With the research revealing that more than 3 in 5 Aussies (62%) feel that travel has a positive impact on their mental health and emotional wellbeing – it doesn’t come as a surprise that the majority of Australian holiday goers (56%) have ‘relaxation’ at the top of their travel agenda, followed by food, (46%) and cultural exploration (39%).
After emerging from the pandemic after a challenging two years, the need to relax and reset has never been greater. With 1 in 2 Aussies (50%) revealing that they feel the top benefit of travel is to disconnect from day to day life, and almost 2 in 5 Aussies (38%) indicating that travel provides them with a chance to reconnect with themselves, this year Australians will be making travel choices keeping unwinding and wellbeing in mind.
To help the 50% of Aussies who are dreaming of the trip that provides ‘ultimate relaxation’ – Skyscanner has revealed the top three most relaxing destinations for Australian travellers in 2022:
- Mexico (rank 35, up by 86 places in popularity from 2019**)
With endless sunshine, pristine beaches and Mayan ruins, Mexico offers a relaxing escape. Alongside well-known coastal destinations like Cancún and Cabo, Mexico also offers miles of coastline dotted with wildlife, eco retreats and surf havens – creating the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
- Helsinki, Finland (rank 79, up by 55 places in popularity from 2019**)
Culture rich and full of architectural history, Helsinki has plenty of opportunities for one to relax and rewind – including boating to its archipelago’s islands, strolling along its beaches, and taking in the city’s iconic design scene.
- Singapore (rank 6, up by 20 places in popularity from 2019**)
While Singapore is a fast-paced hot spot for shopping, food and adventure – head out of town to find plenty of relaxing walking trails, treetop jungle bridges, wildlife galore and the city’s green jewel, the Unesco World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is sure to bring calm to any visitor.
Skyscanner Global Travel Expert Naomi Hahn comments:
“For many, after quarantine and lockdowns with months spent inside and the ‘always-on’ nature of working from home, going off-grid and heading to a bucket list destination for some much-needed R&R is top of the travel agenda for 2022. The holistic benefits of travel are well documented and with more than half (62%) of Australian respondents sharing that travel has a positive impact on both their mental and emotional wellbeing, it’s clear there is more to holidays abroad than sun, sea and sand.”
With Aussies turning to travel to relax and unwind, it’s important to consider how to eliminate as much stress as possible when it comes to the holiday planning process. Skyscanner has some tips on how to plan a relaxing holiday, taking the guesswork out of travel:
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- Decide where you want to go – this is the hardest decision when really, you want to go everywhere! Start by deciding what you want to get out of your holiday. If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat, check out our travel inspiration blog and read up on the definitive guide on the best time to visit the most popular places – we’ve done all the research for you.
- Set up price alerts – once you’ve decided where to go, finding the best price for your flights is paramount. it’s time to set up a Skyscanner price alert. To make sure you don’t miss out on any deals, look for the little bell icon labelled ‘Get price alerts’ in the top left corner of your flight search page, and you’ll receive an email straight when there is a price drop for your preferred dates – easy peasy.
- Look for hotels with added extras – For ultimate relaxation, it might be worth picking a hotel that has a few added extras to treat yourself. Skyscanner’s hotel search function lets you filter by price, customer rating and any extras you might need to get the most out of your break. You can also view the map to see exactly where each hotel is in relation to the locations you’ll be visiting.
- Be organised – while you don’t need a minute-by-minute itinerary, there are elements of any holiday that will need to be organised in advance. For heading abroad the best credit and debit cards to use abroad for fee free-spending, ensure your passport is valid (and with an extra six months on it after your return date) and apply for visas (if necessary, check with the Foreign Office for details). And, of course, check-in online for your flight the day before.
- R&R starts at the gate – holiday R&R doesn’t have to wait until you get to your destination. More and more airports around the world are helping travellers find their zen before even departing. Changi Airport is home to an indoor rainforest, with a rooftop pool and jacuzzi, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has a green oasis with loungers to chill and read a book, and San Francisco International airport has a calm yoga centre terminal side, not to mention their very own therapy pig Lilou to ensure you stay stress-free!
*Survey data from Skyscanner and OnePoll survey of over 1000 Australians conducted in April 2022
**Change in the ranking of year-to-date bookings to destinations on Skyscanner, for travel booked in March 2022 versus 22 March 2019 for outbound travel that same year
