Millions of travelers feel guilty for doing nothing on vacation

By Grant Bailey via 72Point

Millions of travelers feel guilty for unplugging and doing nothing on vacation - as they feel under pressure to ‘do it all.'

A study of 2,000 UK travelers found 32 percent look forward to a beach holiday that allows them to sit back and relax by sunbathing, reading or sleeping in.

But despite half admitting they feel refreshed at the end of a holiday where they have done little, 15 percent end up feeling guilty for putting their feet up.

While 26 percent feel they are in need of a chilled holiday to recharge their batteries after a busy time.

And 61 percent have even signed up for excursions or activities they didn’t really want to do in order to show their social media followers they did more than simply sit by the pool.

But 47 percent sometimes feel like they need a holiday - just to recover from their trip.

A spokesperson for Expedia, which commissioned the research, said: “When so many say they sometimes need a holiday just to recover from their holiday, something’s gone wrong.

“There’s no prize for doing the most on holiday. What’s important is making memories while you’re away and feeling recharged when you’re back.”

According to British holidaymakers in need of a rest, the optimum amount of time to spend chilling out on your holiday is 40 percent.

But 24 percent feel pressure to entertain their friends and family on their break, and 22 percent feel they need to be productive.

It also emerged that, at the start of the new year, people are most likely to feel fed up with the cold and wet British weather, with 34 percent feeling the urge to book a trip and have something to look forward to in their calendar.

Beach holidays to tropical destinations are the vacation types travelers look forward to most, with the relaxation element of this holiday type, sunbathing and reading by the pool being its top draw.

For 25 percent of sunseekers, the beach is the best place to chill while 19 percent prefer reclining by the pool at their hotel.

To help plan their trip, 41 percent will consult their family and friends for holiday activity recommendations, although 36 percent admit this makes them feel more pressure to do the recommended activities, according to the stats via OnePoll.

A spokesperson for Expedia added: “A holiday should be all about doing what you want to do - whether that’s doing nothing at all on a beach or taking a ‘change is as good as a rest’ approach.

“We would encourage holidaying Brits to really consider this aspect - using your break to recharge your batteries, without worrying about what your friends, family and social following might think when you return having done, well, nothing.”

TOP REASONS TO TAKE A VACATION

1. To relax and recharge
2. To go with the flow and explore at your own pace
3. To visit a new country and see somewhere new
4. To try lots of new experiences
5. To meet new people, socialise and make new friends

EXPEDIA'S TOP DESTINATIONS FOR 'NOTHING-CATIONERS'

• Kauai, Hawaii: Nicknamed 'the Garden Isle' for its lush natural beauty and dramatic cliffs – A place you can get lost in without ever leaving your hotel
• Costa Rica: Filled with lush jungles and sounds of nature to help you shut out the outside world
• Fiji: An Idyllic escape in the South Pacific
• Nevis Island: Considered by some to be one of the most unspoiled and relaxing islands in the Caribbean
• Koh Samui, Thailand: Well-known for luxurious wellness resorts, offering everything from basic massages to chakra-balancing and beyond
• Algarve, Portugal: A mix of beaches, golf courses, and market towns
• Playa del Silencio, Asturias, Spain: As the name hints, a secluded beach that’s hailed as one of the most beautiful in the country
• Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico: A gem that lets you wear nothing while you do nothing