Did the pandemic make us live like we’re dying?

The disruption of the pandemic meant not only less travel but markedly different travel. Since its rebound, how have people traveled differently, how will they travel differently? One year after its inaugural consumer travel study (here) revealed pent-up demand and a willingness to give up almost anything to hit the road, global accommodations search platform trivago recently conducted a survey examining what’s changed.

The findings reveal an appetite for increased spending and adventure, a continued willingness to sacrifice for a chance to go abroad and a clear desire to treat ourselves.

Best Summer, Ever

The travel forecast is heating up with the majority planning trips this spring (52%) and summer (70%). And the consumer outlook is a positive one with 83% indicating that they believe 2022 will be their best summer yet and they plan to spend it at the beach. One in five said that if they could plan their dream trip in the next few months it would be to the beach followed by a cruise and a city sightseeing trip.

As a follow-up to the 2021 study, trivago asked what would-be travelers would be willing to give up to go abroad this year. Twenty-one percent would give up their daily coffee, followed by their favorite food, laptop/tablet, a dream trip in two years, and eating out for a year. Number eight was intimacy (18%), a decrease of 20% since the same time last year.

Related: Making Travel Inclusive Across Generations

Consumer Sentiment: Treat Yo’self

While sheltering in place or traveling closer to home, many consumers saved funds that would have been spent on annual getaways. When asked what they will do with funds saved, the just under half indicated that they would be spent on a large purchase (44%), followed by rent or a deposit on a new home (41%) and treat themselves (29%).

Furthermore, most respondents shared that they are browsing more frequently (68%), 64% are willing to spend more and 63% are planning on organizing a bucket list trip sooner than planned as a direct result of the pandemic. On the flip side, 50% said if they were guaranteed to get their money back should the holiday get cancelled that would make them more likely to make concrete travel plans for 2022.

Related: Holiday Inn Club Vacations Mapping Post-Pandemic Recovery

What else has changed? Everything.

From restaurants to airlines and everything in between, the recovery has taken a toll on all sectors resulting in longer hold times, lines, and delays indicating that it’s going to take a little bit of time to get back to its pre-pandemic rhythm. 

While more than 40% experienced more eager staff, more than a third (40%) reported staff and venues were too busy to provide service and interaction with staff who were unskilled or unable to help (38%).

And travel isn’t the only thing that changed forever, so too has the traveler. When asked whether they would be any more or less willing to travel alone post-Covid, one-third (33%) said they are more willing. As for preferences, American travelers are seeking relaxation (43%), leisure travel (36%), and exploration (33%). Finally, of those who take at least one holiday per year, one in four are more likely to take short-haul trips post-pandemic.

To learn more, visit trivago.com.

About trivago

trivago is a leading global hotel search platform focused on reshaping the way travelers search for and compare hotels and alternative accommodations. Incorporated in 2005 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the platform allows travelers to make informed decisions by personalizing their hotel search and providing them access to a deep supply of hotel information and prices. trivago enables its advertisers to grow their businesses by providing access to a broad audience of travelers via its websites and apps.

About the Survey

The survey was deployed online and ran from February 25-March 3, 2022 polling a sample of 2,000 adults age 18+ in both countries for a total of 4,000 respondents. For both countries, quotas were used to ensure an accurate representation of each countries’ population by gender, age, geographic region, education, and income.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “continue,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For additional information factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, see our risk factors, as they may be amended from time to time, set forth in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation.