As part of its continual strive to innovate and bring guests real travel experiences, Trafalgar has released some thought-provoking research* to uncover what travellers are truly seeking from their holidays and what ‘The Good Life’ really means to them. The results were surprising and somewhat disconcerting, with the overall sentiment stipulating that rather than travel evoking wanderlust, the wonder of travel is getting lost.
A staggering 89% of respondents said travel is enjoyable but stressful and difficult to plan, and 49% surveyed claimed that “real” travel experiences didn’t actually feel that real – that travel is becoming a common tourist trail. 37% surveyed felt they didn’t see any “real culture” on their last trip and almost half of participants said if they did, these experiences were not unique. Another alarming statistic unveiled 61% of travellers are feeling the negative effects of overtourism, with over-crowding (experienced by 66%) putting a dampener on their holidays. The burden of social media is also getting to travellers, with 53% saying that the pressures of posting on holiday were enough to put them off.
The study showed ‘good’ travel is an opportunity to step away from daily life and pressures, be surprised and challenged, learn, appreciate and experience something new. Spending time with loved ones in a relaxed state of mind is key and remembering one’s own values, personally and philosophically on life is what’s important when travelling. Trafalgar’s findings showed that 83% of participants said happiness is more important than success and 79% valued being well more than being wealthy. 76% preferred having experiences over having “things” and 71% saw trips where they had new experiences as being more important than those where they visited all the sights – 47% feeling a sense of guilt when they hadn’t checked them off.
These findings of ‘wonder-lost’ – combined with the research of what clients are seeking when they travel – is what has driven Trafalgar’s innovation across the new Europe & Britain 2019 program, which provides guests with:
Real Ease: With 72 years of expertise encompassing seven continents, Trafalgar knows that good travel still exists – if it’s done right. The stress of planning is taken care of. The logistics of formulating the perfect itinerary such as quality accommodation, comfortable transport, plenty of meals, VIP admission to the sites and unique Trafalgar highlights are all included so clients don’t have to worry about a thing. Their Travel Director is an expert friend in each destination guiding them through the exciting and unknown, showing them plenty of hidden gems along the way, together with Local Specialists and offering advice on what to do in their free time. Combine this with unique experiences they couldn’t do independently, such as a visit to the Pope’s gardens at Castel Gandolfo via the shortest national railway system in the world (300 meters). What if your clients were taken to get their iconic photo of the Eiffel tower, but also got to go somewhere else incredible without the crowd, such as the catacombs of Notre Dame and walk the spectacular Latin Quarter? This formula is what allows them the freedom to just be; be in the moment, be happy and be inspired.
Real Connections: No matter what trip your client chooses, they can be assured that each carefully-crafted itinerary is packed with real experiences that will connect them to the soul of the places Trafalgar goes. They’ll break bread with locals who are proud to bring them into their homes, share their cultures and tell their tales on Trafalgar’s exclusive Be My Guest experiences, which also help sustain local communities. Clients can Join a family in Croatia’s coastal town of Opatija for dinner, experiencing Mediterranean flavours unlike any other and hear their stories of life in the Kvarner Gulf. Or they can stay somewhere that’s more than just a bed for the night on one of Trafalgar’s Stays with Stories including the Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg dating back to 1736, where some of the most romantic scenes from the Sound of Music were filmed – their time here aids in funding its preservation for future generations to enjoy. They’ll Meet Marta Cucchia, the last person in the world creating stunning renaissance silk and wool pieces using her family’s 20th century Umbrian weaving techniques. You client’s visit helps keep this ancient craft alive viaJoinTrafalgar.
Real Joy: When the elements of ease and connections come together, allowing your clients to really be in the moment, really connect to each destination and help to sustain the people, places and planet along the way – that’s when they experience real joy, feel perspective on what’s important and their core values are uncovered. This is The Good Life – what travel is all about.
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