Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which made us wonder: What are the most attractive destinations during a holiday for lovebirds? To find out, we looked at the combined occupancy of our Valentine’s Day bookings across the U.S. from 2017 through 2019.
After identifying our top 10 most popular February 14th vacation rental markets, we partnered with Datadipity Insights to learn a little more about this year’s Valentine’s Day vacationers. For the study, we asked 1,500 adults living in the U.S. about everything from the most romantic type of lodging to their preferred travel companions.
Respondents want sunny coastal destinations and cozy accommodations that include a private kitchen and big views. While most will travel with their significant others, they all crave their alone time. How much of that time they’ll spend on their smartphones varies by generation—and it doesn’t break out how you’d think.
Here’s what vacationing for Valentine’s Day will look like in 2019.
It’s no surprise that the majority of Valentine’s Day vacationers plan to travel with their significant other or family. But more plan to vacation alone rather than with friends? We didn’t see that coming.
We asked our respondents what they want for Valentine’s Day this year. One gift transcends generational lines.
Prefer unique experiences |
Prefer material gifts |
|
---|---|---|
Generation Z |
80% |
20% |
Millennials |
83% |
17% |
Generation X |
77% |
23% |
Baby Boomers |
71% |
29% |
We asked respondents across four generations about the importance of alone time—and how much is too much time to spend on the phone during a romantic getaway. Here's what the majority of each generation had to say:
When asked which is more romantic, a hotel or vacation rental, 55 percent of our travelers chose vacation rental. Maybe checking in at a front desk kills the mood?
Respondents were given the opportunity to choose multiple answers.
Respondents were given the opportunity to choose multiple answers.
If you aren’t sure what to plan for your Valentine’s Day vacation this year, it’s a good bet your companion will appreciate a condensed trip somewhere warm. No need to book something extravagant. Look for a cozy cottage with great views. Here’s what Valentine’s day vacations will look like for our respondents this year.
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday. You can expect to see the bulk of vacationers booking weekend-style romantic getaways. Here’s how long they plan to stay:
Maybe it’s because 2018 was such a noisy year, or maybe it’s just the nature of the holiday, but this year’s Valentine’s Day vacationers want comfort, quiet, and peak snuggle-ability. Here’s how they described their ideal vacation rental vibe:
This year’s Valentine’s Day vacationers want an unforgettable experience—think a hot tub, chef’s kitchen, and larger-than-life views. Here’s what they chose as the top five most important vacation rental amenities:
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.