Travel news: Camping, football and all inclusive

By: Editorial Office | Source: press material

It was Monday again, which as usual means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week it's all about camping, football and all inclusive. Enjoy!

New report: Camping is the engine of Swedish summer tourism

Camping is today the largest holiday accommodation in three out of four counties during the summer, and at the same time the industry continues to grow. Now Svensk Camping is releasing its new annual report, which collects statistics, trend insights and future prospects for one of Sweden's most important tourism industries.

The report emphasizes the importance of cooperation between camping companies, destinations and public actors in order for Sweden to strengthen its position as an international camping destination. Some facts from the report:

• 17.3 million guest nights at Sweden's campsites in 2025 – a new record.
• Camping is the largest form of accommodation in three out of four counties during the summer.
• 47 percent of all tourist overnight stays in Sweden were spent at a campsite, during July 2025.
• Kalmar County had the highest proportion of camping overnight stays – seven out of ten tourist nights during the summer were at a campsite.
• Västra Götaland County had the most camping guest nights 2025 among the counties (3.32 million)
• Borgholm municipality had the most camping guest nights 2025 among municipalities (931.7 thousand).
• International guest nights continue to increase, especially from Germany and the Netherlands.
• The camping industry has a turnover of approximately 12 billion kronor and employs around 7,000 full-time workers.

All Inclusive is back – Gen Z is driving the trend

Planning a trip today can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Restaurants must be listed, prices compared, and the “right” areas researched in minute detail. But for many travelers, something has shifted.

This year, the travel company TUI is seeing an increase in the proportion choosing All Inclusive compared to last year – an increase of three percentage points among Gen Z, that is, young people between the ages of 18 and 29. Here are this summer's most booked All Inclusive hotels at TUI among young people:

• BLUE STAR Atlantica Sungarden Beach, Cyprus
• BLUE STAR Atlantica Callisto, Cyprus
• BLUE STAR Myrina Beach, Rhodes, Greece
• TUI SUNEO Althea Village, Crete, Greece
• Rhodes Horizon Resort, Rhodes, Greece

Europe's cities with the most sports bars – and the cheapest beer

Not all football fans will be in the stands during this summer's championship in North America, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the atmosphere. New data from hotel and travel search site momondo lists popular summer destinations in Europe that have the most sports bars - along with a beer index that shows where you get the most beer for your money.

London tops the list of Europe's most sports bar-dense destinations, with a full 65 percent of the city's bars classified as sports bars. The cheapest beer, however, can be found in Tirana, where the average price of a large strong is under 30 kronor. Popular destinations with the most sports bars:

1. London, United Kingdom (Average draft beer price: SEK 88)
2. Rome, Italy (Average price of draft beer: SEK 55)
3. Gothenburg, Sweden (Average price of draft beer: SEK 70)
4. Malaga, Spain (Average draft beer price: SEK 33)
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands (Average price of draft beer: 65 SEK)
6. Stockholm, Sweden (Average price of draft beer: SEK 75)
7. Alicante, Spain (Average draft beer price: SEK 33)
8. Barcelona, Spain (Average draft beer price: SEK 44)
9. Istanbul, Turkey (Average price of draft beer: 41 SEK)
10. Milan, Italy (Average price of draft beer: SEK 65)

Hotel Price Index 2026 – an insight into prices and trends

Hotels.com has released the Hotel Price Index 2026 – an annual data-driven report that provides unique insight into global hotel prices and trends. Here are some interesting findings from the report:

• Book late, save big: Travelers can save an average of 31 % by booking last minute (best time: 0–7 days before travel).
• Save on Sundays: You can save 9 % by checking in on a Sunday instead of a Saturday.
• Cheapest travel period: Travelers can score hotel deals by traveling in January, the cheapest month of the year. The last week of July is the most expensive domestically, and the last week of October is the most expensive internationally.
• A new definition of luxury: A room with a great view is the experience most often associated with a luxury stay. For younger travelers, a villa on the water is at the top of the wish list.
• Hotel price trends: Fiji, Kauai (USA) and Chiclana de la Frontera (Spain) are some of the destinations where hotel prices are falling the most.

Europe's best destinations for a friends trip this summer

Barcelona is the most popular city on Instagram with over 77 million mentions. Rome is the most active destination and offers the most padel courts and gyms. Bari offers the lowest hotel prices – here a night costs an average of 857 SEK. This is shown by Ello's new ranking of Europe's best destinations for this summer's friends' trip.

The ranking is based on factors such as hotel prices, restaurant costs, social media popularity, and the number of beaches, gyms, and paddle tennis courts. Spain dominates the list with several destinations at the top, while Italy stands out as the best choice for an active vacation. Here are Europe's 7 best destinations for this summer's friends trip:

1. Barcelona (65 points)
2. Rome (52 points)
3. Valencia (41 points)
4. Alicante (39 points)
5. Malaga (38 points)
6. Bari (36 points)
7. Lisbon (35 points)

Solar eclipse draws travelers to Spain

The total solar eclipse in August 2026 is currently driving a sharp increase in travel bookings to Spain and Iceland, according to new data from Amadeus. Flight bookings to destinations along the eclipse's path have increased by 25 percent compared to the same period last year, while hotel occupancy has risen by 16 percent and room rates by a whopping 36 percent.

The greatest interest is in Bilbao, Spain, where bookings have increased by 366 percent. At the same time, the statistics show that short trips of one to five days have increased by 57 percent, indicating that many are planning their trip specifically around the natural phenomenon. Solo travel is also increasing sharply, up 48 percent, as more people seek unique and experience-based trips.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Here you get the most for your money – and this is how Swedes like to vacation