A flying holiday brings more stress than relaxation to half of the people, but it's worth it for the envy from neighbors in the apartment block.
According to a survey by Ipsos agency, two-thirds of Czechs are planning to go on vacation this year. The most popular destinations are Italy, Slovakia, Croatia, and Greece. Many of us are also flying to Southern Europe. Surveys show that although this mode of transportation is fast, it also causes us a lot of stress. What does this imply? We go on vacation to relax, but sometimes we put ourselves in situations we actually don't want to experience.
Who will indulge in well-deserved relaxation the most this summer? Data from the Ipsos survey clearly indicate. People aged 36 to 44 are the most likely to set off (over 70%). However, travel fever hits those with a university education the most (almost 80%), and among families with a monthly income over 70 thousand crowns, 81% plan a vacation. We see a completely opposite trend among people with vocational education and an income of up to 30 thousand per month. Almost a quarter of them don't consider summer relaxation away from home at all and prefer to stay home.
"People plan their foreign trips for a longer duration, while domestic trips serve more as a pleasant addition. The number of households actively combining different types of travel is also increasing, and they don't necessarily have to save on experiences or relaxation. Vacations are thus slowly ceasing to be one big summer event and are transforming into a mosaic of various trips, adventures, and experiences,"
explained Jaroslav Ondrušek, the chief analyst at Home Credit, to LP-Life.
In the spotlight is particularly southern Europe
When Czechs plan their foreign vacation, Italy remains the most popular choice, with 18 percent of travelers heading there. Close behind is Slovakia, with 16 percent, followed by Croatia and Greece, each chosen by 14 percent of respondents. Austria and Poland also maintain stable popularity, each chosen by 12 percent of those surveyed.
Many of us prefer air travel, especially for transport to countries where a car journey would take longer. This mostly concerns trips to Italy, Greece, Turkey, or Spain.
As it turns out from the survey conducted by Lagardére Travel Retail, a quarter of respondents appreciate modern technologies that speed up check-in during this kind of travel. The same proportion is glad for the opportunity to turn to the staff, and 16 percent of people seek out quiet or relaxing zones.
Travel Stress
However, four-fifths of people experience travel stress when flying on vacation: from the journey, checks, and time pressure. Almost 50 percent of respondents feel anxious before departure, roughly a quarter are concerned about the flight itself, and 13 percent fear both, the survey found. More than half of the people feel that airport stress ruins their travel experience. No stress is felt by 18 percent of respondents when traveling.
According to the survey, 48 percent of people cope with nervousness by distracting themselves. They listen to music, podcasts, or watch movies. 42 percent seek refreshments and 16 percent alcohol to calm down.
"Distraction works best for stress. When we are fed, we are more satisfied. A good drink lifts the mood, a pleasant scent evokes a beautiful memory, a small purchase for delight improves the day,"
said Kristýna Bogolová, marketing manager of Lagardère Travel Retail, in connection with this ČTK.
We'll Show That We Can Afford It
The question remains why we expose ourselves to problems for a few days a year spent in distant foreign countries, issues that can sometimes spoil this relatively expensive indulgence. The answer might lie in the fact that a seaside vacation is often seen by many of us as a symbol of social status. We simply want to show others that we can afford it and that we can live "in style."
Often, it's not even important how much we actually enjoyed it; what's far more crucial is who among our friends and acquaintances sees us on social media. In the age of superficial behavior encouraged by the phenomenon of social networks, it's enough to show great photos on Facebook of sunny beaches or lavish dinners, and neighbors from the prefab apartment block where we live the rest of the year, are green with envy.
And the further we go, the more admiring reactions we will receive. It doesn't matter that such a vacation costs a decent amount and the time spent on the plane can be literally exhausting; the key is to show the world how great we have it.
When you set off "beyond the everyday limits" again, think mainly about yourself. It is not so crucial what the opinion of your surroundings is. Much more important is that you really enjoy your leisure time. So let's go on vacation, summer is in full swing!
Sources: author's article, own inquiry, comment, ČTK, Ipsos, Flying Revue
