There is nothing like jumping on a plane and heading off somewhere warm and exotic, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could fly in more comfort, take faster flights to remote destinations, enjoy a spa treatment at the airport, or perhaps view our dream resorts with Google Streetview before booking that holiday of a lifetime?

Well, if the latest consultation by Lonely Planet is anything to go by, it looks as though the future of travel is going to be all about comfort, convenience and luxury.

To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of commercial air travel, Lonely Planet and the International Air Transport Association teamed together to predict the future of travel and it seems that travel is to become part of our lifestyle, rather than an annual holiday or weekend getaway.

So, what does the future of travel look like…?

Well, flights are to get faster and cheaper so that we can nip to Rio de Janeiro for the Carnival weekend, Google Streetview will show us exactly what our chosen holiday destinations and resorts are going to look like before we even get there, and airports will offer spas, art galleries and more leisure activities to keep us entertained.

Travel is to become a paperless environment, with most of us using our smartphones to book our holidays and check in at the airport, although many of us will be looking for luxury escapes in remote destinations with no internet connections and no phone signal.

Green travel will be big in the future, with airlines, cruise lines, and resort developers looking to lower their carbon footprints, and travellers choosing responsible and sustainable tourism over any other type of holiday.

The future of travel sounds very exciting indeed, and I for one, cannot wait!

Photo courtesy of Ibo Island Dhow Safaris, Mozambique