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As the nation gears up for the much-loved Aussie summer holiday, new research* reveals we are needing a break more than ever, with a quarter of the nation not having holidayed since 2019. As people reflect on an unusual start to the decade, a staggering 94% of parents feel everyone in their family needs a break.

As Aussies look to book their next trip, new research from Carnival Cruise Line has revealed what now defines a ‘proper holiday’ in 2020. The concept of ‘newness’ resonates with the majority of Aussies, with discovering new things the defining trait for 89%. Additionally, a third of us (33%) love not having to cook (and love being cooked for), one in five love their sleep-ins (20%) and 15% thrive on not having emails to check. For parents, having the kids entertained tops the list for nearly a quarter (24%).

But what are we missing about our holidays? Significantly, two thirds (65%) miss feeling relaxed and stress-free, followed by nearly half (45%) who are longing to go sightseeing. Around 40% of parents miss valuable bonding time with friends and family, and 20% feel they took seeing their family and kids having fun for granted. Nearly one in five (17%) Aussies miss the smell of sea air.

With a huge two thirds of Aussies admitting they took travel for granted before COVID-19, what we took for granted most was escaping from our everyday routines at 45%. Interestingly, a third (33%) feel they didn’t appreciate looking forward to a holiday enough, highlighting the positive impact the holiday dreaming phase has on our mood and wellbeing once the ideal adventure is booked. ‘Experiencing new things that are out of the ordinary’ was cited by 32% as something we are likely to now appreciate more than ever.

Commenting on the research, Jennifer Vandekreeke, Carnival Cruise Line VP and General Manager Australia, says: “As we near the end of an eventful 2020, the need for Australians to have a proper holiday has never been clearer. What our research has shown is that 81% of Aussies feel like every day is the same and that new experiences are the number one thing we use to define a proper holiday at 26%.

What has also been highlighted is how important holidays are to our general wellbeing, with the anticipation of a holiday being almost as important as the break itself. Taking time out offers valuable bonding time with friends and families. We wish everyone a safe and happy summer and we look forward to welcoming our guests back on board our ships when the time is right.”

Please head to https://www.carnival.com.au/sea-your-backyard.aspx to discover and book your next adventure to experience the Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Island, Tropical North Queensland or Airlie Beach by sea #seayourbackyard.