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Hawaii Tops List of Dream Vacation Destinations

Hawaii Tops List of Dream Vacation Destinations

Most Americans would travel internationally

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A Gallup Panel poll finds Hawaii to be the most preferred travel destination when Americans are asked to say where they would go on their dream vacation. The majority of Americans would take an international trip on their dream vacation, while relatively few would remain in the continental United States. More Americans would travel to Europe on their ideal trip than to any other part of the world.

The poll was conducted May 22-24 and asked a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults from Gallup's household panel where they would go on their dream vacation if money were no object. The question used an open-ended format, allowing respondents to name whatever place came to mind.

Seventeen percent say they would travel to Hawaii, ranking it at the top of the list. General mentions of "Europe" were next-most common, named by 11%. Other popular destinations would include Australia (6%), Italy (5%), and Alaska (4%).

If money were no object, where would you go on your dream vacation? [OPEN ENDED]

%

Hawaii

17

Europe

11

Australia

6

Italy

5

Alaska/Alaskan cruise

4

California

2

Florida

2

Greece

2

London/England

2

Ireland

2

Fiji

2

Bahamas

2

New Zealand

1

Caribbean

1

Colorado

1

Las Vegas

1

Around the world

1

Paris

1

Tahiti

1

Jamaica

1

Mediterranean

1

Mexico

1

Disney World

1

Rome

1

Cancun

1

Africa

1

Germany

1

Switzerland

1

Across the United States

1

Spain

1

Canada

1

China

1

Scotland

1

Egypt

1

Other

18

Nowhere/No desire to travel

1

No opinion

2

International or Domestic?

In all, 58% of Americans would choose to go to an international destination, while 38% would travel within the United States. Slightly more than half of domestic travelers would vacation in Alaska or Hawaii, leaving 17% who would travel within the continental United States on their dream vacation.

Women (61%) are more likely than men (54%) to name an international place as their dream travel destination.

Younger Americans are significantly more likely than older Americans to want to take their dream vacation outside the United States. Seventy-two percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34 would opt for an international vacation, compared with 57% of those in the 35 to 54 age bracket and 46% of those aged 55 or older. Older Americans are equally likely to choose a domestic (47%) as an international (46%) destination.

Where in the World?

Europe rates as the area of the world where most Americans would go on their ideal vacation. Thirty percent mention places in Europe, including mentions of the continent in general and specific mentions of countries and cities within that continent such as Italy or London. Twenty-eight percent would travel to Pacific islands or Australia, ranking a close second to Europe, while North American locations are mentioned by 24% of respondents. Five percent would travel to places in the Caribbean, 3% to Asia, 2% to Africa, and 2% to South America on their dream vacations.

The data show that Europe appeals more to women (35%) than men (24%), while men are more inclined to take their dream vacation somewhere in North America (27% of men, compared with 21% of women). A trip to Australia or Pacific islands rates as the top option for men and as the second choice for women.

Dream Vacation Destinations, by Gender

Men

%

Women

%

Australia/Pacific islands

30

Europe

35

North America

27

Australia/Pacific islands

26

Europe

24

North America

21

Caribbean

5

Caribbean

6

Asia

4

Africa

3

South America

3

Asia

2

Africa

2

South America

2

Other/No opinion

6

Other/No opinion

6

European destinations also rate as desirable vacation spots for younger Americans -- 37% of those between the ages of 18 and 34 would take their dream vacation there. Those in the middle age group are about equally likely to plan a dream vacation in the Pacific (30%) or in Europe (28%). North American locations are most commonly cited by older Americans as their ideal vacation destination.

Dream Vacation Destinations, by Age

18 to 34

%

35 to 54

%

55 and older

%

Europe

37

Australia/Pacific

30

North America

31

Australia/Pacific

28

Europe

28

Europe

24

North America

16

North America

24

Australia/Pacific

24

Caribbean

7

Caribbean

5

Caribbean

5

Asia

5

South America

3

Asia

3

South America

2

Africa

2

Africa

2

Africa

2

Asia

2

South America

1

Other/No opinion

3

Other/No opinion

6

Other/No opinion

10

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,003 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 22-24, 2006. Respondents were randomly drawn from Gallup's household panel, which was originally recruited through random selection methods. Gallup Panel households are sampled in such a way as to yield an initial sample that is demographically representative of the U.S. adult population. The final sample after interviewing is weighted so that it is also demographically representative of the U.S. adult population.

For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/23194/Hawaii-Tops-List-Dream-Vacation-Destinations.aspx
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