A study recently conducted by Expedia found that most US travellers planned to spend their next holiday doing absolutely nothing.
The study polled 4 000 US travellers between December 14 and 21 last year. The results showed that 34% felt burned out after the recent holidays, while 96% planned to spend at least a portion of their next trip doing absolutely nothing.
“There’s a time and place for an action-packed vacation itinerary, but our data shows the first trip after the hectic holiday season calls for a more relaxed agenda,” says Head of Expedia Group Public Relations, Melanie Fish.
“For most travellers, getting the most out of their next vacation means setting aside dedicated time for nothing.”
Expedia refers to this trend as a nothing-cation, and gives tips for planning one:
1. Nearly half (47%) of travellers say that they like to start off the new year with a trip to look forward to. Studies have shown that even the act of planning a vacation can provide a sense of excitement and ease stress.
2. Relaxation is most important when it comes to a nothing-cation, according to survey respondents. Clients need to to live life at a leisurely pace, forgo a strict schedule, and spend time in the pool or ocean when on vacation.
3. Most people (62%) agree that “doing nothing” is their favourite part of vacation and consider it time well spent.
4. Parents of young children (four years and under) are particularly in need of a nothing-cation, reporting higher levels of post-holiday burnout than average (49% compared with 34%). For them, a successful nothing-cation consists of watching movies in bed, reading and ordering room service rather than dining out.
5. Unnecessary stress can be avoided while planning a nothing-cation - encourage clients to book early to get the best prices, prime rooms, special deals.
