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How Netflix will influence the next wave of travel trends

Updated: Oct 20, 2022


An aqua blue ice field with a man standing in the middle and looking out over the frigid blue landscape.

Let’s get real about one thing…in the past couple of years, we’ve spent an inordinate amount of time in front of the TV. How many times have you been asked “are you still watching?” only to peel yourself away from the indentation on your couch, grab the remote, and press the “yep, I’m still here and not going anywhere anytime soon” button? I’ll answer that for you: more times than we’d like to admit. But if the two years have crowned a champion outside the medical field, it would be Netflix (and yes, I'm saying that despite the fact that they're losing subscribers). They’ve made us laugh, they’ve made us cry, they’ve grossed us out…they’ve made us wonder how much we really know about our next-door neighbors. In other words, we are hopelessly devoted to them. And they're about to change the way we travel.


For as long as anyone can remember, TV has dictated pop culture trends. My own flame for travel (and quite possibly red trench coats) was fanned by my constant attempts to figure out “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego” every Saturday morning in the 90s. Today, it’s Netflix that is influencing the next wave of tourism trends, and the mandated armchair travelers of late are all too happy to be leading the way.


High-end oceanfront villa lanai made of bamboo and driftwood designed by architects and artists overlooking a blue ocean and sky.
The Sky Villa at AZULIK in Tulum, Mexico. Photo courtesy of AZULIK.

Design Travel

What to watch on Netflix:

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

Stay Here

HOME (cheating here-this one's on Apple TV)


People with discerning tastes have always sought out aesthetically pleasing accommodations, but it’s more than just whether or not something looks good these days, it has to feel good. Architecture represents history, culture, values, quality of life and thanks to Netflix shows like “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals,” “Stay Here” and “HOME” (switch to Apple TV for that one), design is being taken to the next level. Global travelers are now seeing possibilities far beyond booking bland, cookie cutter accommodations while they’re abroad. Here’s looking at you cheap hotel carpet and Cold War-era apartment buildings. Staying in places that could literally be anywhere else in the world only robs you from the authenticity of that locale.


Thoughtful and intentional interior design amplifies your travel experience. Period. Don’t believe me? Take a look at AZULIK in Tulum, where architects have created a whimsical sensory experience at the intersection of nature and spatial artistry. Their seaside villas have not only been designed to provide the utmost relaxation but to also stir your creativity, playfulness and wonder. Built at the edge of the Mayan jungle and the seafoam and sapphire Caribbean Sea, the results are nothing short of magic. But that’s just one example. Is there a more quintessential experience than renting a hous