The surge in revenge travel among Americans

Have you heard of ‘revenge travel’? You may have taken part in the trend without even realizing it. The term cropped up in 2022, yet 2023 is set to see the term escalate further, with people seeking out more new adventures. Here’s a deep dive into what revenge travel looks like and the traveling patterns that are emerging off the back of it.

What is revenge travel?

In a nutshell, revenge travel refers to the surge of jet-setters going on holiday to another state or beyond. It comes off the back of the pandemic travel restrictions easing. Previously, people were a little more reluctant to go traveling when we were slowly creeping out of lockdown measures, with some places operating stricter rules than others.

By this point, now that measures are much less restrictive, people just want to let loose and jet off somewhere amazing. Plans are less likely to be canceled, so people are going all out. On top of this, those who haven’t traveled for a long while will be more tempted to splash out on a dream vacation – and we don’t blame them.

Why we are wanting to see more of the world

VistaJet, a private aviation company whose fleet includes the bombardier global 7500, has seen an increase in bookings. Figures for the first half of January 2023 alone saw a huge increase of 85% year-on-year and an increase of 140% compared to 2021. Is this setting the tone for what is to come in 2023? We suspect so.

Matteo Atti, VistaJet’s Chief Marketing Officer expands on the trends seen. "It’s time to celebrate our freedom to travel the world and make unimaginable and unforgettable memories. While 2022 was the year in which global travel became possible again, 2023 is the year in which Members are planning incredible getaways with friends, family, or even solo adventures."

Further findings showed that 2022 brought in a record growth of 50% in flight revenues, with clients lusting after bespoke experiences and unforgettable getaways.

“Following a rush of travel post-pandemic, to reactivate business and relationship links, we now expect clients to be more selective, placing high value on fulfilling experiences that fuel their thirst for fun, knowledge and personal growth in 2023.”

Clearly, those who are vaccinated are wanting to get as much from their travel experiences as possible.

Destinations we are adding to the bucket list

But which destinations are people most eager to visit? According to Forbes, a lot of traveling is domestic, with people remaining within the United States, but there are clear patterns of the types of locations chosen.

It appears that many of us what to get out in nature. Stats show that following the pandemic in 2021, mountain and lake destinations experienced a 44% increase in visitors, while coastal destinations and resorts saw a 42% increase across America. By contrast, urban city demand is down, with people favoring smaller towns or rural destinations instead.

These stats are likely to be even higher today, with the travel bug spreading fast across the population now that even more COVID-19 travel restrictions have come to an end. Are you part of the revenge traveling collective with plans to go all out this year? Let us know in the comments below!