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That can include everything from taking cooking classes in Italy to having dinner with a genuine French baron.
"There's nothing wrong with laying on the beach," said Tom Armstrong, corporate communications manager of Tack Tours in Norwalk. "It's suited to lots of people. But we like to offer an alternative of in-depth, engaging experiences that really reveal a destination."
And many people are taking them up on it. The most popular travel spot in recent years has been Italy, according to several local travel agents.
People are flocking to the country to take in the food and history of Florence, Venice and Rome.
And while they want to check out a museum or two, many also want to break away to go hiking and biking. "Travelers today are more restless than their parents," said Nancy Yale, president of Cruise Resort and World Travel in Fairfield. "... Food is a big thing. They might take a cooking class or eat at the best restaurant in that area."
Another reason Italy has become such a popular destination is that the country has many regions with distinct cultures and traditions, according to Carol Warren, president of Warren Travel Group.
She recently went to Abruzzo, Italy, which has not yet become as popular as some of the other areas in the country.
"Many people want to go back and have new experiences in the same place," she said. "As agents, we need to be constantly learning and having new experiences ourselves."
With the Internet becoming so popular in recent years, some people may be tempted to forego the travel agent altogether and plan a vacation themselves.
But area agents say that while the internet is helpful for making airline reservations, people can easily find themselves overwhelmed with information when trying to plan a trip to an unfamiliar place.
"When the internet first debuted, there was a lot of concern among (travel) agents that they would become nonessential," Armstrong said. "At that time, people had to go to an agent to book an airfare."
Since then, most travel agents have gotten out of the business of booking flights, instead becoming experts on the places their clients want to travel.
"We're out there every day and we know the good, centrally located hotels," Armstrong said. "We know which ones are worth your money."
Nancy Yale said her agents make it their business to know when cruise lines will offer special deals as well as how to get a free meal plan as part of a Disney World package.
"People have a perception that it will be cheaper if they plan it themselves," she said. "In reality, they are not saving a dime. Our service is free."
Warren said that for her, the internet has become a tool to help clients.
Once she has recommended a hotel or restaurant, she often has people look at a certain web site to learn more about the destination.
In that way, the traveler can find exactly the information they want on the internet, rather than starting from scratch and sifting through hundreds of web sits.
Another trend in travel has people seeking out travel agents to plan trips for large groups. With extended families living farther apart, many are combining their vacation with a family reunion, according to Armstrong.
"People are thinking that if they have to fly to see each other anyway, it may be simpler for everyone to go on an organized tour."
One set of tours launched by his company several years ago, called Tauck Bridges, was originally planned for parents with children.
But people are signing up with groups as large as 30 or 40. "Sometimes the entire tour will be one family group," Armstrong said.
The tours, with destinations as diverse as the Galapagos Islands, the American West or Tanzania, help build relationships between family members who also learn firsthand about different parts of the world.
"Some of the most exotic places are some of the most popular," he added
For those seeking out a cruise for their vacation, another travel trend is the European River cruise, according to Armstrong.
This type of cruise allows people to see many destinations without packing and unpacking.
One popular tour offered by Tauck traverses the continent, beginning in Amsterdam and ending 24 days later at the Black Sea.
Small ships cruising the Mediterranean are also popular, giving travelers an intimate setting not possible on a larger ship, Armstrong said.
Because of the boat's smaller size, the captain might drop anchor in a cove, allowing passengers to swim.
"That would never happen on a large cruise ship that can only stop in major ports," Armstrong said.
But while learning out about the trends can be interesting, local agents agree that travelers need to look within themselves to set up their dream vacation.
"People should follow their instinct," Warren said.
"If you've always wanted to go to India and you know what that area of the world is all about, then you should do it."
Yale added that she has recently visited some countries that are not as heavily traveled, including Istanbul and Southern Turkey.
"These are experiences of a lifetime that the kids will never forget," she said. "What an experience it can be to learn about a different culture."
