Top 40 dream holiday destinations - USA and Maldives top the list

13 October 2023 , 12:31

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USA has topped a list of dream holiday destinations (Image: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images)

USA, the Maldives, and New Zealand, have topped a list of dream holiday destinations for Brits, research has found.

Australia and Japan rounded out the top five, while Canada, Hawaii, Iceland, and the Seychelles also ranked highly among the countries people dream of visiting.

And when it comes to bucket-list experiences, spotting the Northern Lights in Finland topped the list – followed by soaking in Iceland's Blue Lagoon, and going on safari in Kenya.

The survey of 2,000 adults also found that the average “dream holiday” takes four years to plan, with six in ten already having a special destination in mind that they hope to visit.

And one in five of those over the age of 45 have been planning for their dream trip since they were 18 – with two-thirds (67%) deliberately saving this trip for much later on in life.

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Some of the top reasons for this include being more financially comfortable the older you get, having less dependencies, and appreciating things later in life.

Ryan Howsam, CEO and founder of specialist travel insurance provider, Staysure, which commissioned the survey, said: “Most of us have that one special trip we’ve been dreaming of since we can remember, and it’s great to see that people have been planning it for a long time.

“It’s only as we get older that it starts to become more attainable, as certain barriers start to come down – such as having more free time, or less responsibilities. Holidays are so important to us, and sharing new experiences with family and friends is priceless.”

To help those who are unsure on where their dream holiday destination might be, Staysure has created a fun and useful quiz that will help you decide the best places to visit, based on your travel preferences.

The study also found that the average Brit has been on 23 holidays – and, when thinking about their dream destination, 41% said it’s a place they’ve wanted to visit since they were young, although 21% discovered theirs online, and instantly felt they wanted to go.

Ideally, the trip would last an average of three weeks, and involve visiting eight different sights – with visiting Australia to see Uluru, and go snorkelling in the famous Great Barrier Reef, also featured among must-do activities.

However, 74% still aren’t sure on all the details of their dream holiday yet, even though they often think about it.

More than a quarter are already saving specifically for their dream holiday, and regularly add money to an account – with 18-24-year-olds leading the way with this (43%).

But when it comes to genders, men are almost twice as likely as women to be topping up the holiday fund (35%, versus 18%).

Of all those polled, 32% aren’t yet financially organised enough to be putting money aside, but said they do plan on saving for their trip in the not-too-distant future.

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Top 40 dream holiday destinations - USA and Maldives top the list

And the average dream holiday takes four years to plan (SWNS)

And when it comes to the main things they hope to get out of their holiday, 57% said making unforgettable memories, while 52% are looking to experience new things.

Meanwhile, one in three hope it will boost their happiness and improve their mental health – and 35% simply don’t want to regret not ever doing it.

The OnePoll.com study also found 74% believe this type of trip would be transformative for them as a person – leaving them feeling fulfilled (52%) and content (43%).

But when it comes to protecting themselves on this type of holiday, four in ten worry the insurance for it will be too expensive, while 17% aren’t confident they will be able to get the right cover.

Of those who have already been on this type of holiday, 43% plan on doing it again in the future.

Ryan Howsam added: “Aside from ticking it off the list, an unforgettable holiday has so much more to offer – from self-discovery, to opening your eyes to a completely different culture.

“Our research shows just how much time and money people put into planning their dream holidays, the things they’d like to experience, and why they might feel the need to save it for later in life.

“But for any successful holiday, having confidence in your travel insurance is key – it’s worth checking your insurer can cover the experiences you’re hoping to have, as well as the length of time you can spend in one destination, as all policies differ.

“Whilst financially we are all feeling the pinch as we navigate through rising costs at every turn, it’s important not to scrimp on cover.”

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