25 Most Significant Moments in History That Redefined Travel
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One of the greatest things about travel is that it represents constant motion, and the last 100 years have produced many moments that have defined how we go about seeing the world.
From the discovery of ancient ruins to modern-day technologies that became heavy influencers to the creation of jet engines and cruise ships that carry passengers en masse, let’s take a look at some of the most significant moments that have reshaped the way we travel.
25. Discovery of King Tut's Tomb
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Year it happened: 1922
Location: Valley of the Kings, Egypt
Key players involved: Archaeologist Howard Carter
How the Discovery of King Tut’s Tomb Redefined Travel
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When British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun, it was a literal goldmine for Egypt tourism. People around the world were so enamored with his findings, which included thousands of artifacts, a stone sarcophagus with a solid gold coffin and the mummy of the boy-king himself, they just had to see them in person.
Along with the discovery of Machu Picchu 10 years earlier, this moment created a boom in global “must-see” travel.
24. Charles Lindbergh’s Nonstop Transatlantic Flight
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Year it happened: 1927
Location: New York to Paris
Key players involved: Charles Lindbergh
How Charles Lindbergh’s Nonstop Transatlantic Flight Redefined Travel
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When aviator Charles Lindbergh set out to fly the “Spirit of St. Louis” from New York to Paris, the odds were stacked against him (six other pilots tried; four died and two were severely injured).
Yet after 3,600 miles and 33.5 hours, Lindbergh safely landed in Paris to complete the world’s first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight. His achievement captivated the public, who now saw the value in air travel and wanted to start flying, too.
23. The Rise of the Jet Engine
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Years it happened: 1930-1939
Location: Germany, England, United States
Key players involved: Hans von Ohain, Frank Whittle
How the Rise of the Jet Engine Redefined Travel
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The 1930s is recognized as the birth of the jet age, but who gets the credit is widely debated. While British Royal Airforce engineer Frank Whittle patented the first turbojet engine in 1930, German physicist Hans von Ohain created the first operational jet engine in 1939.
Either way, both men’s efforts paved the way for modern-day air travel that gets us from New York to Paris in one-fourth the time it took Charles Lindbergh.
22. Passports Become Required
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Year it happened: 1941
Location: Across the world
Key players involved: United States government
How Passport Requirements Redefined Travel
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Passports have existed in various forms for centuries, (one of the earliest dates back to 450 B.C.), but they mostly weren’t required for global travel until the United States changed its laws in 1941.
Now, you can’t leave home for another country without these little blue books (or black, red or green depending on where you live). Fun fact: The U.S. State Department estimates there are about 143 million active American passports, less than 40 percent of the country’s population.
21. All-Inclusive Resorts Open
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Year it happened: 1950
Location: Majorca, Spain
Key players involved: Club Med Owner Gérard Blitz
How the Opening of All-Inclusive Resorts Redefined Travel
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Sometimes, a vacation means relaxing on the beach with a cocktail, and a great place to do that is at an all-inclusive resort. In 1950, Club Med owner Gérard Blitz started the trend with an all-inclusive hotel in Majorca, Spain. All kinds of travelers loved the convenience of paying ahead of time and enjoying all-you-can-eat food and open bars; however, back then guests used beads in exchange for drinks.
In the 1970s and ’80s, other brands like Sandals sprang up. Today, all-inclusive resorts dominate the hotel markets in Mexico and the Caribbean, with more and more popping up around the world.
20. Flying Enters a Golden Age
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Year it happened: 1952
Location: London, New York and select cities around the world
Key players involved: The British Overseas Airways Corporation, Pan Am
How the Golden Age of Flying Redefined Travel
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Aviation soared to new heights in the 1950s, thanks to the world’s first commercial jet service. In 1952, The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flew its 44-seat “Comet” from London to Johannesburg, South Africa, at an unheard of speed of 480 miles per hour, then later added routes to other cities like New York and Tokyo.
Not to be outdone, American companies such as Pan Am started offering transatlantic services. In these “flight wars,” the true winners were the passengers, who got dressed up in suits and fancy dresses, feasted on gourmet meals and sipped bubbly, solidifying that getting there is indeed half the fun.
19. The Invention of Credit Cards
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Year it happened: 1950s
Location: Across the United States
Key players involved: Diners Club International, American Express
How the Invention of Credit Cards Redefined Travel
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Have you ever paid for a plane ticket, car rental or hotel with cash? It’s pretty rare, thanks to the invention of the credit card. With the idea of “buy now, pay later” catching on after World War II, many people were enticed to book vacations they didn’t have the cash for.
Plus, they felt safer traveling with a plastic card that could easily be replaced instead of a wad of money that could be lost or stolen. The first major credit card was introduced by Diners Club Inc. in 1950, followed by the American Express Charge Card in 1958. Visa and Mastercard didn’t arrive until the mid-70s.
18. Interstates Pave the Way for Cross-Country Trips
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Year it happened: 1956
Location: Across the United States
Key players involved: President Dwight Eisenhower
How the Creation of Interstates Redefined Travel
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America’s 47,000-mile interstate system changed road travel and America as a whole. The project, supported by President Eisenhower, opened up the country like never before. Highways that were less confusing and better maintained, plus gas stations, grocery stores, motels and fast-food restaurants built alongside interstates, provided a means for people to leave their neighborhoods and drive to other states or across the country — without preparing supplies like it was the Oregon Trail.
Today (and especially over the last year and a half), the road trip remains super popular.
17. ‘On the Road’ Is Published
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Year it happened: 1957
Location: Across the United States
Key players involved: Jack Kerouac, Viking Press, backpackers
How ‘On the Road’ Redefined Travel
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Few books romanticized getting away like“On the Road” did. Jack Kerouac’s fictional journey across cities such as New York, New Orleans, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco was such a hit among readers they retraced his steps and set off on impromptu road trips of their own (good thing those interstates were created, right?)
“On the Road” continues to inspire backpacking around the world. It sells about 100,00 copies a year and has been published in 32 languages.
16. Bullet Trains Speed Up the Rails
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Year it happened: 1964
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Key players involved: Hideo Shima, a designer and driving force behind the building of the first bullet train
How the Invention of Bullet Trains Redefined Travel
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Japan launched the world’s first high-speed train system in 1964 with The Shinkansen, or “bullet train.” Traveling between Tokyo and Osaka at 130 miles per hour, the train attracted 100 million riders within three years. As other countries followed, trains rode across almost 27,000 miles of tracks and reached speeds of 267 miles per hour.
Travelers took note, and many began ditching planes for trains, which also came with the perks of going directly from one city center to the next, having more space to stretch out, avoiding long airport lines and traveling in a way that’s more environmentally friendly.
15. The 747 Takes Flight
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Year it happened: 1970
Location: New York’s JFK Airport to London Heathrow
Key players involved: Pan Am
How the 747 Taking Flight Redefined Travel
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In 1970, the Boeing 747 became a game-changer in commercial aviation. A wide-bodied jet with four engines, the aircraft was more than double the size of previous Boeing models and could fit 400 passengers. It could also travel greater distances, covering over 5,000 nautical miles.
These enhancements enabled airlines to lower their prices, making air travel both more convenient and more affordable. Though Boeing recently announced the retirement of its “Queen of the Skies,” the aircraft has endured a great run, flying almost 6 billion people across more than 57 billion nautical miles.
14. Suitcases Get Wheels
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Year it happened: 1970
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Key players involved: Bernard Sadow
How Wheeled Suitcases Redefined Travel
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Believe it or not, there was a time when people actually had to carry their suitcases. In 1970, luggage aficionado Bernard Sadow came up with the idea of rolling our bags when he was struggling with heavy suitcases in San Juan and saw an airport worker rolling a wheeled skid without any effort.
Stores weren’t super into the new design at first, but Macy’s eventually became the first one to wheel out the new product. Even though Sadow got a patent, competitors were able to get around it, clearing a path for modern-day rollaboards.
13. Southwest Begins Budget Age of Travel
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Year it happened: 1971
Location: Dallas, Texas
Key players involved: Southwest Airlines, Spirit, JetBlue
How the Launch of Southwest Airlines Redefined Travel
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While the 1950s were about a golden age of travel, the 1970s launched the era of budget-conscious airlines. Southwest was the first low-cost airline in the United States, taking to the skies in 1971 and offering fares as low as $10 (on a flight between Houston and Dallas). Over the years, other airlines such as Spirit and JetBlue entered the low-cost market.
Passengers may not have gotten lobster and champagne, but they got something better: the freedom of more choices, as budget airlines forced others to lower their prices, and the ability to travel without breaking the bank.
12. Hotel Enhancements Like Key Cards and Minibars
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Year it happened: 1974
Locations: Hong Kong and Atlanta, Georgia
Key players involved: Westin Peachtree Plaza, Hong Kong Hilton
How the Invention of Key Cards and Minibars Redefined Travel
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Ever get locked out of your hotel room and need a new key card? Or get hungry in the middle of the night and grab a snack from your minibar? It’s hard to imagine a hotel stay without these little luxuries, but they didn’t appear until the 1970s.
The minibar debuted at the Hong Kong Hilton in 1974 while key cards were put into place in 1978 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta. The cards forever changed the way we entered our rooms, while minibars made sure we spent more money inside them.
11. UNESCO Announces Its First World Heritage Sites
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Year it happened: 1978
Location: Around the world
Key players involved: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
How UNESCO’s List of Heritage Sites Redefined Travel
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Like the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, when UNESCO announced its first world heritage sites, it created a travel bucket list. Obscure destinations like the Galapagos Islands were now on every traveler’s radar, while other places such as Aachen Cathedral in Germany and Yellowstone National Park in the United States, also received recognition.
Today, there are almost 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the list includes popular must-see destinations like the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and Vatican City.
10. Cruises Get ‘The Love Boat’
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Year it happened: Late 1970s to mid-1980s
Location: The Caribbean and Our Living Rooms
Key players involved: Princess Cruises, Aaron Spelling, ABC Television
How ‘The Love Boat’ Redefined Travel
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Cruises weren’t a new thing in the 1970s (companies like Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean had already set sail), but it was “The Love Boat” that helped the industry make waves. Audiences couldn’t get enough of the Aaron Spelling show, which was one of ABC’s biggest hits during its 10-year run. Wanting to experience their own pleasure cruise, more and more travelers took to the seas.
A decade later, cruising was so popular that Royal Caribbean launched its Sovereign of the Seas, the industry’s first megaship that held over 2,600 passengers!
9. The Berlin Wall Falls
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Year it happened: 1989
Location: Berlin, Germany
Key players involved: The people of Germany
How The Berlin Wall Coming Down Redefined Travel
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For 28 years, The Berlin Wall both divided Germany and served as a painful reminder of a divided world. On Nov. 9, 1989, that wall came tumbling down, benefitting both Germany and the nations to the east. Countries in Eastern Europe that were hard or nearly impossible for westerners to visit finally opened up, and travelers were eager to explore the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other counties.
Today, cities like Berlin, Budapest and Prague are among Europe’s most visited.
8. New Travel Websites Give Travel Power to the People
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Year it happened: 1996
Location: Around the world
Key players involved: Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, Tripadvisor
How New Travel Booking and Opinion Websites Redefined Travel
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In 1996, Expedia.com launched a new era of DIY travel. Customers loved not having to rely on travel agents and enjoyed the thrill of planning their own vacations. Other websites such as Booking.com, Orbitz and Priceline soon followed.
In 2001, TripAdvisor gave consumers even more power, allowing users to post reviews on hotels, restaurants, tour companies and more. As the website grew in popularity and became an essential part of travel planning (there’s currently more than 750 user reviews), businesses were more beholden than ever before — and none of them wanted to see their bubble burst.
7. The September 11 Attacks
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Year it happened: 2001
Location: New York; Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.
Key players involved: Al Qaeda
How the September 11 Attacks Redefined Travel
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The tragic events of September 11 and subsequent events like the attempted shoe bomb caused worldwide shock and sadness. As the economy plunged, so did people’s confidence in flying, and airplane travel as we knew it would never be the same again.
Security became much tighter, full-body scans and regular pat-downs became the norm, and only ticketed passengers could go through security to departure gates. Our shoes came off, IDs were checked in a much stricter way and liquids were limited to 3.4 ounces and put in clear plastic bags and unattended luggage made us all uneasy and were considered a serious threat.
6. We Eat, Pray, Love Without Reservations
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Year it happened: 2005, 2008
Location: Globally
Key players involved: Anthony Bourdain, Elizabeth Gilbert
How ‘No Reservations’and ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Defined Travel
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With his show “No Reservations,” Anthony Bourdain offered empathetic storytelling and up-close and personal looks at food and culture around the world. His unbridled connections to locals made us want to do the same. Suddenly, travel was not about checking something off our list, it was about experiencing a destination like a local and forging meaningful connections.
Similarly, in 2006, the publication of Elizabeth Gilbert's “Eat, Pray, Love”inspired a new era of “transformative travel” where vacations became moments to slow down and seek out spiritual experiences and awakenings.
5. iPhones Become an All-in-One Travel Accessory
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Year it happened: 2007
Location: Cupertino, California, and around the world
Key players involved: Apple, Steve Jobs
How iPhones and Other Smartphones Redefined Travel
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Though smartphones have been around since the mid-90s, Apple’s iPhone (and other touchscreen devices) revolutionized the way we travel. We use our phones to book flights and store boarding passes.
Paper maps and heavy stacks of books? No thanks. Translation apps made it easier to communicate in foreign countries, and we could even take photos galore with a built-in camera. Perhaps the best part: We could text or video chat with our loved ones back at home (for free, thanks to Wi-Fi!), which sure beats calling collect or using those phone cards.
4. Airbnb Changes Where We Sleep
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Year it happened: 2008
Location: San Francisco, California
Key players involved: FoundersBrian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk and Joe Gebbia
How the Creation of Airbnb Redefined Travel
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Why stay in a hotel when you can pay less to sleep on someone’s couch, in their guest room or rent their entire home? Airbnb successfully convinced us to switch where we sleep when it was launched in 2008.
Today, Airbnb has become one of the most popular lodging companies in the world, providing millions of listings across the globe (more than major hotel chains like Marriot and Hilton, even). With options that are usually more affordable and unique than generic hotel rooms (and are more inviting for longer stays), Airbnb has literally opened doors to a new way of travel.
3. Uber Takes Us for a Ride
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Year it happened: 2009
Location: Around the world
Key players involved: Founders Garret Camp and Travis Kalamick
How Uber and Other Rideshares Services Redefined Travel
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For some people, one of the most stressful parts of traveling is learning how to navigate a new city, and while taking taxis may sound more convenient, there can be language barriers and dishonest drivers literally taking you for a ride.
In 2009, Uber changed that. Today, many travelers rely on rideshare services to get to and from the airport or around town, feeling more at ease with pre-set fares and being able to pay with a credit card instead of converting cash. An estimated 93 million people took an Uber in 2020.
2. Instagram Inspires All
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Year it happened: 2010
Location: Around the world
Key players involved: Kevin Systrom, Mike Kriege, Mark Zuckerberg
How the Launch of Instagram Redefined Travel
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Instagram was an instant hit when it was launched by Kevin Systrom and Mike Kriege in 2010, attracting over a million years within two months of its release. Now, with over a billion users, the app has become a key player in the travel industry, a crucial marketing tool for small businesses, boutique hotels and even destinations themselves to attract visitors.
Whether it's an amazing photo of a Tulum cenote or of the Northern Lights through a filtered lens, Instagram feeds our wanderlust (and FOMO!) and directly influences and inspires our travels like never before.
1. COVID-19 Changes Everything
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Year it happened: 2019 to present
Location: Around the world
Key players involved: Everyone
How COVID-19 Redefined Travel
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As this virus swept across the world, most things shut down, and travel came to a screeching halt. Masks, constantly washing our hands and staying 6 feet apart became everyday life. And we mourned those we lost.
When shutdowns ended, many didn’t stray too far from home, opting for smaller road trips instead of exotic vacations. Having personal space was now an essential part of travel, with national parks and other outdoor vacations sought after. A year and a half later, airplanes and hotels are filling up again, yet it’s still uncertain the impact the virus will have on the tourism industry in the future.