Would you rather…? Experiences vs. Possessions

Studies have shown experiences bring more happiness than material things. In fact, it seems the happiest people in the world put their hard earned dollars toward travel and other memory producing experiences instead of hitting the mall. Because we too want to live in a world filled with happy people, we put our Summer Travel Hacker data to work and invite you to join us for a game of would you rather…

Lattes or Luaus?

Pass on that morning latte for 1 year and instead, head to Kona, our #1 Trending Summer destination, and learn to play the ukulele, weave a coconut frond basket, or dance the hula at a luau with the locals. With a stay at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel (our #1 Trending Summer hotel on the Big Island), you’ll get a taste of the Hawaiian local life without ever leaving the grounds. Now that’s what we call authentic.

 

Fashion Capitol or Fashionable Shopping Spree?

Fashion trends are fickle, so trade in that shopping spree for a trip across the pond to one of the fashion capitals of the world. With a trip to our #1 European Summer destination, the memories are yours to make – head down to the Seine for Paris Plages or grab a bottle of wine and a baguette and spend the afternoon staring up at the Eiffel Tower. Now what’s more Parisian than that?! If you need a break from the hustle and bustle, look no further than the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, our #1 most popular hotel – one of the tallest buildings in Paris, this hotel boasts unforgettable views of the city.

 

Hottest Technology or Hottest Beach?

Technology is constantly changing, so place your bets on something more stable – good old-fashioned human interaction. All you need once you touch down in Tel Aviv (our #1 Summer Deal Destination) is a matkot set (the original paddle board game) and a friendly attitude – head to one of the city’s many sprawling beaches and join in with the locals! With a stay at the Isrotel Royal Beach hotel (our #1 Summer Deal hotel), you’ll be a stone’s throw from two of the most popular beaches in Tel Aviv.

As The Atlantic points out, you will get the greatest value from an experiential purchase if you plan for it in advance and you can look forward to it. So, take a second to review the Summer Travel Hacker and check out our 2015 Travel Hacker Guide for year-round insights and recommendations – we’ve got all the information you need. What are you waiting for – start planning!

Average airfare for each destination is as reported for the month of August in the Summer Travel Hacker Guide. Hotel rates are based on prices displayed on KAYAK.com for searches conducted on 6/26/2015 for travel dates [8/21/15 – 8/24/15]. Material goods based on prices displayed by vendors via internet searches for goods – averages taken of price displays across vendors.