It was once that vacationers primarily used their trip {dollars} on flight, resort and restaurant upgrades, however more and more vacationers are placing their cash on distinctive excursions. Whether it’s mountain climbing a volcano in Iceland with a licensed geologist or kayaking close to glaciers with a wildlife conservationist, in the present day’s largest journey luxurious is an unforgettable expertise.
What Really Makes People Happy When Traveling
Today’s vacationers are investing much less in materials issues—like souvenirs—and extra in immersive actions that create lasting reminiscences. They are additionally buying and selling cookie-cutter sightseeing excursions with distinctive, one-of-a-kind experiences that basically join them to the vacation spot.
“People are surprisingly bad at predicting what will make us happy. Often, we think buying things will make us feel good, but we tend to overlook how much happiness comes from meaningful experiences instead,” says Jenny Mahlum, Ed.M., LMSW, a psychotherapist based mostly in Manhattan.
Travel isn’t nearly the place you go, however how these moments make you’re feeling. There’s one thing particular about wanting ahead to a visit, residing it within the second, after which having tales to share lengthy after you’re again. “When people think back on their travels, it’s not the souvenir they purchased that they tend to remember,” says Mahlum. It’s the experiences.
Personalization issues too, which is why generic bus excursions usually don’t go away a long-lasting impression. “Choosing an experience for yourself, like a hike or a cooking class, gives you a sense of ownership and excitement before the experience even starts,” says Mahlum. And experiences that get you concerned, problem you, deliver you a way of novelty, real connection, or neighborhood go away a stronger impression and reminiscence than merely checking off vacationer spots.
Travel Excursions Are A Renewable Source of Joy
“Something psychologists have known for a while is that experiences function as a renewable source of joy,” says Matt Sosnowsky, LCSW, psychotherapist and founding father of Philadelphia Talk Therapy. “Activities highlight shared experience and connection, which add greater depth and meaning.” Hiking with mates or household, for instance, creates a shared reminiscence that hyperlinks us to feeling of anticipation, laughter, or pleasure.
“The old adage goes that neurons that fire together wire together, and experiences are often a surefire, positive way travelers make this happen,” says Rio Wilson, Founder of Brain-Body Therapy. “These travel experiences not only create lasting memories but also release feel-good hormones in the same way a short workout would. These experiences often come with bursts of excitement, boosting dopamine and serotonin naturally and lowering cortisol levels.”
Experiences stick with us and develop into a part of who we’re. “A hike, a horse ride, a retreat, a difficult climb, or a moment in nature can change the way someone sees themselves,” says Dr Tracy King, a medical psychologist. “Travelers may come home thinking, I was braver than I thought or I never believed I could do that. The impact of experiences can be brought back into the present.”
Finding Unique Travel Experiences
“Airbnb Experiences first launched in November of 2016, and the idea was always that the best way to see a place was through the people who live there,” says Doug Weiss, Director of Experiences for Airbnb. “We felt like there was an opportunity to make the product even better, so in May of 2025, we relaunched with the vision of making Airbnb Experiences the way to connect with destinations around the world with authentic local experiences.”
An example is a volcano hike with a geologist in Iceland, a uniquely knowledgeable host bringing travelers somewhere they wouldn’t discover on their own. One of the reasons excursions like this are so popular it is because travelers want access to specialists—in this case a geologist—as opposed to a regular tour guides.
“I think that expertise matters more than people realize,” says Weiss. “There’s a difference between someone who knows the route and someone who has spent their career understanding what you’re actually looking at. When a geologist takes you through an active volcanic landscape and explains what formed it, how old it is and what it means that the earth is still changing beneath you, that is not a tour anymore, it’s an education, and a real connection to the destination. Guests can feel that difference.”
The most successful experiences are the ones with deep expertise and genuine passion for what they do. A historian who lights up talking about a place, a chef who spent years perfecting a dish, an athlete who wants to share their sport with the world. That energy is contagious and travelers are seeking that out in a way they weren’t before.
The Experience Is The Big Draw To A Destination
“We did a survey recently and found that 85% of Gen Z and 80% of families said they have traveled or plan to travel to a destination based on an experience or activity there,” says Weiss. “That tells you a lot about where people’s heads are at. It’s less about collecting things and more about collecting memories that stay with you.”
Connecting With Locals
Horseback riding on Icelandic horses.
getty
Many vacationers need to join with locals and have interaction in actions particular to that space of the world. An instance of that is horseback riding on Icelandic horses by means of lava fields. Icelandic horses are woven into the historical past and identification of the nation. Most vacationers would by no means discover a information who has spent 4 a long time driving by means of lava fields on their very own.
“Riding the Icelandic horse means travelling Viking style, on a breed deeply rooted in the country’s culture since the settlers first arrived,” says Jenny Puelmanns, of Íshestar Riding Tours. “It’s slow, close to nature and far from standard sightseeing, bringing nature and animals together in one authentic experience.”
Weiss adds that Airbnb Experiences lets people leave knowing a place, not just having seen it saying, “There’s a real difference between being a tourist and feeling like an insider.”
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