Want to start an argument? Ask your family where they should go on their next vacation. Specifically, should you play it safe and go back to the same place, or try somewhere new?
But it's worth discussing now, and here's why: The hottest travel destinations for summer 2024 are surprisingly familiar: Orlando, London, and Cancun, according to new research from Allianz Partners. All those far-flung destinations for post-pandemic revenge getaways are now a thing of the past; people are looking for safe, familiar places.
Travel Troubleshooter Christopher Elliott
But is that a good thing?
Why is everyone arguing about repeating holidays?
Experts say there's a reason this is such a heated debate.
“Typically, people who return to the same places repeatedly want predictability,” says Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University. “They know exactly what they're getting and how it's going to benefit them. This is different from people who go to a new place every vacation and want the unexpected.”
Let me admit my bias at the outset: I fall into the latter group. I have no permanent residence, and as a travel writer, I get restless when I'm in one place for more than a week. So I needed an expert to explain why we like the same things.
“When travelers find a place they like, it's risky for them to go elsewhere,” says Jeff Galak, a marketing professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. “Everyone's had a bad vacation, so when they find a really good place, it's hard to let it go.”
I'll give the mic to both sides of this debate in a moment, but first let me tell you who's right: Yes, you can get back to the same place, but not in the way you think.
Why taking repeated vacations is great
Travelers have reasons to return to the same places time and time again: Shirley Brannon, a former Marin County librarian, travels to Anaheim twice a year to visit Disneyland.
Her love of Disney trips dates back 30 years to the first time she took her son to the Magic Kingdom, where experiencing the Jungle Cruise and Alice in Wonderland through the eyes of a 4-year-old was a special experience.
“I have a lot of fond memories,” she says.
Though she now knows every nook and cranny of the park, it's the special memories that keep her coming back.
Another reason to visit again is because friends and family are there. Janet Ruth Heller returns to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, every summer with her relatives.
“I have fond memories,” said Heller, a retired college professor. “Elkhart Lake has lots of family activities and is conveniently located for extended family.”
Comfort is important, too. Bernard Nash, a New York medical professor, likes to explore the world. But he also owns a timeshare in Aruba, where he stays every year. He loves to hang out by the pool, take long walks on white-sand beaches, and dine at his favorite restaurants. And sometimes, he bumps into people he knows who are also there on vacation.
“It's a great place to just relax,” he says.
Comfort, friends and family, special memories – these are all great reasons to vacation again and again.
But I'm warning you: you're missing out.
Why you should go out and experience something new
Other travelers will never make the same trip twice, and Marcy Shackne is one of them.
“When it comes to travel, it's a one-off,” she says.
A marketing executive for a South Florida health care company, Schackne is a member of the exclusive Century Club, having visited all seven continents and more than 120 countries.
“There's just too much to see in the world for me to have to go through Groundhog Day all over again,” said Schachne, who is leaving for Greenland in July.
“It would be boring to go to the same places every year,” says Kathleen Panek, who runs a bed-and-breakfast in Shinnston, West Virginia. “There's so much to see and do.”
Panek's parents taught her how to read road maps as soon as she could recognize numbers, and she's been traveling ever since, mostly on road trips in the U.S. with the occasional adventure in Europe. Her only regret is not having traveled more.
Another reason to get out and travel is that it changes your perspective. And in a highly polarized election year, getting out of your comfort zone can make a big difference. Research suggests that traveling can change your perspective, but there's no evidence that traveling makes you more liberal or conservative, it just changes the way you see the world.
In summary, exploring new destinations can broaden your horizons and make your life more exciting and interesting.
However, it would be a mistake to say that you should take your vacation to a new place every time.
How to find new places to visit this summer
Here are some ways to find new travel destinations to try this summer.
Ask your friends. Word of mouth is the best way to find new places to visit because it comes from recommendations from people who know you. Ask your friends and family for new places to visit. The answers may surprise you.
Try the Random Trip button: Nearly every online travel site has a feature that lets you randomly choose places to visit. For example, Google Flights has a “recommended trips” feature that recommends cheap places to visit.
Talk to an expert. A qualified travel advisor can help you find new places to visit. If you don't have a travel agent, you can find one through the American Association of Travel Advisors.
Where shall we go this summer?
So, should you go to the same places this summer or try something new?
The answer is Laurel Barton. She lives in Forest Grove, Oregon, but loves the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, where she and her husband spend at least a week each year.
“We know how to get around, where to go, what to do, our options in bad weather, where to shop,” she says. “We don't need a map.”
But Burton also loves to explore: This summer she's heading to Iceland and Rome to make new memories.
Christiana Capati Choquet, a luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond, also sees that duality among her clients.
“Seeing the same people in the same destinations contributes to a basic human need to belong,” she says. “On the other hand, some people can't stand the thought of taking multiple vacations and are true adventurers.”
It's nice to visit your favorite places this summer, in my case there are a lot of favorite places, I love Paris in July, Seattle in August, and Utah is my favorite place in September, probably one of the top 5 national parks.
But try something new, you never know what you might be missing.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, journalist and founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps people solve consumer issues. He publishes a travel newsletter, Elliott Confidential, and a customer service news site, Elliott Report. If you need help with a consumer issue, contact him here or email chris@elliott.org.
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