Travel has changed a lot over the decades. In the early 20th century, seaside holidays were reserved only for the richest in society – today, the planet seems smaller than ever.

Click through this gallery for nostalgic photos of holidays from yesteryear that show how much travel has changed over the years...

At the turn of the century, vacations were the domain of the most privileged people. The development of railroads during the industrial revolution allowed affluent families to flock to the coast in states including Florida, California and New Jersey. Atlantic City, with its famed boardwalk and unique hotels grew in popularity during this time – pictured here is the nearby Elephant Hotel, which drew visitors from across the country. 

The pleasure playground that is Coney Island also attracted vacationers from around the States. Its development dates right back to the 1840s and in the earlier part of the 1900s it was the country's largest amusement park. It contained three separate sites: Luna Park, Steeplechase Park and Dreamland. This shot taken in the 1900s shows the historic Giant Racer roller coaster and Feltman's restaurant and resort.

At this point in time, only the very upper echelons of society could afford to travel abroad. And, when they did so, it was a grand event often occupying several weeks or months and involving days or even weeks at sea on a cruise liner. Here tourists, perhaps on a Grand Tour-esque trip within Europe, pose for a photograph on Venice's gondolas.

Camping for pleasure was popularised throughout the 19th century, and is often linked to William Henry Harrison Murray's 1869 publication of Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks, the first outdoor guide of its kind. In the early 1900s, it remained a favoured way for Americans – particularly urban Americans – to spend their vacation time. Popularised by Murray, the scenic Adirondack Mountains were a top destination.

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During this decade, commercial flying was still a long way off, but Orville and Wilbur Wright reached a significant milestone in aviation history. The Wright brothers invented what is considered to be the world's first aircraft, and in 1903 pioneered the first "heavier-than-air" flight. This would pave the way for a century of aviation innovation and ultimately change the way we travel forever.

In 1915, a mode of transport that would revolutionise the way Americans hit the road was born. This converted bus, the brainchild of the Conklin family, is considered to be the world's first recreational vehicle, or 'RV'. The Conklins travelled from Huntington, New York to San Francisco, California on a journey that captured national attention. The early RV included a kitchen, sleeping berths, a generator and lighting.

Another significant development was the birth of the National Park Service. The system was established in 1916, more than 40 years after the designation of America's first national park, Yellowstone – Yellowstone's explosive Old Faithful Geyser is depicted in this retro travel poster. More than 35,000 people came to explore Yellowstone National Park in 1916.

The development of the National Park Service bred Americans' appreciation for their own backyard, and many spent their vacation time soaking up the natural beauty of the newly designated national parks. Escorted tours through the parks were also popular – here tourists are pictured enjoying a 'Two National Parks in Two Weeks' tour that swept through Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone National Park. 

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Today the second most visited national park in the USA (trumped only by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park), the Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919. In its first year as an official national park, some 44,000 visitors descended upon the canyon's mighty red rocks. Now the park, which celebrated its centennial in 2019, receives more than five million visitors each year.

Beyond the burgeoning national parks, coastal areas in the United States continued to welcome vacationers in search of sun, sea and sand. Many luxurious tourist resorts and hotels popped up in Florida throughout the early 1900s, all catering to the discerning travellers able to afford vacations in this part of the century. St Augustine's Ponce de Leon Hotel, finished in the 19th century, welcomed distinguished guests such as Theodore Roosevelt during this time.

Despite the nation’s fascination with the Conklin family’s journey in 1915, motorhomes – which were still often expensive and cumbersome at this point in time – didn’t take off among the masses just yet. However, trailers, which were lighter and more affordable than full-blown RVs, gained in popularity throughout the 1920s. The Tin Can Tourists Club, an auto-camping club formed in 1919, burgeoned throughout this decade.

In the 1920s, the popularity of cruising continued to grow with luxurious liners transporting wealthy Americans to Europe and beyond. Pioneering cruise companies such as White Star and Cunard built sumptuous ships and journey times – particularly for trips across the Atlantic – continued to shrink. Here a pair of affluent female passengers are escorted across the deck by the chief steward on Cunard’s Scythia liner, en route to the Mediterranean.

Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Sphinx, were another popular stop-off destination during the so-called golden age of cruising. Here, in 1923, American tourists from the Cunard liner Scythia are pictured wandering among the ancient structures.

The decadent cruise ships of the 1920s (though much simpler than the juggernauts of today’s cruise industry) were also a destination in themselves. Fine dining, live musical entertainment and opulent balls were all commonplace on the liners of yesteryear. Here, in 1926, guests dance at a ball on the White Star Line's Majestic, the largest liner in the world at the time.

The 1920s saw a continued fascination with America’s national parks and improved road conditions around the country made it easier than ever for tourists to get back to nature. Car ownership was becoming more and more common and many Americans spent their vacation time on the road, with the great outdoors their final destination. The year 1926 also saw the birth of Route 66 – today the 'Mother Road' is synonymous with the great American road trip.

By the 1930s, vacations within the United States were opening up to the American middle classes too. They usually involved jaunts to the coast, and plenty of swimming, sunbathing, card games and alfresco dining. Good railroad connections and the slew of tourist resorts that popped up in the 1920s meant that tourism boomed in Miami throughout the Thirties.

Many seaside vacation spots had tourist-focused amusements, from games arcades to restaurants, lining their beaches. Meanwhile, popular vacation pastimes included sports such as beach volleyball, which is thought to have been invented in this decade. Here a group of tourists enjoy a game of baseball on Miami’s sandy beach.

Throughout the 1930s, cruising remained the domain of the richest in society and everything on board was geared towards passengers’ pleasure. Deck games such as shuffleboard were extremely popular – here passengers on Red Star Line’s luxurious SS Lapland enjoy a game.

By this point in time, most liners would also have a swimming pool, a feature now entirely commonplace on modern cruise ships. As well as playing games and enjoying the onboard entertainment, passengers would use their time on deck to catch some rays. Here, in 1930, guests on lavish liner Atlantis soak up the sunshine beside the lido and listen to some records.

Lounges and dining rooms on 1930s cruise ships were also opulent places, often decorated with chandeliers and plush soft furnishings and filled with live music. Here wealthy passengers aboard the Canadian Pacific liner Duchess of Bedford take tea and enjoy music played by a string quartet during a transatlantic journey in 1931.

Mediterranean cruises remained incredibly sought after throughout the 1930s. The Portuguese isle of Madeira, which was also popular with Brits at this time, was another common stop-off for cruise ships. In this photograph, passengers from Red Star’s Lapland drink in the ocean views during an excursion in 1933.

The Great Depression shook the automobile industry, and car sales declined throughout this decade. However, those who could afford it still enjoyed the freedom of the open road, travelling to the coast, the mountains and beyond. The year 1936 also saw the invention of the Airstream, another iconic mode of transport that would shape the image of the American road trip in the decades that followed.

In the year 1933, some 56 national monuments and military sites came under the care of the National Park Service, further piquing Americans’ interest in these historical places throughout the country. The incorporated sites included Castillo De San Marcos, which was then named Fort Marion. By this point in the decade, Americans were not only travelling for pleasure and relaxation, but for cultural enrichment and education too.

The Second World War staved off a vacation boom throughout the 1940s. Developments in commercial aviation were largely put on hold and resources for most families were stretched. Road trips remained a popular way to escape, though, and by now trailer parks were commonplace around the United States. This colourful postcard shows a trailer park in St Petersburg, Florida.

By the 1940s, self-catering holiday cottages and chalets close to the seaside, and often a stone’s throw from major highways, were a frequent sight too. Most parks would also have plenty of space for trailers and RVs. Pictured here are Boyds Modern Tourist Cottages in Pensacola, Florida in 1941.

The popularity of amusement sites like New York’s Coney Island showed no sign of waning either. At the beginning of the decade, Coney Island was still the largest amusement park in the United States. This 1940s shot shows vacationers on Coney Island’s now defunct parachute ride, as well as hordes of tourists on the sandy beach. A series of fires throughout this decade would put Coney Island’s future at risk, though the seaside resort remains beloved today.

After the war years, another popular US tourist attraction was born: the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Spring. In 1947, Newton Perry, who formerly worked in the US navy, built an 18-seat theatre into the limestone below the water’s surface at Weeki Wachee Spring, allowing viewers to look right into the deep. He then trained performers to breathe underwater as they executed synchronised dance routines to the delight of the onlooking crowd. The attraction still remains today.

Developments in commercial aviation were put on the back-burner during the Second World War, and commercial air travel didn’t truly get off the ground in this decade. However, work began in the later part of the 1940s with war planes and air bases repurposed for commercial air travel. This shot shows Pan-American World Airways’ clipper ‘Flying Cloud’ fleet, which journeyed between London and New York.

How air travel has changed in every decade from the 1920s to today

The 1950s ushered in what is often dubbed the 'golden age of travel'. After the war, the number of passengers choosing to travel by air grew dramatically. Commercial aeroplanes had come on leaps and bounds, and many now boasted cabins that were not just comfortable, but luxurious. Journey times were becoming shorter across the board, planes were larger and flying was safer than ever before.

However, flying wasn’t cheap and only the richest citizens could afford to experience this lavish mode of transport. Your vacation began as soon as you stepped on the plane, with passengers dressing in their finery and enjoying multi-course meals and fine drinks throughout the duration of their flight.

The increasing popularity of commercial air travel made reaching far-flung corners of the globe even easier for those who could afford it. Americans remained intrigued by Europe and the breathtaking Mediterranean coastline, and many wealthy vacationers made trips across the pond during this decade. Here tourists wait to enter the Blue Grotto on the Italian isle of Capri.

Following the Second World War, the popularity of cruising enjoyed a resurgence. Though still not really accessible to the masses, luxurious cruise liners continued to transport the moneyed classes to many parts of the globe, including Europe, Africa, Alaska and the Caribbean. The Blue Riband also saw transatlantic liners compete for the fastest crossing time.

But despite a shrinking globe, America’s love affair with its own coast showed no sign of fizzling out. Beyond well-established tourist hotspots like Miami, Atlantic City and Coney Island, more secluded beach escapes rapidly gained in popularity too. Here, tourists enjoy the calm waters and white sands of Sanibel Island, a Floridian barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, in 1955.

Another top vacation destination, especially popular among the upper classes, was Long Island. Well-heeled New Yorkers would (and still do) flock to upscale resort areas such as The Hamptons, growing the population of these areas significantly through the summer months. This 1950s photograph captures a group of surfers being pulled along by an ATV on a beach near Long Island’s Southampton.

Skiing also became more popular and accessible throughout the 1950s, mostly due to the continued development of recreational skis. Idaho’s Sun Valley, one of America’s earliest ski resorts, thrived throughout the Fifties, welcoming celebrities and members of high society. It was also the site of the world’s first chairlifts, which were invented by Union Pacific Railroad engineer James Curran.

By the 1950s, the road trip had become a true fixture of American culture. The years after the Second World War saw a boom in automobile ownership across the States and road conditions had improved a great deal too. Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On The Road helped cement the country’s infatuation with America's highways and byways. 

As more and more Americans took to the road during their vacation time, laid-back motels and diners became a pervasive sight along United States’ highways. A classic 'mom-and-pop' motel – usually marked by colourful or neon signage – would offer affordable lodgings and a place to park up for the night. They’d often be accompanied by a cafe or diner offering down-home cooking too.

Many families combined a road trip with a classic beach vacation, filling their motorcars with beach balls, picnic baskets and luggage, then making for the coast. This young family are headed out from Tallahassee, Florida in 1957.

During the 1950s, there was one more thing that had Americans hitting the road: California’s Disneyland opened in Anaheim in 1955. The first of Disney’s now infamous parks, Disneyland drew visitors from across the country and beyond. Here eager spectators hang on every word as Walt Disney gives a dedication speech on the park’s opening day.

Disneyland set the bar for all future American theme parks and visitors flocked to the newly opened attraction throughout the 1950s. The early park comprised of five different amusement areas or 'lands': Tomorrowland, Main Street, U.S.A, Frontierland, Adventureland and Fantasyland. The iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, now synonymous with Disney, appeared in Fantasyland.

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The 1960s unfolded in a similar fashion to the 1950s, and the 'golden age of travel' lived on. Flying was still an expensive and elaborate affair that few could afford during this time. But, in the coming decades, commercial air travel was to become much more accessible. 

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Across the pond, Spanish tourist resorts such as Costa Brava and Costa Blanca became increasingly popular with Brits, who mainly travelled on the package holidays that had gained momentum since the end of the 1940s. While these Mediterranean spots typically attracted tourists from the UK, some well-off Americans keen to pair a fly-and-flop break with a tour of Europe could be found on these beaches too.

By the 1960s, many state and national parks were also geared up for vacationers with tents, RVs or trailers, and they often boasted well-maintained campsites and amenities like covered picnic areas. Fully fledged RVs (not simply trailers) also grew in favour throughout the 1960s, as motorhome company Winnebago launched more affordable models that appealed to the masses.

The mermaid show, established at Weeki Wachee Spring in the 1940s, continued to be a hit throughout this decade – especially given the improved road conditions in the area. Vacationers would come to see the famous mermaids perform, but also to enjoy the natural beauty of Weeki Wachee Spring itself. Here vacationers are pictured barbecuing on a pier boat out on the water.

Post-war, American motorists flocked to Route 66, which was by now peppered with motels, auto camps, diners and gas stations. In 1960, Route 66, an American TV series that followed the escapades of a pair of young men travelling the route, aired on CBS. As the Mother Road continued to crop up in popular culture, America's fascination with her grew.

The 1970s was the decade that overseas travel truly opened up to America’s middle classes. Until now, air travel had been the preserve of the upper reaches of society. However the invention of the world’s first 'jumbo jet', the Boeing 747, meant airlines could transport large numbers of passengers at once, driving the price of tickets down. The model completed its first commercial flight in 1970 with Pan American World Airways.

This was also the decade that cruising began to appeal to the middle classes. Another facet of travel once reserved for the rich, cruising became more affordable as the years went on, and was also popularised by 1977 TV series The Love Boat, which aired until 1986. The comedy series, which was set on a luxury liner, is widely credited with changing public perceptions about cruising and its accessibility, and boosting the industry as a whole.

The atmosphere on a 1970s cruise ship was more relaxed than in the decades gone by, with sunbathing favoured over organised deck games, and relaxed buffets replacing fine-dining experiences. These passengers are soaking up the sun on Orient Line cruise ship SS Oronsay in the year 1971.

Some 16 years after California’s Disneyland was established, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida flung open its gates too. The site’s inaugural day in 1971 saw thousands of visitors pour into the park, ready to explore themed areas from Frontierland to Tomorrowland. The park’s popularity in this initial decade would set a precedent for its future.

The 1970s also represented the heyday of the 'hippie trail', which saw young Americans and Brits backpack through Europe, the Middle East and parts of southern Asia. The route became synonymous with peace and alternative culture, and involved long overland journeys, with travellers trying to keep costs down as much as possible.

The Volkswagen Type 2 became a symbol of the hippie trail, since many made the journey in this van. This classic model wasn’t reserved for the hippies though – it was also popular with adventurers remaining on home soil. It’s pictured here on the shores of Little Duck Key in the Florida Keys.

In this decade, more than ever before, air travel was booming. And, according to Travel + Leisure, the freedom of the air meant there were some particular destinations on America’s radar: these included Japan, Australia and Thailand. According to the long-running publication, other travel trends of the decade included luxurious spa retreats and gourmet-themed trips. 

Vacationers’ love affair with Spain continued to blossom and Ibiza was another destination that gained in popularity throughout the 1980s. It became globally famous in this decade for the Balearic beat, a style of dance music that emerged in the island's throbbing nightclubs. Meanwhile, the beaches of Costa Brava continued to sigh under the weight of ever-surmounting tourist numbers from across the globe.

Americans continued to travel across the country for theme parks. Florida’s Magic Kingdom proved to be a roaring success and Epcot (then Epcot Center) opened in 1982. The theme park, whose name stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was initially intended to be a city where people would live and work. However, since Walt Disney died before his vision was realised, the site was turned into a glittering amusement park instead.

The cruise industry continued to flourish and the 1980s nurtured a brand new concept: the 'cruise to nowhere'. Marketed as the ultimate relaxing vacation, the 'cruise to nowhere' involved passengers embarking on a shorter trip with a liner that didn't dock at any ports of call. These cruises were typically cheaper and quieter than their destination-focused counterparts.

By the 1990s a stay at a theme park was a common family vacation and amusement sites of all kinds continued to spring up around the country. The year 1990 saw the opening of Universal Studios Florida (Universal Studios Hollywood had been a theme park since the 1960s). If the Disney parks hadn’t already succeeded in this aim, Universal Studios established Florida as the theme-park capital of the world.

Across the pond, Europe, which was already home to numerous historic amusement parks, was christened with its first Disney site. Disneyland Paris (originally Euro Disney) opened on 12 April 1992 with lands mirroring those at stateside parks, from Main Street, U.S.A to Fantasyland. Pictured here is a press preview on 11 April, the day before the park welcomed the public.

During the 1990s, safaris also became a popular vacation choice for those who had big enough budgets. Top destinations included Kruger National Park in South Africa and Chobe National Park in Botswana. Here former president of the United States Bill Clinton watches an elephant pass before his safari jeep in Chobe National Park in 1998.

Nothing affected travel in the 1990s more than the World Wide Web, which was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. Though still in its infancy throughout the Nineties, the web gave vacationers the freedom to search for deals and travel more independently. Companies such as Travelweb.com (an early hotel aggregator), Viator, Expedia and Lastminute.com all had their start in the 1990s. Internet cafes catering to the tech-savvy traveller also began popping up across the globe.

Going hand-in-hand with the development of the World Wide Web was the rise of budget airlines. Low-cost US carriers like Southwest (which began operating in the 1970s) led the way, while airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, founded in 1984 and 1995 respectively, revolutionised air travel in Europe and beyond. More and more, travellers began abandoning more traditional travel agents in favour of organising their own trips online.

The tragic events of 9/11 affected the tourism industry, with many Americans avoiding travel in the years that followed. Tighter security in airports and aircraft cabins also ensued. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it was low-cost carriers who saw growth throughout the rest of this decade – a trend that has continued into the 2010s.

The travel tech revolution continued with the invention of Tripadvisor in 2000. As is still the case today, this meant many facets of a vacation, including hotels and restaurants, were now planned based on recommendations from fellow travellers, rather than from industry professionals.

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Through the 2000s, glitzy mega resorts and teetering skyscrapers sprang up across the UAE, piquing the interest of American vacationers after a touch of luxury. Dubai’s tourism industry grew rapidly throughout this decade, and construction of the Palm Islands (a string of man-made archipelagos hosting luxurious resorts) began in 2001. The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was also completed in 2009.

In 2004, the creation of another online platform would change how Americans – and indeed the rest of the world – travel forever. Facebook launched in February 2004 and, for the first time, a vacation was no longer a private affair. Increasingly, travellers saw their vacation through a camera lens, later carving out the best bits and posting them online for all to see.

The next decade was another that was dominated by technology, with booking apps and social media platforms changing our approach to vacations. Photo-sharing platform Instagram launched in 2010 and has influenced the way travellers choose to spend their vacation time ever since. For younger generations especially, a city break or seaside getaway now involves scoping out 'Insta-famous' spots and getting that perfect shot.

Airbnb was founded in 2008, but really came into its own throughout this decade. Today many vacationers would prefer a stay in a local’s home over a more impersonal hotel or rental apartment. Rather than seeing vacation time as merely a chance to relax, modern travellers jump at the chance to 'live like a local' for the duration of their break.

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The thirst for local experiences means many modern travellers are eschewing fly-and-flop breaks in favour of vacations that allow them to interact with locals and partake in cultural activities. Airbnb launched its own Experiences platform in 2016 – using this tool, travellers can choose from a range of activities guided by locals on the ground, from cooking classes to art workshops.

The accessibility of all corners of the globe means overtourism is a reality many destinations face today. Vacationers may experience jostling crowds and long queues as they go about their travels, while overcrowding can have a damaging impact on local communities, infrastructure and natural habitats. Venice, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Isle of Skye in Scotland are just a handful of places that have struggled to cope with ever-surging tourist numbers in recent years.

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As a reaction to overtourism and climate change, travellers are now increasingly aware of their impact on the destinations they visit, meaning sustainable tourism became an important trend for this decade. This looks different depending on the destination and the individual holidaymaker, but may involve staying in eco-conscious accommodation, being mindful about their choice of tour operator and their impact on local communities, or limiting the use of polluting modes of transport.

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Fuelled by a drive towards more sustainable travel, the 2020s have seen the renaissance of rail travel across the globe. In Europe, new sleeper services like the Nightjet from Paris to Berlin offer a romantic and refreshing alternative to flying across the continent. Further afield, new rail lines are opening up exciting destinations little visited by tourists, like the Boten–Vientiane railway in Laos.

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The 2020s saw more dogs on planes, trains and automobiles than ever before as taking Fido on your vacation became the norm rather than the exception. A 2023 survey by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that 37% of animal owners travel with their pets every year, a 19% increase on the previous decade. Hotels have become more accommodating too after a recent study showed becoming pet-friendly could increase revenue by 30% a year. 

Travel content is one of the most popular video categories on TikTok with the #travel alone amassing more than 195.3 billion views and counting. Gen Z consider the app their ‘travel best friend’, turning to it for vacation ideas, recommendations, hidden gems and, increasingly, entire itineraries. TikTok says that 77% of its users are inspired to visit a destination, or even purchase a travel-related product, after discovering it on the app.

The early 2020s saw a staggering rise in Indigenous-led tourism across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic made people more aware of the impact travelling can have on destinations and communities. And a growing awareness of Indigenous history sparked curiosity and a realisation that those who have lived somewhere the longest have the deepest understanding of that destination. It has benefited the communities financially too with Indigenous tourism generating £31.2 billion ($40bn) in revenue in 2022 alone.

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