Australian locals, great food, a comfy bed and Wi-Fi: how and where to have the happiest holiday

• Australia voted as having the friendliest and happiest locals (35%), followed by Canada (33%) and Italy (29%)
• Eight out of 10 people say a comfortable bed, a picturesque view (60%) and free Wi-Fi (52%) are the keys to holiday happiness

• A third (33%) say staying in an apartment or home with local residents makes them happiest, while a quarter (24%) say meeting new people on holiday makes them happy

For many people, going on holiday is a highly anticipated moment, sometimes for months or even years, starting from research through to booking, looking at destination pictures and planning what to do during their stay. Regardless of how far in advance they book, with most travellers confirming they think about their upcoming holiday multiple times a day (39%), there’s real pressure for the trip to fulfil all expectations.

Now, global research commissioned by Booking.com, the leader in connecting people with the most incredible places to stay, has revealed the magic ingredients to ensure holiday daydreams don’t become a holiday let-down.

Go where the happy people are

The research, which questioned 17,000 people from 17 countries worldwide, reveals that when the locals are happy, smiling and friendly, it has an immediate effect on our own happiness. A third (33%) of people say staying with locals makes them happiest, and a quarter (24%) say meeting new people makes them happy. And this happiness is obviously infectious, with almost half (47%) saying they get along better with their partner and family when on holiday. It’s the cheery and relaxed folk in Australia who top the list of happiest and friendliest nations, closely followed by Canada and Italy. Thailand also ranked the sixth in the top 10 countries list with the happiest and friendliest locals.

Top 10 countries with the happiest and friendliest locals:

Shawn Achor, BA, MA, Harvard, one of the world’s leading experts on happiness, NY Times bestselling author and speaker known for his advocacy of positive psychology explains:

“Over a decade of research proves that mind-set and happiness are incredibly contagious. You don't even have to say a word to affect someone else with your optimism. If you find yourself around positive people, you have an increased likelihood of experiencing the world in a positive way as well, which is why friendly locals can have such a significant impact on travel experiences. In addition, this is why we should be encouraged to do rejuvenating activities like go travelling, because when we are more positive, it is easier for other people around us to choose to be positive as well. Scientifically happiness is an interconnected choice.”

Travel happy

After the initial happiness boost of seeing their accommodation for the first time and a fantastic, welcoming reception (38%) there are many holiday elements that people say keep their happiness levels on a high. A quarter (25%) immerse themselves in the local culture, half (48%) say eating delicious food is a winning ingredient for a happy holiday and almost half (45%) say breath-taking scenery is top of their list.

Top 10 ingredients for the happiest holiday:

Sleep happy

Of course, it’s not just where you go or what you do that makes for a happy holiday. Where we lay our heads has significant impact on how happy we feel when away. When it comes to accommodation the research reveals a comfortable bed is top of the list for keeping us happy when on holiday (80%), closely followed by a picturesque view to wake up to each morning (60%).

Top 10 accommodation requirements for a happy holiday:

“Our travels make the more mundane aspects of our daily lives worthwhile, so it’s important they live up to our high expectations. The research shows just how much emphasis people place on the people they meet and experiences they have when they go away to make the perfect trip. At Booking.com we know that there are certain key comforts that are a must for any traveller; from a comfortable bed, to the perfect view or just simply being able to access free Wi-Fi. That said, every traveller has their own unique wants and needs. With over one million properties worldwide, 30 different property types to choose from and more than 102 million verified reviews from guests, Booking.com makes it easy for travellers to find their ‘holiday happy’,” said David Mau, director of product, Booking.com.