instead of stressing about what you might be missing elsewhere. I discovered this concept after years of trying to cram way too many sights into my trips and realising I wasn’t truly experiencing any of them.”

The concept clearly has fans. In fact, the latest travel trends from Vrbo, Hotels.com and Expedia named “JOMO Travel” as a top trend for 2025.

“Travelers are looking for rest and relaxation over the typical sightseeing and crowded tourist excursions,” said James Barnett, the general manager at Deer Path Inn. “We’ve been seeing........

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