Hilton Skillcations: A Global Taste of Travel and Personal Growth

What’s the hottest travel trend for the New Year? Adventure seekers are looking for vacations that are not only escapes but also opportunities to grow. In 2026, travellers seek experiences that challenge, teach, and inspire. From learning to cook like a pro to connecting with local culture through a dance class, holidays are blending excitement with hands-on personal growth.

These “skillcations” are changing how people view travel. Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report shows that 72 per cent of travellers want their time off to be about pursuing passions, trying something new, and returning home with stories that thrill and skills that stick. Whether it’s learning a new technique, tackling a physical challenge, or exploring eco-conscious living, travellers are returning home not just refreshed, but also enriched.

The beauty of a skillcation is the lasting impression it leaves. Want to join the movement? Here’s where intrepid explorers can jet off to in 2026 to maximise their PTO and embrace a “New Year, New You” mindset.

Hotel del Coronado – Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience

At San Diego’s iconic Hotel del Coronado, guests can learn the art of surfing from top Southern Californian instructors. In partnership with Jamie O’Brien, the pro who conquered Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore, the hotel hosts his first-ever mainland surf school. Here, calm waves and excellent coaching create the ideal environment for beginners to learn how to hang ten.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort 

During a stay at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, skillcationers can choose their own adventure. Boasting a saltwater lagoon, stand-up paddleboard yoga, five pools, and an exhilarating 77-foot slide, this is a hotel where boredom simply isn’t on the itinerary. Travellers can swim, ride an aqua-cycle, snorkel, and more. For the ultimate, culturally immersive experience, join the resort’s hula lessons, offered four times a week at the Waikiki Starlight Luau. Round it out with a lei-making experience or an island day trip to the movie-famous Kualoa Ranch to return home with serious aloha spirit.

Hilton Goa Resort 

India’s Hilton Goa Resort, perched on the terraced slopes of Saipem Hills with views of the Nerul River, offers a culturally rich escape. For full immersion, guests can join the Mapusa Market Experience, created in partnership with local experts from Soul Travelling. During this adventure, they’ll wander a bustling bazaar filled with spices and handmade goods, engage with local vendors, learn negotiation skills, visit a seed nursery and bakery, and gain insights into daily life and traditions.

Yearning for more ways to explore? During their stay, adventure seekers can also travel Goa’s network of scenic backwaters and discover the region’s deep-rooted fishing traditions firsthand on the resort’s Backwater Fishing & Crab Catching Experience. Led by a seasoned local expert, this programme takes participants on a journey through traditional sluice gates, teaches the basics of using a fishing rod, and explores the cultural significance of fishing in everyday Goan life. Guests then try their hand at crab catching for a first-hand foray into local techniques.

Botanika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton

Nestled in the heart of Costa Rica’s lush Osa Peninsula, Botanika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton is a haven for nature lovers. Surrounded by some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, this eco-friendly resort is an unparalleled gateway into adventure and discovery. Join the signature Monkey Tour for an immersive look at the peninsula’s playful primates. Led by expert guides, this tour winds through vibrant rainforest trails, where guests will enjoy up-close encounters with white-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, and squirrel monkeys in their natural habitats. Along the way, fascinating insights into the region’s unique ecosystem are shared, creating a thrilling and educational journey ideal for all ages.

Hilton Singapore Orchard 

Hilton Singapore Orchard, situated in the heart of the city’s premier shopping and entertainment district, is home to the famed Osteria Mozza, the only Asian outpost from MICHELIN-starred chef Nancy Silverton. The Chef’s Showcase offers a hands-on Pasta and Pesto Workshop at the restaurant’s Mozzarella Bar. Participants learn practical culinary skills, including shaping various types of pasta and preparing pesto from scratch using Chef Nancy’s signature recipe, in an experience that encourages creativity, attention to detail, and confidence in the kitchen. This is followed by a delicious three-course lunch and a take-home kit with fresh pasta, a jar of pesto, cheese, and a recipe card to continue practising the skills at home.

ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts

At ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, travellers can immerse themselves in centuries-old Japanese traditions through a series of artisan-led workshops. In one, guests dip into the delicate craft of washi paper making as they learn to transform mulberry bark fibres into hand-pressed sheets. In another, those with an eye for design can try kintsugi, the art of mending broken pottery from ROKU KYOTO with lacquer and gold dust, guided by master Hiroki. Rounding out the options is a tranquil tea ceremony in a historic teahouse relocated from Kyoto’s revered Daitokuji Temple, offering a serene cultural pause. Meanwhile, the resort’s handicraft porcelain making class, taught by a third-generation master Kano Shoukoku, lets guests shape, glaze, and kiln-fire their own ceramic works of art using clay sourced from the ROKU KYOTO construction site. Each workshop blends mindfulness, tradition, and creativity, offering keepsakes that hold both beauty and meaning.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal 

For a spirited seminar, head to Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, where guests can savour Mexico’s agave heritage at the resort’s Agave Study at Peacock Alley. This educational tasting journey celebrates the depth and diversity of agave spirits, from tequila in Jalisco to smoky mezcal in Oaxaca, paired with regional delicacies that showcase provenance and craftsmanship. This multi-sensory cultural experience, rooted in ancient tradition, fosters connection to the land and its people while serving as a flavorful exploration of Mexico’s iconic plant.

Baker’s Cay Resort, Key Largo

At Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton, guests can take the meaning of “fresh catch” to a new level. The Dock to Dish programme sends participants out on the water with skilled captains to reel in their supper, then brings them back to the kitchen to prepare it side by side with culinary pros who guide them through the cooking process and demonstrate how to utilise every edible element of the catch. Paired with fresh herbs and spices from the resort’s rooftop garden, this hands-on experience delivers an authentic taste of the Florida Keys. If that’s not enough, the resort’s Eco-Educator leads daily nature walks to explain the Keys’ ecosystem, serving as an interactive science class.

Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel 

When in Rome… learn to fight like a gladiator. At Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, guests can join the official Gladiator School, located right on the hotel grounds. This family-friendly experience allows aspiring battle masters to learn the ancient art of combat. To amp up the fun, each participant dresses in full gladiator gear, wearing a traditional tunic, Roman sandals, a belt, and protective gloves, while wielding a wooden training sword. Training includes sparring in battle styles such as Gallus, Provocatores, and Thracian, allowing kids (and those young at heart) to get both a workout and a crash course in Roman history.