Top Influencer Brand Trips of All Time: From Lavish Getaways to New-Age Experiences

Influencer brand trips – those envy-inducing, all-expenses-paid getaways for content creators – have become a staple of modern influencer marketing. These trips involve flying influencers (often with a plus-one) to exotic destinations for days of curated experiences, product launches, and Instagram-worthy moments. They first rose to prominence in the mid-2010s, pioneered by fashion e-commerce brands like Revolve, and have evolved into a powerful (if sometimes controversial) marketing tool. In fact, Revolve’s Chief Brand Officer Raissa Gerona credited influencer activations (exclusive events and extravagant trips) as a major growth driver – 70% of the brand’s sales were driven by influencers at one point. As the world recovered from the pandemic, influencer trips have roared back, with brands across beauty, fashion, and e-commerce investing in immersive getaways to boost brand awareness and create waves on social media.

But which trips have stood out as the most iconic of all time? Below, we spotlight some of the top influencer trips – the lavish retreats that set industry standards – and examine what made them so impactful. From mega-brand extravaganzas to recent niche experiences, these examples offer inspiration (and lessons) for both influencers dreaming of a spot on the next plane and brands planning their own trips. We’ll also delve into why brands host these trips, how they’re changing in 2025 (hint: micro-influencers and even customers are joining the fun), and tips to make such campaigns successful.

Top Influencer Brand Trips: The Hall of Fame

Below is our curated list of some of the top influencer trips of all time, blending legendary early trips with recent headline-grabbing getaways. Each illustrates a unique approach to influencer marketing, from massive luxury blowouts to innovative new twists.

1. Revolve’s Extravagant Getaways – #RevolveAroundTheWorld

When it comes to influencer trips, Revolve is the undisputed trailblazer. The Los Angeles-based fashion e-tailer built its brand on influencer marketing and was among the first to turn brand trips into a buzzworthy art form. Since the mid-2010s, Revolve has been flying packs of fashion influencers to dream destinations under the banner #RevolveAroundTheWorld, not to mention its annual star-studded Revolve Festival at Coachella. These trips have included tropical beaches, European hotspots, ski chalets – all meticulously documented by influencers in Revolve’s latest outfits.

Revolve’s strategy was wildly successful: by 2019, influencer-driven content was responsible for roughly 70% of Revolve’s sales. The brand’s IPO that year (valuing it at $1.8 billion) further proved the payoff of investing in creators. A typical Revolve trip features Instagram-perfect moments at every turn – poolside fashion shows, yacht parties, and curated excursions – which generate a flood of posts and stories tagging @Revolve. The reach is enormous, as Revolve’s trips often involve dozens of top-tier influencers whose combined follower counts reach into the hundreds of millions.

However, even the trailblazer has had to adapt. Revolve’s constant stream of luxe getaways eventually led to some audience fatigue – by 2022, social media was saturated with nearly identical influencer vacation content. (One example was the Revolve Festival 2022, which went viral for logistical snafus, drawing “Fyre Festival 2.0” comparisons on TikTok, even as it kept Revolve trending.) Revolve’s team took note: “Trips will always be part of what we do, but we’re not going to do them as frequently… that content is over-served to the consumer on social media”, Gerona said, acknowledging the need to keep brand content feeling fresh. Despite scaling back frequency, Revolve’s early trips remain legendary – they wrote the playbook that many other brands would follow.

2. Tarte Cosmetics’ #TrippinWithTarte Series – Building a Beauty Community

If Revolve showed what influencer trips could achieve in fashion, Tarte Cosmetics proved it could work just as spectacularly in beauty. Tarte’s ongoing #TrippinWithTarte series, which launched in 2015, has become the stuff of influencer lore. The makeup brand has now hosted 20+ lavish trips since 2015 as part of its strategy – eschewing traditional ads in favor of building a community of influencers through shared experiences. As Tarte’s CEO, Maureen Kelly, explains: instead of spending on a Super Bowl ad or a celebrity spokesperson, Tarte invests its marketing budget in “building relationships and communities”.

Early #TrippinWithTarte destinations set a high bar: think Bora Bora, Maldives, or a luxe ski lodge – always paired with a new product launch or theme. These trips give selected beauty gurus and content creators an immersive brand experience complete with over-the-top welcome gifts (often a hotel room filled with Tarte products and swag) and itinerary highlights like spa days, tropical excursions, and glamorous themed parties. Tarte covers everything – first-class flights, five-star resorts, fine dining – and in return, the influencers organically flood social feeds with content. It’s dubbed a “free” trip, but influencers typically must create content during the getaway, often with designated hashtags.

One iconic example was Tarte’s trip to Turks and Caicos that went viral on TikTok. Tarte invited TikTok’s newly crowned “it-girl,” Alix Earle (over 5 million followers), among dozens of others, to a private island villa retreat. Rather than paying Alix Earle her steep posting fees, Tarte effectively traded a free vacation for huge volumes of content: Earle and friends posted nonstop about the trip. In a standard sponsorship, Tarte might have paid her hundreds of thousands of dollars for the amount of content she created – instead, the trip got her enthusiastic unpaid posts and built buzz across TikTok. Indeed, Alix posted 15 separate TikToks from the island, whereas someone of her stature charges an estimated $40k–$70k per sponsored post. That trip’s custom hashtags (like #trippinwithtarte and #tarteisland) racked up tens of millions of views.

Tarte’s biggest splash came in January 2023, when the brand exchanged its usual tropical locale for the ultra-luxurious Dubai. For the launch of Tarte’s new foundation, the company flew 50 beauty influencers (plus their plus-ones) from 8 countries to the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. The internet was mesmerized – and a bit aghast – at the sheer extravagance: influencers documented their business-class flights, private villas (each stocked with gifts and new products), camel rides in the desert, and glamorous parties. TikTok exploded with curiosity about how much the trip cost and debates about whether it was “tone-deaf” during a shaky economy. But all that chatter only amplified Tarte’s reach. 

The trip’s main hashtag #TrippinWithTarte amassed over 140 million views on TikTok, with a secondary tag #TarteDubaiTrip adding another 20 million – an astronomical level of exposure. Importantly, Tarte confirmed it did not pay these creators any extra cash beyond the trip itself, yet the influencers still eagerly posted content featuring Tarte (often alongside other brands’ products, adding a sense of authenticity). This Dubai getaway became one of the most talked-about influencer trips ever, cementing Tarte’s reputation for over-the-top experiences.

Of course, not all feedback was positive. Tarte’s trips (and others like it) have faced controversy around diversity and optics. In early 2023, a Tarte trip to the F1 Grand Prix in Miami drew criticism when a Black influencer spoke out about feeling like she received “second-tier” treatment compared to others – sparking conversations about how brands treat influencers of color. More broadly, some social media users have called lavish brand trips “out of touch” or oversaturated – seeing their favorite influencers constantly sipping coconuts in paradise can create distance and envy among fans, especially in tough economic times. 

Tarte has responded by tweaking its approach (for example, ensuring a more diverse invite list on subsequent trips, and even inviting some followers/customers to join events). Nonetheless, Tarte’s commitment to influencer trips as a long-term strategy shows they believe the benefits outweigh the backlash. The brand continues to innovate its trips – blending creators and fans, incorporating charity or educational elements, and always focusing on relationship-building. As Maureen Kelly puts it, these experiences “pay off to build long-lasting relationships” with influencers who become genuine brand ambassadors.

3. Benefit Cosmetics’ Hawaiian Paradise – “It’s a Wanderful World”

Influencers attending Benefit Cosmetics’ 2022 Hawaii brand trip enjoy a themed pool party (mermaids included!) during the four-day “It’s a Wanderful World” experience. Benefit, a beauty brand known for its playful style, went all-out for this global influencer trip in May 2022 to launch its new Box O’ Powder blush collection. The brand flew nearly 60 top “Benebabes” (influencers) from 18 countries to the Four Seasons Resort in Lanai, Hawaii, treating them to a whirlwind of curated activities across four days. Upon arrival via private jet, guests were greeted with leis, bubbly, and a personal welcome from Benefit’s team – setting the tone that this would be no ordinary press event. 

Over the next few days, Benefit delivered one-of-a-kind experiences: hula lessons and luau dinners under the stars, horseback riding and helicopter tours of the island, a NARS vs. Benefit beach volleyball showdown – you name it. There was even a Cirque du Soleil-style aerial performance where each acrobat represented a different blush shade, and a closing party awash in Benefit’s signature hot-pink decor. True to the brand’s DNA, fun personal touches were everywhere (the itinerary included one-on-one brow styling sessions and a “content creation studio” open 24/7 for influencers to film and shoot looks). They even incorporated a give-back element: on the final day, each influencer released a rescued Monarch butterfly into the wild, tying in a local sustainability project.

The results of Benefit’s Hawaiian escapade were massive. The trip generated over 1,400 pieces of influencer content in just those few days, which racked up 152 million impressions and reached 255 million people globally. In other words, hundreds of millions of potential customers saw Benefit’s blushes showcased in authentic, sun-drenched vacation photos and videos. Benefit’s Head of Global PR, Sol Lee, noted that they saw more direct sales from this influencer activation than from any traditional big consumer event – proof that influencers can truly drive purchases when they’re genuinely excited about a brand. This trip is often cited as a blueprint for a successful beauty brand trip: it blended product education with unforgettable experiences, allowed plenty of organic content creation, and left influencers (and their audiences) with a positive, FOMO-inducing impression of the brand. It’s no wonder Benefit continues to host such trips and share tips for others looking to do the same.

4. Boohoo’s Spring Break in Mexico – Fast Fashion Meets Vacay

Even newer digital brands have hopped on the influencer trip trend. In 2022, fast-fashion retailer Boohoo (known for affordable, trendy apparel online) gave its own spin to the concept by organizing a spring break trip to Mexico. Boohoo jetted a group of brand ambassador influencers off to the beaches of Mexico to promote its new spring break collection, essentially creating a live lookbook in paradise. The trip was timed around college spring break season and featured Boohoo’s swimwear and festival outfits against a backdrop of palm trees and pool parties. Influencers on the trip documented everything in real-time on Instagram Stories and TikTok – from morning yoga in Boohoo activewear to nighttime celebrations in Boohoo club dresses. 

This trip was smaller in scale than Revolve’s or Tarte’s, but still generated a notable buzz among the brand’s target Gen Z audience. By immersing its ambassadors in the spring break lifestyle, Boohoo effectively turned them into genuine fans of the product, leading to authentic content that didn’t feel like traditional ads. The message to followers was clear: pack Boohoo outfits for your next vacation if you want that fun, carefree vibe. The success of this Mexico getaway showed that you don’t have to be a luxury brand to leverage influencer trips – even cost-conscious e-commerce players can create shareable experiences that boost brand awareness (often for a fraction of the cost of a big ad campaign).

5. Shopbop’s European Getaway – When High Fashion Goes on Holiday

Another notable trip in recent years came from Shopbop, the online luxury fashion retailer (owned by Amazon). In late 2022, Shopbop orchestrated a dreamy European getaway for a select handful of fashion influencers, whisking them off to Lisbon, Portugal and Lake Como, Italy for a dual-destination adventure. This trip was part of Shopbop’s push to refresh its image and promote its seasonal collections. The influencers – known for elevated, chic style – strutted through historic European streets in Shopbop’s trendy pieces, essentially modeling the clothes in storybook settings. Instagram feeds were filled with flowing dresses against Lisbon’s colorful tiled walls and elegant swimwear by the shores of Lake Como. 

Because it was a smaller group, the trip felt exclusive and intimate, giving the influencers ample time to bond (and to get those perfect outfit shots without rush). They documented the “euphoric vacation” in real time on social media, captioning posts with genuine excitement about the brand finds in their travel wardrobe. This trip struck a chord with followers who love travel and luxury fashion – it positioned Shopbop not just as an e-tailer, but as a curator of a stylish lifestyle. It’s also a prime example of how Amazon sellers and larger retail platforms can use influencer experiences to humanize their brand. (Shopbop, though owned by Amazon, leveraged the agility of influencer marketing to shed any corporate image and come across as a fashion-forward friend taking you along on vacation.) The buzz from the Lisbon/Como trip helped reinforce Shopbop’s status as a go-to destination for jetsetter style and showed that even in the age of mega influencers, a “handful of the right creators” can generate substantial organic engagement for high-end e-commerce.

6. Other Memorable Mentions

Beyond the big five above, there have been many other influencer trip standouts worth noting:

• • • NARS Cosmetics’ “Orgasm” Tour (Las Vegas, 2019): To launch its Orgasm makeup collection, NARS took top beauty gurus on a flashy three-day trip to Las Vegas, complete with themed parties and even a NARS-branded casino night. The trip was packed with on-brand experiences (from yoga in the desert to spa treatments) and generated its share of glamorous content. This immersive approach brought the product launch to life – influencers weren’t just sent makeup in the mail; they lived the brand for a weekend.

       

    • Fenty Beauty “Beach Please” Trip (2018): Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty reportedly hosted a tropical island trip for influencers around the launch of its Beach Please collection. Sun, sand, and shimmer – influencers got to test new body luminizers by the beach, yielding glowing (literally) posts. While details are scarce (Fenty tends to keep a bit of mystery), the buzz around having a vacation with Rihanna’s team made waves in the beauty community.

       

    • Travel & Tourism Boards: It’s not just product brands – tourism organizations have also run influencer trips. For example, Travel Portland ran a “Golden Ticket to Portland” campaign inviting creators to experience the city’s culture and hidden gems. Many national tourism boards (from Destination Canada to Tourism Australia) organize influencer group trips to boost travel appeal. These often involve jam-packed local itineraries (food tours, adventure sports, cultural workshops) and turn travel influencers into de facto brand ambassadors for the location. The result is essentially UGC (user-generated content) marketing an entire destination.

Each of these trips, in its own way, was “well received” in that it generated significant positive engagement and creative content. Of course, not every trip goes perfectly – there have been logistical hiccups, social media backlash, or missed expectations along the way (as seen with some controversies). But as case studies, the popular trips above demonstrate the potential upsides of this marketing tactic when executed thoughtfully.

Why Brands Invest in Influencer Trips

By now it’s clear that influencer trips require serious investment – from footing huge travel bills to dedicating months of planning. So why do brands do it? Simply put, when done right, brand trips can yield outsized rewards in marketing impact. Here are the key benefits, and why brands (from mega-corporations to indie Amazon sellers) are incorporating trips into their influencer marketing strategies:

• • • 🌎 Explosive Brand Awareness: A well-executed trip can blanket social media with your brand’s message. With itineraries jam-packed with photogenic moments (five-star meals, iconic backdrops, unique activities), influencers end up posting constantly before, during, and after the trip. Each post – often tagged with a signature branded hashtag – exposes your brand to thousands or millions of followers. The cumulative effect can be huge. For example, content from the Tarte Dubai trip garnered over 160 million views in a matter of days, and Benefit’s Hawaii trip content reached over 255 million people around the world. These are levels of impression that most traditional ad campaigns could only dream of. The buzz not only boosts brand name recognition, but also gets audiences talking about the brand (the Trip to Dubai had everyone asking “Have you heard of Tarte’s trip?” – essentially word-of-mouth on a global scale).

       

    • 📸 A Goldmine of Content (UGC): Influencers are expert content creators; put a group of them in a beautiful setting featuring your product, and you’ll generate a trove of high-quality content for your brand. The photos, videos, and stories produced on these trips are authentic influencer-generated content (IGC) that can be repurposed across your own channels – Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, emails, even print. Importantly, this content often outperforms traditional ads because it feels real and varied. Rather than one glossy commercial, you get dozens of organic takes on your brand. In fact, 57% of advertisers say influencer content outperforms brand-created content. Trip environments also spark influencers’ creativity; even mundane product shots become lively when the setting is a sunset catamaran or a chic hotel rooftop. This diverse UGC allows brands to hyper-target different audience segments with content that resonates (e.g. a fashion-focused post vs. a travel adventure post). In short, influencer trips provide months’ worth of authentic content that brands can leverage for ongoing marketing, well beyond the trip itself.

       

    • 💰 Cost-Effective Reach (“Bang for Your Buck”): It sounds counterintuitive – how can flying people to paradise be cost effective? But when you break down the numbers, a trip can be cheaper than traditional influencer pay-for-post campaigns. Brands usually invite a group of influencers and cover their travel instead of paying individual fees per Instagram or TikTok post. In return, each influencer organically creates multiple posts. If a brand had to pay outright for the same volume of content and reach, it could cost millions. For example, Tarte’s Turks & Caicos trip with Alix Earle: paying her and others for the dozens of TikToks and IG posts they delivered would likely far exceed the trip cost. As one insider explained, many trip expenses are offset by partnerships or bulk deals (hotels and tourism boards often discount in exchange for exposure). So the effective CPM (cost per thousand impressions) of an influencer trip can actually be very favorable. Newer brands have caught on and are doing scaled-down trips on a budget – some startups spend under $100k to take a smaller group of micro-influencers to a domestic destination, yielding tons of content and buzz without breaking the bank.

       

    • 🙌 Deepened Relationships & Loyalty: Influencer marketing is ultimately a relationship business. Inviting creators on an adventure is a powerful way to build loyalty and goodwill. Brand trips make influencers feel like true partners – they get face time with the brand’s team, create memories, and often form friendships with other attendees. This camaraderie can translate into more authentic, long-term partnerships. An influencer who had a blast on your trip is more likely to speak positively about your brand in the future and participate in future campaigns. Brands like Tarte view trips as an investment in an influencer community that will continue to yield results over time. Plus, many influencers genuinely appreciate the experience; it’s a perk of their job that money can’t directly buy, which can engender loyalty that a one-off payment might not. For the brand, spending a few days with the influencers also provides invaluable insight – you get to know the people representing your products, gather feedback, and align on values. This can lead to more genuine advocacy, where influencers post about the brand because they want to, not just because they’re paid. In essence, a trip can turn a roster of influencers into a family of brand evangelists.

       

    • 🔥 FOMO and Community Growth: One side-effect of high-profile trips is the “FOMO factor.” Consumers watching their favorite creators all together on a trip often feel a sense of I want to be part of this. That can translate into new followers for the brand and a rush of creators who suddenly want to work with that brand (so they might get invited next time!). By showcasing a tight-knit group of influencers having a great time, brand trips can make the brand itself appear aspirational and in-crowd. It’s not unlike seeing celebrities at an exclusive party – it elevates the brand’s cachet. Brands like Stack Influence have noted that even micro-influencers get motivated by these examples, seeking to join brand ambassador programs and engage more, which in turn expands the brand’s pool of passionate advocates (Stack Influence, for instance, specializes in helping brands engage micro and nano influencers in campaigns that can include meet-ups or trips). The trip content also often includes lots of cross-tagging (influencers tagging each other, not just the brand), which can introduce audiences to new creators and foster a sense of broader community around the brand.

In sum, influencer trips pack a one-two punch: immediate viral buzz and long-term relationship equity. They fuse experiential marketing with influencer endorsement, yielding benefits that transcend a single Instagram post or ad. Of course, these benefits only materialize if the trip is executed well and aligns with the brand’s goals – which leads us to the next point.

Tips for Running a Successful Brand Trip

Not every brand trip automatically turns into a home run. Some have missed the mark due to poor planning or misreading the audience. Here are some best practices and tips, drawn from brands that nailed their influencer getaways (and a few cautionary tales):

1. 1. Choose the Right Influencers (Quality > Quantity): The success of your trip hinges on picking influencers who genuinely align with your brand and with each other. It’s not just about follower count. Consider relevance, personality, and audience fit. For example, if you’re a travel gear brand, you might invite adventure vloggers rather than beauty gurus. Likewise, ensure the influencers on the trip have some common interests or vibe – it makes group activities and collaboration easier. Authenticity is key: If your chosen creators normally post laid-back, relatable content, don’t force them into a ultra-luxe, fake scenario. Revolve initially invited the “Instagram elite” who lived for glamour, which made sense for its fashion-forward image. But as trends shifted, brands learned to mix in relatable voices. Tip: Match the trip style to the influencers’ personal brands. As Aspire’s experts note, if an influencer’s audience loves them for being down-to-earth, a casual, relatable trip itinerary will likely resonate better than pure extravagance.

       

   2. Plan Memorable (and Meaningful) Experiences: The best trips have a narrative or theme that goes beyond pretty locations. Ask yourself: what unique experiences can we offer that inspire organic content and also connect to our brand story? Benefit’s Hawaii trip incorporated local culture (hula dancing, Hawaiian luaus) which made content more interesting and tied into a “wanderful world” theme. Adding interactive elements – e.g. a makeup masterclass, a design workshop, a charity activity – can give more depth. Also, include downtime! Back-to-back photoshoots can exhaust creators; leave space for genuine fun (those candid moments often produce great UGC). And always have a Plan B for weather or snafus. Essentially, treat influencers like valued guests: over-deliver on hospitality and novelty. They’ll remember it and so will their followers.

       

   3. Set Clear Expectations, But Encourage Authenticity: Before the trip, align with influencers on what deliverables (if any) you expect – e.g. one dedicated post or a certain number of story frames – but don’t script everything. The content works best when creators put their own spin on it. Benefit’s team, for instance, made a “mutual agreement” with their influencers on what kind of content was desired (to ensure the product launch was featured) but still gave them creative freedom. Heavy-handed direction can make posts feel like ads and may turn influencers off. It’s a fine balance: provide opportunities for content (beautifully arranged product displays, fun hashtag challenges, photogenic setups) and let the influencers do what they do best. Also, brief them on the hashtag and any event-specific tags so everyone’s on the same page and the campaign is cohesive.

       

   4. Foster Real Connections (Between Brand and Creators, and Among Creators): Part of the magic of trips is the bonding experience. Do activities that allow your team to interact personally with the influencers – a casual welcome dinner, Q&A sessions, etc. This humanizes the brand. Also, bring influencers together in team games or pair them up in challenges so they collaborate and create crossover content (people love seeing their favorite creators team up). Many successful trips assemble influencers who are friends or at least fans of each other – the camaraderie translates into joyful content that audiences love. On the brand side, make sure your founders or key reps mingle and listen. These are your power users; their feedback on products or campaigns during off-the-record chats can be gold. And when influencers feel heard, they become even stronger advocates.

       

   5. Mind the Optics (Diversity & Inclusivity Matter): In 2023 and beyond, a brand trip that presents a one-dimensional image can backfire. Make sure your invite list is diverse – in background, size, age, etc., appropriate to your brand’s audience. Tarte learned from its missteps and now emphasizes having BIPOC creators well represented on trips. Representation isn’t just a box to tick; it ensures broader relatability and signals your brand values all types of creators. Likewise, be sensitive to how the extravagance might be perceived during sensitive times. Some brands have pivoted to include followers or customers in trips (as we’ll discuss next) to avoid appearing too elitist. Always have a crisis plan: if criticism arises (like “this looks tone-deaf”), be ready to respond with transparency and outline how you’re giving back or being inclusive (for example, some trips now incorporate volunteering or have a charity donation aspect to offset the luxury indulgence).

       

   6. Measure Impact & Follow Up: After the trip, don’t just pat yourself on the back for pretty pictures. Track the tangible results: total reach/impressions, engagement (likes, comments, shares on trip posts), referral traffic or sales spikes, new followers gained, etc. Use unique promo codes or links if possible to attribute any revenue. This data will help you justify the ROI and also refine future trips (e.g., which platform drove the most engagement for your trip content?). Additionally, follow up with the influencers – thank them, perhaps send a small gift or personal note. Maintain the relationship. Many brands re-book top performers for future events, turning one-off trips into ongoing ambassadorships. A smart move is to compile the best content from the trip and share a recap (internally and externally) – celebrating the creators’ work can go a long way in showing you value them.

By keeping these tips in mind, brands can maximize the chances that their influencer trip is not only Instagrammable but also strategic. The goal is to create an experience where everyone wins: the brand gets amazing exposure and content, and the influencers get an unforgettable trip and closer bond with the brand.

The Rise of Micro-Influencer & Community Trips (2024–2025)

In the last couple of years, the influencer trip concept has started to evolve. We’re seeing a shift in who gets invited and how these experiences are framed. Brands are realizing that it’s not always necessary (or even effective) to only host mega-influencers on ultra-luxury trips. Two key trends have emerged: micro-influencer trips and community (customer) trips.

Micro-Influencers on the Move: Not every brand has the budget of a Revolve or Tarte – and not every campaign calls for big names. Many savvy brands are turning to micro influencers (creators with, say, 5k–50k followers) and nano influencers (<5k followers) to carry out smaller-scale trips or local events. These creators may not have millions of followers, but they often have highly engaged, niche audiences and come with a more relatable vibe. In fact, engagement rates tend to be inversely proportional to follower count – micros often outperform celebrities on that front. Recognizing this, some startups have piloted “micro influencer retreats”: for example, a new skincare brand might invite 5-10 skincare bloggers to a weekend cabin getaway where they do product workshops and spa activities. The cost could be just flights, Airbnb, and supplies – perhaps under $50k total – yet the impact can be significant if each micro-influencer posts a few times to their devoted followers. Aspire (a leading influencer platform) reported that brands are indeed spending well under $100k on trips by inviting smaller creators they already have relationships with and opting for closer, cost-effective destinations. The ROI can be great because these micros are excited for the opportunity (they aren’t jaded by constant lavish invites) and often over-deliver on content out of enthusiasm.

Platforms like Stack Influence specialize in connecting brands (including Amazon sellers and small e-commerce businesses) with networks of micro- and nano-influencers. Through such platforms, a modestly sized online seller can organize, say, a one-day local meetup or experience for a group of creators who already love their product. For instance, an indie fitness apparel brand on Amazon could host a micro-influencer hiking day – supplying new activewear outfits and a guided trek, with lunch at a scenic viewpoint. The cost might be minimal, but the content (hiking photos, try-on videos, group selfies in branded gear) and ensuing word-of-mouth in those micro-communities can meaningfully boost the brand. The key insight is that you don’t need a private jet to benefit from influencer experiences – authenticity and genuine connection can matter more. Moreover, micro-influencers often cherish the experience (since they get fewer perks than big influencers), which strengthens loyalty. As one marketing report put it, in 2025, more brands are backing micro and nano influencers in search of stronger engagement and authenticity, shifting some budget away from mega-influencers. We expect to see more “small but special” influencer trips in the future.

Inviting the Fans – Community Trips: Another refreshing trend is brands rebranding the traditional influencer trip as a “community trip” by inviting loyal customers or fans along with influencers. The idea is to reward your most passionate consumers and generate grassroots buzz, not just top-down influencer content. For example, skincare brand Topicals recently brought a mix of influencers and superfans on a relaxing weekend retreat, in a move to celebrate their customer community. Similarly, some fashion brands have run contests where followers can win a spot on the next brand trip, literally turning followers into friends. Even Tarte – after facing criticism for trips appearing exclusionary – announced more “customer x creator events” under its #TrippinWithTarte program, including giving away spots to followers for certain trips. By having real customers alongside influencers, the content often feels more relatable and viewers see “people like me” enjoying the brand experience, which can be a powerful endorsement.

This shift also addresses the issue of over-polished trip content. As noted by Vogue Business, consumers had grown a bit weary of the typical parade of the same influencers at luxurious resorts. In response, brands in 2025 are changing up the guest list – inviting people with unique perspectives (writers, artists, emerging creators) and “friends of the brand” who might not be traditional influencers but have cultural cachet. For example, J.Crew’s summer 2025 trip to Italy included not just fashion influencers, but also newsletter writers, stylists, and photographers with smaller followings but strong influence in style circles. The result was a trip that felt fresh and buzzworthy precisely because it wasn’t the usual influencer crowd. Attendees created content that had more storytelling and editorial flair, which audiences found more engaging than the standard “posed by the pool” shots. It generated significant chatter and was considered a splashy success for J.Crew’s rebrand.

Meanwhile, some brands are even pivoting away from influencers entirely in favor of customers. A report from Business of Fashion highlighted brands like Refy and Topicals experimenting with customer-only trips, effectively turning their most enthusiastic buyers into brand ambassadors during these experiences. The rationale is that everyday consumers can sometimes generate content that fellow consumers trust more than an influencer’s content (since there’s no sponsorship involved, just genuine excitement). Plus, those customers often continue to rave about the brand long after the trip, deepening word-of-mouth.

All these developments point to one thing: influencer trips are not fading away; they’re maturing. Brands are learning to tailor this strategy to fit their values and audience sentiment. Whether it’s a micro-influencer meetup at a local boutique or a hybrid creator-and-customer beach weekend, the core idea remains – bring people together in real life around your brand, and magic can happen. If you’re a brand (big or small) considering a trip, know that you can get creative with the format. And if you’re an influencer or aspiring content creator, note that opportunities to participate might arise even if you’re not a superstar – brands are on the lookout for genuine advocates and niche voices to include.

Conclusion to Top Influencer Brand Trips of All Time

Influencer brand trips have come a long way from a niche marketing experiment to a mainstream strategy employed by brands of all sizes. Looking at the top trips of all time – from Revolve’s game-changing global jaunts to Tarte’s headline-grabbing island adventures – it’s clear why these experiences captivate marketers and audiences alike. They tap into a perfect storm of travel envy, social media virality, and human connection. For influencers, brand trips are a coveted perk (who wouldn’t want a free luxury vacation with friends?), but they’re also hard work in their own way – the constant content creation and socializing is essentially a work trip. For brands, the hefty expenses can translate into even heftier returns: massive exposure, authentic UGC content, strengthened influencer relationships, and yes, even measurable sales boosts.

However, as with any facet of influencer marketing, the landscape is always shifting. Audiences today value authenticity and relatability more than ever. This means the future of brand trips will likely be more inclusive, down-to-earth, and creative. We’ll see more micro influencers in the mix, more unique destinations beyond the typical resort, and more integration of real customers or brand fans into these experiences. The glitzy mega-trip isn’t going away, but it will be joined by a spectrum of smaller-scale events that can be just as impactful in their own way. Brands that want to stand out in 2025 and beyond will need to ensure their trips tell a story and build community, rather than just serve up eye candy.

For influencers dreaming to land an invite: focus on building your niche, engaging your community, and organically aligning with brands you love – your chance may come, even if it’s a local event or a partnership with a smaller company. Being authentic and professional in all your collaborations can put you on the radar for these opportunities (brands often scout trip participants from their existing advocate pool).

For brands weighing the investment: start by clarifying your goals. Do you want a burst of brand awareness, tons of content, deeper loyalty with creators, or all of the above? That will shape the kind of trip you plan. Remember that a successful influencer trip doesn’t have to be the most expensive; it has to be strategic and on-brand. If done thoughtfully, even a modest retreat can generate outsized buzz within your target community.

Finally, as these top trips have shown us, influencer marketing at its best is about experience. In a digital era, people still crave real connections and memorable moments. An influencer trip, essentially, is a vehicle to create those moments tied to a brand. When influencers and brands come together in an authentic way, the excitement is contagious – spilling out from a secluded villa or remote beach onto millions of screens, and into the minds of consumers worldwide. That is the enduring power of influencer trips, and why – albeit in evolving forms – they are here to stay in the influencer marketing playbook