Hey Traveller,

‘Tis the season to be jolly, as the song goes, and having grown up in Europe this really rings true to me. The further north you go, the more the Winter months are synonymous with festivals and celebrations, which help those who live there to maintain a cheerful and positive attitude through these otherwise historically difficult months, filled with long cold nights and short chilly days.

As we approach this period of joyfulness, merrymaking and gift-giving, let us remind our friends and family that the gift of travel is considered by many to be one of the best gifts of all.

We all already know that travel comes with a host of great benefits: you get to spend time with people you love; you get to see new things and try new things; you get to relax away from the pressures of work and everyday life; you get the thrill of realizing dreams you may have had for years and years.

As it turns out, cheesy (and self-serving) as it may seem, travel is the best way to spend your money. Of all the things you can buy, the experience of travelling gives you, by far, the most bang for your buck. All these great elements of travel have been proven to make people happier.

And even more than that, every part of the travel experience — before, during, and after — is more satisfying, more enjoyable, and has longer-lasting positive effects than just buying ‘stuff’.

But don’t take my word for it! In 2003, Thomas Gilovich published his landmark study called “To Do or To Have? That Is the Question” – a study that, almost two decades on, continues to influence social psychology and the study of what brings us true contentment. Gilovich looked at how economic choices affect well-being and analyzed the differences between experiential and material purchases on human happiness. His unexpected discovery has changed the way we look at our buying habits: Across the board, doing things makes people way happier than having things.

I’ve long adhered to this philosophy, perhaps a little too much and too early in life. As a young man chasing amazing travel experiences, I often neglected to secure my future so that I may continue to have them. Though I did make some amazing memories that bring me happiness to this day, I sometimes feel that this trade-off set me back a fair bit for longer term dreams. Nonetheless, for those in an already secure and comfortable position or stage in life, travel experiences are a fantastic source of longer lasting happiness.

The reason for this, Gilovich explains, is that we get to live and re-live the joy of experiences. Buying an expensive TV or even a new car gives a momentary spike in good feelings that lasts for a few days, maybe a few weeks, until we get used to them and start taking them for granted. But when you take an amazing trip, you get the memories and the good time together — and every time you think of that trip, or you see something that reminds you of it, or you look at the picture on your desktop, your brain registers those joyful times and releases mood-enhancing chemicals that make you feel like you’re re-living the happiness of the experience itself. It stays with you, and you get to access it whenever you want.

Not that we need any more reasons to start planning that dream trip — but another study that Gilovich co-authored has found that even the anticipation of experiences outdoes the lead-up to material purchases. People waiting in line to get tickets to an event, for example, are happier and more excited than those who are waiting in line to buy some‘thing’.

So, even something as boring as waiting in line is more fun when it’s connected to your travel experience. It makes sense when you think about it, right? You’re waiting to, let’s say, get your passport photo taken, and associated with that time are thoughts of where you’re going to go, what you’re going to see, and all the adventure that awaits. When you’re planning that trip with your agent, you get to make progress, take steps towards realizing your dream, and each step is actually a part of the adventure itself. In that anticipation, you can feel like you’re already there.

As travellers, we already know the many positive benefits of getting out and seeing the world. And now we can feel even better knowing that those benefits continue to improve our lives, long after the trip is over.

The best part? I can help you design your trip down to the last meticulously managed detail; recommend the best tours with the most experienced and knowledgeable guides; access great deals on the most amazing cruise destinations with fantastic lectures and authentic encounters; and offer itineraries that will provide the most meaningful journeys, enriching experiences, and memorable stories to share. Give me a call and let’s get started! Or click here to contact me now!

And remember:

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. So, we could say that a video shows a thousand pictures. But, neither words nor pictures, nor even a thousand videos, can ever come close to the first-hand experience of being there "in person" to Witness the Wonders of Our World - while we still can, and because we still can... You still can!

Have a wonderful day,
Best regards

Nic

Your Personal Travel Manager

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P.P.S. If you are ready to start planning your next WOW trip, please reach out to me or click here to schedule an appointment.