Trafalgar seeks to bring back wanderlust with the launch of its 2019 Europe & Britain Program.
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By Mia Taylor, TravelPulse
Travel it seems, may be losing a bit of its luster for some globetrotters.
As part of a new, thought-provoking survey from Trafalgar, 89 percent of survey respondents said travel is enjoyable but stressful and difficult to plan. What’s more, 49 percent said that “real” travel experiences didn’t actually feel that real – that travel is becoming a common tourist trail.
Additionally, 37 percent of those surveyed felt they didn’t see any “real culture” on their last trip and almost half of the participants said if they did, the experiences were not unique.
“The results were surprising and somewhat disconcerting, with the overall sentiment stipulating that rather than travel evoking wanderlust, the wonder of travel is getting lost,” Trafalgar said in a statement.
Another alarming statistic unearthed by the study, 61 percent of travelers are feeling the negative effects of overtourism, with overcrowding (experienced by 66 percent) putting a damper on their holidays.
The burden of social media is also getting to travelers, with 53 percent saying that the pressures of posting while on holidays were enough to put them off.
The study also showed that travelers view “good” travel as an opportunity to step away from daily life and pressures, be surprised and challenged, learn, appreciate and experience something new.
Another priority among those surveyed is spending time with loved ones, in a relaxed state of mind.
In response to the survey answers, which Trafalgar has described as “wonder-lost,” the company has just unveiled a new Europe and Britain program for 2019.
The new program focuses on providing guests with:
Real-Ease
Based on its 72 years of expertise across seven continents, Trafalgar says it knows that good travel still exists – if it’s done right. To that end, it’s new program focuses on making sure the stress of planning is taken care of.
“The logistics of formulating the perfect itinerary such as quality accommodations, comfortable transportation, plenty of meals, VIP admission to the sites and unique Trafalgar highlights are all included so travelers don’t have to worry about a thing,” said the company.
That will include experts in each destination guiding guests through the exciting and unknown while showing hidden gems along the way. There will also be Local Specialists offering advice on what to do during free time.
Real Connections
The new program will feature carefully-crafted itineraries emphasizing real experiences designed to connect travelers to “the soul of the places Trafalgar goes.”
“You’ll break bread with locals who are proud to bring you into their homes, share their cultures and tell their tales on Trafalgar’s exclusive Be My Guest experiences, which also help sustain their communities,” said the company. “Join a family in Croatia’s coastal town of Opatija for dinner, experiencing Mediterranean flavors unlike any other and hear their stories of life in the Kvarner Gulf. Or stay somewhere that’s more than just a bed for the night on one of Trafalgar’s Stays with Stories including the Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg dating back to 1736, where some of the most romantic scenes from the Sound of Music were filmed - your time here aids in funding its preservation for future generations to enjoy.”
Real Joy
By emphasizing ease and real connections, the ultimate goal is to provide travelers with real joy, says Trafalgar.
“When the elements of ease and connections come together, allowing you to really be in the moment, really connect to each destination and help to sustain the people, places and planet along the way – that’s when real joy is experienced, perspective felt on what’s important and one’s core values are uncovered. This is The Good Life - what travel is all about,” said the company.
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