Can Taking A Vacation Give You A Lasting Happiness Boost?

For many of us vacations are the most anticipated highlights of the year, but can a week away from the daily grind really make a lasting difference to your happiness? One study suggests it can, but only if it’s extremely relaxing.

In 2010, researchers in the Netherlands interviewed 1,530 Dutch participants—974 vacationers and a control group of non-vacationers, who were asked to answer a series of questionnaires about their happiness.

The vacationers reported a spike in happiness prior to departing for their trip—probably because they were excitedly looking forward to it—but responses showed that post-trip that feeling of elation was hard to hold on to. In fact, once the vacationers had assimilated back into their daily routines there was no discernible difference in happiness between them and the non-vacationers.

Psychologists would explain this in terms of the happiness set-point; the notion that we each have a base level of contentment, dictated by our genes and formative early experiences, that we return to despite the ups and downs of life. So while a vacation might make us feel happier momentarily, that joy is transient and we quickly return to our natural set-point.

Relaxing vacations can extend feelings of happiness afterwards

There was, however, an exception: those who took a relaxing vacation did manage to extend their good spirits after their return. Rather than being defined as a specific type of trip—like a yoga retreat or spa break, for example—participants were asked to consider things like culture shock, home-sickness, travel complications, relational difficulties, or illness. It was those whose vacations went seamlessly that enjoyed a post-trip afterglow lasting up to eight weeks.

While some types of stress are hard to control (delayed flights, food poisoning, language barriers), being as organized as possible prior to departure and picking a travel partner you trust will both increase your chances of having a relaxing and happy vacation.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.