People who travel spontaneously are happier and more satisfied with life than those who don't, new research shows. Nearly half (49%) of respondents who self-identify as spontaneous vacationers consider themselves happy, while only a third of non-spontaneous travelers say they are happy in life.
Spontaneous travel refers to unplanned travel in terms of timing and/or location, such as a last-minute weekend getaway or a trip to an unexpected destination. For the purposes of the survey, a “spontaneous leisure traveler” is someone who has taken at least one spontaneous trip of two days or more in 2018. The survey results show that spontaneous leisure travel is a well-accepted concept, with 83% of survey respondents reporting that they are considering taking a spontaneous trip in 2019.
Spontaneous travelers are positive and confident
Spontaneous travelers are almost twice as likely to say that they are usually happy and able to handle unexpected challenges in life, compared to non-spontaneous travelers. 40% more spontaneous travelers than non-spontaneous travelers said they were satisfied with their lives and felt connected to family, friends and the world.
Spontaneous travel is motivated by internal needs
Spontaneous travelers seem to travel more to meet internal needs rather than external factors. The survey results show that the two main motivations are the need to unwind and relax (46%) and the desire to get away and do something special (43%). These motivations coexist, but were more often cited by respondents, external influences such as the desire to visit a specific destination (32%), or to participate in a specific activity or event (30%).
Spontaneous travelers look for inspiration
The survey results indicate that spontaneous travelers actively seek information and ideas to be inspired. Hardly any spontaneous traveler (less than 4%) would embark on a journey without feeling the urge of their internal desire to try a special travel experience, compared to 17% of non-spontaneous travelers. In fact, 26% of spontaneous travelers try to use five or more sources of information to get the most unusual, quirky, or off-the-beaten-track travel ideas, as opposed to just 13% of non-spontaneous travelers.
