There are a lot of great things about travel, including the ability to meet new people. And it turns out, for a lot of new folks, those new people they meet turn into something more than just a new friend.
A new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Exodus Travels finds:
- 23% of Americans say they met their future spouse while traveling.
- Another 33% admit to having a “vacation romance.”
- And 25% made a best friend during one of their trips.
- And some of those romances start even before those trips actually begin, with 30% of people saying they dated someone they met on a plane.
Overall, there seem to be a lot of people who make lasting connections while on vacation.
- In fact, 77% of people say they made lifelong friends while traveling.
- Of those people, the average amount of friends made is five.
- In general, the average person will make four new friends on a trip, even though they may not stay in touch post-trip.
- 79% of people say making new friends on vacation makes a trip better.
So, how exactly do folks meet new people while traveling? Some of the best ways include:
- Participating in lots of different activities while traveling (31%)
- Taking group tours while traveling (28%) (tied)
- Participate in hotel events (afternoon teas, cocktails, performances) (28%)(tied)
- Being active (gym, hikes, tennis, cycling, kayaking, golf, etc.) (27%)
- At the bar or restaurant (26%)
- Use social media (25%) (tied)
- Stayed at a hotel (25%) (tied)
- On the beach (25%)
- Visiting museums or historic sites (25%)
- Went on a group tour (24%)
- Went on a cruise (24%)
Source: SWNS Digital