Vacation Travel is Part Inspiration, Part Perspiration

June 4, 2008

When planning to embark on your dream vacation, travel doesn’t always come easy for those who dot their “i’s” and cross their “t’s”. Leaving little to chance, they work into the wee hours of the night, research hotels especially, trying to find places where they can walk to attractions, or pay a little less without suffering the consequences. How do tourists pick their vacation spots? While recent studies show that people clearly read up on what’s new and where to go on the Internet, often a neighbor, relative or friend can wield lots of influence in the decision process.

In the neighborhood I live in, last year four out of eight families and residents of homes on my street traveled to the same destination, which at that time was Central Coast California. It isn’t by chance that people select a vacation, in most instances. Often receiving a recommendation, our surveys show that travelers are twice as inclined to visit a new place based on a recommendation of someone trusted.

Especially interesting about this phenomenon is that these same travelers often will cite inspiration as a motivator for selecting a destination. Upon further examination, we discover that while the place was often chosen first by word-of-mouth referral, after a travel planner decides where to go on a trip, he or she becomes inspired through research such as web sites, books, and blogs.

From that point on, inspiration goes hand-in-hand with perspiration involved in the actual booking process. Selecting flights, rental cars, hotels and activities requires accommodating fellow travelers in your party.

If you are like our writers and staff at Vacation Travel Channel, there comes a point during the booking process where inspiration and perspiration give way to practical consideration. Prices, availability and inability to control all aspects and needs of those traveling in a group make planning tough. With all things weighed, your decisions are made and you return to inspiration once again. Of course doubt, life’s unexpected surprises, and a variety of external factors try to chip at your inspiration and well-laid plans.

But if you succeed in launching your trip, the mind typically remains in an inspired mode, with a measure of hope for good times and fun.