New Research From Booking.com Reveals the Impact That Spontaneous Travel Has on Love, Life and Happiness

NEW YORK, July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Maybe money really can buy you happiness - in the form of a spontaneous vacation that is. We all look forward to our long awaited and much planned vacations but taking a spontaneous trip could be the key to relieving stress, being happier, and adding more romance into our lives, according to new research released by Booking.com, the world leader in booking accommodations online.

The survey, which polled 6,620 respondents across six countries about their attitude towards spontaneity, revealed that Americans actually see a correlation between their mental health and being "spontaneous":

• Four out of five respondents (79%) agree that taking a spontaneous trip 'boosts their happiness'
• Two thirds (65%) stated that it makes them 'more productive at work'
• Nearly three fourths (74%) of respondents feel it 'reduces stress'

Results also revealed when people are most likely to just get up and go. The top season for spur of the moment getaways is summer, with half (50%) of the vote. More free time (54%), getting away from the bad weather where they live (37%) and school holidays (21%) were all cited as top reasons for trying to get away in this season. Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be an exact "type" of trip that respondents are most hoping to take, with city trips (69%), foodie trips (67%), seeing family (67%), country breaks (65%), beach trips (64%) and road trips (64%) all ranking high on the list of spontaneous getaways.

And for those looking to add a bit of romance to their relationship, they now can. Forget the old saying 'diamonds are a girl's best friend' because when it comes to meaningful gifts, what women all really, really want is a surprise trip away. Three out of four (76%) Americans agree that taking a spontaneous trip with their partner helps light up that spark again. In fact, 44% of American women surveyed said they wish their significant other would book a last minute trip for no reason at all. Over half of all women respondents (53%) say the gift that would be most meaningful to them from a significant other would be a surprise trip away-much more so than jewelry (8%) or a day at the spa (8%).

Commenting on the results of the survey Todd Dunlap, Managing Director, Americas said: "We always try and learn from our customers and what their travel habits and needs truly are. We've seen a growing trend in travelers booking 'spontaneously' which is supported by this recent poll, and that sparked the idea for our newest offering, the Booking Now app. In just two taps, a traveler can book a stay that meets their needs and is available immediately."

Booking Now (with over 690,000 accommodations) is available now for download on Android in the Google Play Store or on iOS via the Apple Store, and has been rated as one of the top traveler apps by reputable sources.

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among 6,620 people (18+) across USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France and Australia.

Research took place between June and July 2015.

About Booking.com:

Booking.com is the world leader in booking hotel and other accommodations online. It guarantees the best prices for any type of property - from small independents to five-star luxury. Guests can access the Booking.com website anytime, anywhere from their desktops, mobile phones and tablet devices, and they don't pay booking fees - ever. The Booking.com website is available in 42 languages, offers over 690,000 hotels and accommodations including more than 308,000 vacation rental properties and covers over 80,000 destinations in more than 215 countries worldwide. It features over 50 million reviews written by guests after their stay, and attracts online visitors from both leisure and business markets around the globe. With over 19 years of experience and a team of over 9,300 dedicated employees in 160+ offices worldwide, Booking.com operates its own in-house customer service team, which is available 24/7 to assist guests in their native languages and ensure an exceptional customer experience.

Established in 1996, Booking.com B.V. owns and operates Booking.com™, and is part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN). Follow us on Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest, like us on Facebook, or learn more at http://www.booking.com.

SOURCE Booking.com