An Exploratory Study of Vacation Stress

Research NoteThis exploratory study is focused on the degree to which stress occurs on vacations, including how and where it develops, who is most susceptible, and how it affects one's interest in returning to the destination in the future. Drawing from a national panel of 110 US residents who reported taking a recent vacation, the data revealed pretrip planning produced higher levels of stress when compared to the stress related to the actual travel to, or the stay at, the destination. Lastly, those who took an international vacation accompanied by a spouse or relative reported more stress in the trip-planning phase; males and older adults traveling with children were more prone to stress while traveling to the destination; and first-time consumers and younger adults reported more stress while at the destination. Implications for marketers are discussed.