According to new research, the average American thinks about a place they would like to stay for at least 40 minutes a day.
That’s according to a new survey of 2,000 Americans that looked at how much time Americans spend thinking about their next vacation.
From researching destinations to going down travel-related rabbit holes on social media, the results revealed that people spend an average of 4.7 hours per week dreaming of far-flung places.
The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of CheapCaribbean Vacations, found that, for some people, thinking about going on vacation or fantasizing about adventures increases the 40-minute figure in winter by 16% (46 minutes per day). Increases.
What happens during that imaginary thinking time?
Respondents cited watching 21 minutes of travel vlogs and 25 minutes of other social media content based on destinations and trips each week.
When you also take into account the 22 minutes of weekly research the average respondent says they spend talking about tickets and pricing and the 26 minutes of talking to friends and family about going somewhere else, The weekly escapism total reaches approximately five hours or more than two full working days. per month.
“Taking breaks is essential for everyone’s well-being,” says Michael Lowery, head of global consumer business at CheapCaribbean Vacations. “A true escape from your everyday life – even just for a few days – can work wonders. All-inclusive resorts make it easy to disconnect from the pressures of reality and reconnect with yourself or loved ones, offering a seamless, one-stop getaway where everything is taken care of. From planning to relaxation, it’s a seamless path to heaven.”
And does dreaming of exotic places or far-off adventures ever encroach on our work lives? It definitely happens.
When employed people were asked to estimate how much time they spent their last work week thinking about travel, the average response was 2.3 hours – or one full work day per month.
So do thoughts of vacations, warm weather, and adventure help or hinder our approach to work? Nearly half (46%) said they find travel goals and thinking about trips or destinations while working motivating, while a fifth (19%) said it is less motivating.
Motivation or not, does the average worker find that wanderlust impacts their performance?
Of the working people surveyed, 36% said winter affects their work and productivity because they are daydreaming about the holidays.
Americans are also certainly willing to follow through on those travel dreams — 63% of respondents would happily trade their winter season at home if it meant they could go somewhere tropical instead.
Maybe that’s why the average respondent says they complain about their local weather three times per week.
And, perhaps in an effort to cope, even if they don’t get to their fantasy location, people still like to look at photos of their dream location – 45% have a tropical photo of somewhere near home, a photo of the beach. Or a picture of warm weather whether it’s a screensaver on their computer, a framed picture or their phone wallpaper.
It’s no surprise that the beach tops the list of destinations or trips we think about most, followed by road trips, mountains, and island-trip dreams.
“Often, the hardest part of planning a vacation is deciding where in the world to put your beach chair,” said Dana Studebaker, vice president of marketing for consumer brands at CheapCaribbean Vacations. “Some of my favorite beaches are in Cancún, Jamaica and Aruba. We are fortunate to have so many beautiful resorts at our fingertips ready to support visitors on their dream beach holidays.
Top 10 places Americans dream of
1. Beach
2. Road trip
3. mountain
4. Island hopping
5. Camping
6. Adventure
7. Theme Park
8. Cultural/Historical
9. Festival/Event
10. Cooking/Food
Time per week thinking about vacations = 4.7 hours per week
Involved…
● Watching travel vlogs – 21 minutes
● Other destination travel material – 25 minutes
● Researching ticket prices, costs – 22 minutes
● Talking to friends and family about moving – 26 minutes
Survey Method:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; The survey was commissioned by CheapCaribbean Vacations and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between September 20 and September 23, 2024.
