The great escape: 2025 to be the year of wellbeing holidays

With 96% of UK adults rating the importance of health and wellbeing as a key consideration when booking holidays for the year ahead, InsureandGo asked a representative sample of 2,000 adults which choices they would make to ensure their holidays supported their mental health and wellbeing in 2025.

Topping the list was a desire to escape from the hectic routines of a busy world. Nationally, 35% said this year they would look to visit remote places far away from the stresses of everyday life. Furthermore, 11% would take things a step further and look for ‘off-grid’ holidays, places offering a total switch-off from the internet and mobile phones. In terms of using holidays to re-balance the stresses of everyday life, 16% of survey respondents were also interested in the idea of ‘sleep holidays’ or breaks that helped them fully switch off and get a good night’s sleep.

Three in 10 respondents (30%) said they wanted a nature-based or wildlife-orientated holiday to get closer to the natural world. A further 12% said they would like to spend time with animals – whether horse riding, time on a farm or something more exotic, such as swimming with dolphins.

Guaranteed sunshine also rated highly for 32% of adults. At a time of year when some people suffer fromseasonal affective disorder (SAD) with the short days and grey skies, the promise of a holiday destination where people could sunbathe and feel regenerated by the sun was seen to be core to health and wellbeing.

Mental relaxation was also seen as an essential aspect of a good wellbeing holiday. One in five people (20%) were drawn to the idea of a cruise holiday, while 11% were interested in holidays that offered courses in yoga, Pilates or meditation. 

Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at InsureandGo, commented: “Our latest survey shows that more and more people want holidays to give them an escape from the humdrum of life – whether this involves trekking to remote locations, reconnecting with nature or even finding those far-flung places that have no WiFi. Whatever people’s choices, mental health and wellbeing are becoming more important to more holidaymakers. And part of stress-free holidays is having good travel cover in place.”

Recent research from InsureandGo showed that British adults are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of rising temperatures during the summer holiday months.