First 24 Hours of the Holiday’s Priorities

The first 24 hours[1] of a holiday are crucial for Thais, with more than half (58%) believing that the first day sets the tone for the rest of the holiday, and nearly half (49%) going as far as to say that these hours can make or break their trip, according to a survey conducted by Booking.com, the global leader in connecting people with the most incredible places to stay.

Pepijn Rijvers, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com said “Holidays are times when we can go to new places, try new experiences and take a break from the routine of everyday life. Expectations often run high and with so much to see and do, a lot rides on those first 24 hours.”

But how do these hours play out? What are our ultimate priorities for Thais during that first day on holiday? Here are what really goes on in the first 24 hours.

First items on the agenda are what you’d expect for most, Thais make sure to explore around the accommodation (59%) and unpack their bags (43%). Meanwhile another 59% choose to go for a long walk after arriving at the destination, and indulge in a local delicacy (53%).

Beyond exploring the accommodation, there are some priorities in the room itself! The research shows that Thai travellers want a room with an amazing view (53%), a comfortable mattress (43%) and a hearty breakfast (38%). Follow closely by strong Wi-Fi signal (37%) and excellent restaurant (36%).

While those ‘traditional’ activities mentioned above came out as the top three activities, the research also shows that 21st Century Thais traveller will start taking pictures for social media channels (43%) right away, within the first 24 hours of their holiday! Follow by going online to check out local restaurant reviews (32%) and check work emails (12%).

In fact, these tech-orientated activities tend to happen before the more traditional aspects of a holiday like indulging in our first holiday ice cream and hitting the pool!

Pepijn Rijvers added “Our mission at Booking.com is to empower people to experience the world, and that includes helping to ensure that those first holiday hours meet, if not exceed, those expectations. Accommodation is one component integral to any holiday, so whether you want to stay connected via Wi-Fi, munch a hearty breakfast every day or simply gaze on a great view, we make it easy to find the right stay for you, as well as developing the best in technology-powered solutions to make in-destination exploration a cinch, right from the start.”

[1] Defined as the moment we arrive at our destination