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Survey Says: Almost Twice as Many People Would Take a Relaxing Vacation Over an Active One

May 14, 2017
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2 min read
Woman sitting on a hamock at a small hotel in the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Survey Says: Almost Twice as Many People Would Take a Relaxing Vacation Over an Active One
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Every vacation — whether it’s a weekend in Miami or a week spent exploring Machu Picchu — could be considered an "adventure" in its own right. And while travel professionals love touting the one-of-a-kind experiences that await you at their preferred destinations — like gorilla trekking in Rwanda or shark diving in South Africa — a new study has concluded that most people (a whopping 59%) would much rather spend their time off doing absolutely nothing.

The study, which was commissioned by GfK, a noted German market research firm, surveyed travelers across 17 different countries — including the United States, Canada, France, Australia, China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and the UK — to determine the vacation patterns of travelers of all ages. Overall, they determined that nearly twice as many people would opt for a relaxing vacation over an "active" one (59% compared to 35%), with residents of Brazil, South Korea and Japan leading the charge for do-nothing getaways. Travelers from Italy, France and Spain, on the other hand, were more inclined to book a trip that keeps them moving. Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the teens who were included, 43% preferred "an active vacation where I do or see lots of things."

While the study attempted to analyze different travel preferences between countries, age groups and genders, the researchers determined that when it comes to vacations, men and women are on the same page. According to the study, "Men are potentially very slightly more lazy in their holiday choice than women — standing at 60% of men preferring a relaxing vacation, compared to 58% of women. But for active holidays, men and women stand neck and neck at 35% each.”

Families tended to be among the most active vacationers included in the survey, which makes sense, as kids have a lot of energy. The laziest demographic surveyed? People in their forties — 64% of whom were on Team Relax’s side. You can check out the full report here. Meanwhile, if you need us for anything, we’ll be under that palapa on the beach…

Which type of vacation do you prefer, relaxing or active? Sound off, below.

Featured image by Getty Images/Aurora Open

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.