A vacation can only be ‘perfect’ if it has this

What does America’s “perfect” vacation look like? According to a new study, it lasts 11 days, is three hours from home, and costs $8,807 per person.

The poll of 2,000 U.S. travelers found six in 10 believe their perfect vacation exists within the U.S., and 71% want more than just a long weekend to enjoy it.

They love destinations like sunny beaches (63%), somewhere in the great outdoors (53%), major cities (43%), historic locations (42%) and amusement parks (30%).

While on vacation, people said they prioritize the food (52%), relaxing (47%), their hotel (38%), the local weather (34%) as well as outdoor attractions and landmarks (31%).

But according to many, a vacation can only be considered “perfect” if they can completely relax and recuperate (67%), create meaningful moments with others (63%) or can travel alongside people whose company they enjoy (62%). Two in five (41%) only think their vacation is perfect if they can check off bucket list items, like seeing landmarks and going to local attractions.

Keeping vacations perfect is a fragile business. Commissioned by Go City (https://gocity.com/en) — a global sightseeing and attraction pass brand — and conducted by Talker Research, the study showed 92% have “make-it-or-break-it” stipulations, meaning if even one thing goes wrong, it would ruin everything.

The top culprits that can derail an otherwise perfect vacation were unexpected costs (45%), travel hiccups (44%), local weather (41%), if their hotel is far away from local attractions (40%), lack of temperature control (35%) and bad food (34%).

Other vacation-ruiners include a bad bed (31%), if the hotel/lodging doesn’t have public amenities (25%), not getting into must-visit attractions and landmarks (19%), poor water pressure in the hotel room (18%), bad entertainment experiences (12%), poor shopping options (11%) and if the hotel isn’t pet-friendly (11%).

In contrast, 88% said there’s something they’d give up if it guaranteed having a perfect vacation. Top compromises were having a direct flight (15%), sleeping in (14%), having their preferred seat on their flight (11%) and an extra day of PTO (9%).

“The idea of the ‘perfect’ vacation can feel overwhelming. Luckily, you don’t need to travel halfway around the world to find this,” said Judy Gauthier, Chief Commercial Officer at Go City. “Our research shows it’s often the simple things that matter most—spending time with loved ones, feeling relaxed, and making memories—even if you have to make a few concessions along the way.”

The results also revealed the specific trade-offs many Americans would make to have a better vacation.

A third said they’d give up “expensive hotels,” if it meant “having more time to unwind” (29%). Nearly as many (32%) would trade off “splurge spending for three months prior to traveling” for “more money on food and drinks” (28%).

And, 28% would go without “extra leg room on flights” to have “an upgraded hotel room with a nice view and free breakfast” (27%).

Respondents also said they’d be willing to spend big on vacation. Per person, respondents said they’d spend anywhere from $677 on museums and $970 on outdoor attractions and nearby landmarks, to $1,502 on airfare for a perfect vacation.

They’d set aside $331 for wellness treatments and spa days, $330 for sporting events, $294 on interactive experiences and $275 on tours. The grand total for these activities and experiences comes to $3,883, on average — nearly half of their $8,800 budget.

“Every vacation deserves to be ‘perfect,'” continued Gauthier. “What really makes the difference is knowing how to travel smarter to make your trip as stress-free as possible. A well-planned trip that balances activities and downtime with little indulgences like skip the line passes, flexible reservations, and an upgraded view can turn a good trip into a great one.”

TOP VACATION TRADE-OFFS

Respondents were given a fill in the blank, where they shared what they would give up for a better vacation experience.

Top items people said they’d give up

• A more expensive hotel/rental – 33%
• Splurge spends for three months before traveling – 32%
• Extra leg room on the flight – 28%
• Any access beyond economy on a full flight – 21%
• Having a carry-on bag – 19%

Top items people said they’d want in return

• More time to relax and unwind on vacation – 29%
• More money to spend on food and drinks – 28%
• An upgraded hotel room with a nice view and free breakfast – 27%
• The ability to afford more premium vacation experiences (e.g. skip line, VIP access, private tours, etc.) – 23%
• Premium access to every other experience on my trip – 20%