Aussies opt for chill over thrill
IT seems we are turning into a tribe of ‘chillseekers’ with more Australians shunning adventurous holidays and opting for relaxing getaways instead.
According to new research by insurance company ING, “relaxation” is what 78 per cent of Australians are looking for in their next trip.
The data also revealed that 48 per cent of Aussies want experiences that will help them digitally detoxify and 45 per cent want to invigorate their mind and body while taking time out from reality.
Travel consultant from Peter Milling Travel, Marnie Merchant, backed this chilled trend and believes it’s because our lives have become so busy.
“Everyone’s lives are so much busier these days and holiday time has turned into an opportunity to rejuvenate, relax and reconnect with family or even friends,” she told Dubbo Photo News.
“Whilst there are still plenty of people out there that like to explore and discover new and exciting adventures, a lot of travellers who plan these thrill-seeking adventures often like to finish with a few days of chill at the end, by booking a resort or somewhere luxurious to spend the last few nights of their holiday.”
But the statistics also show that with this chillaxed trend comes complacency, with many Australians choosing to dodge travel insurance and risk the trip.
The reasons people are choosing not to cover themselves with insurance is because they believe it is not necessary when travelling domestically (33 per cent) and that not much can go wrong on a relaxing holiday (31 per cent).
However, 9.1 million travellers are reported to suffer some form of issue while on holiday which includes anything from lost luggage and illness, to cancelled flights or being conned out of money.
On the contrary, 82 per cent of travellers surveyed said that having travel insurance helped bring them peace of mind.
Ms Merchant, a big advocate for travel insurance, said cover is always strongly recommended to holiday makers for any type of travel.
“You just never know what will happen, and you can’t plan for the unexpected,” she said.
She also has advice for people wondering whether to use a travel agent or make their own bookings online: “We always like to remind people that if something goes wrong and you’re stuck somewhere around the world and need help, it is very hard to call the internet.” z Always take out travel insurance from a reputable company. You never understand the value of your travel insurance until you need to make a claim.
z Always leave your itinerary with someone at home.
z Use your hotel safe to keep your documents in when sight-seeing.
z Keep an electronic and paper version of your tickets.
z Have more than one way to access your money.