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NEW YORK — Not everyone ends up having wealth and fame. Despite this, plenty of people can still feel special once in a while, especially on vacation. Unfortunately, a new survey reveals that a shocking number of Americans believe they’ve never had a single “luxurious” moment in their lives!
According to the new poll, a fifth of Americans feel like they have never experienced “luxury.” The survey of 2,000 adults asked each respondent about their experience with luxury, especially when it comes to travel, and revealed that 17% have never experienced something luxurious.
However, just because they haven’t experienced it yet doesn’t mean it’s out of their grasp: 82% believe it’s attainable to have “luxury” while on vacation. When asked what luxuries they aspire to have included in a dream vacation, staying at high-end hotels (50%) was the top thing Americans want.
Rounding out the top three luxuries were having incredible views from their room (42%) and flying first class to their destination (42%). Also making the top 10 was the chance to try something new or unexpected (30%).
Commissioned by Visit Anaheim and conducted by Talker Research, the survey also looked at what, exactly, luxury means to Americans in 2024. Less than half (41%) believe “luxury” is the same as “extravagance” — and 85% agreed that luxury means something different to everyone.
When asked what luxury means to them, many respondents mentioned expensive or high-end items, but another wrote, “Something that makes me feel special and happy.” Another said, to them, luxury was, “being comfortable and peaceful.”
“Luxury means enjoying life to the fullest” — which, for some, may include, “indulging in something for myself like a special vacation [or a] special purchase,” another survey participant explained.
“We embrace that luxury means something different for everyone,” says Mike Waterman, the President & CEO for Visit Anaheim, in a statement. “We believe that the essence of true luxury lies in the time and memories made with family and friends: that truly is the greatest luxury of all.”
For those who would splurge on specific things, where they’re staying would be the top purchase (55%). That was followed by spending on food (53%) and the destination itself (34%). Americans would also be willing to splurge on how long they’re staying (33%) and the travel itself (25%). The average “luxurious vacation” would last seven days, according to respondents.
Survey methodology
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Visit Anaheim and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 26 and March 31, 2024.
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.
