Health, Wellness Come First in Our Travels: Amex Survey Finding

By Robert McGarvey

American Express is here with the news: we are now putting real priority on our health and wellness.

A pandemic that has killed 750,000 in the US and almost 5 million globally will do that to you.

The Amex Trendex survey found that consumers are “investing more time and money in their physical and mental health to combat the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on their well-being. More than two-thirds (69%) of consumers surveyed indicate that their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic – either by isolation restrictions or concerns for well-being – and 66% agree that the pandemic has encouraged them to spend more money on items or experiences that help with their overall mental wellness.“

Based upon my recent trip to Spain I heartily agree.  Health and wellness, which I cannot say ever scored high in my travel priorities, suddenly loomed as make or break.  I sought out restaurants with few diners rather than the crowded, buzzy places I had preferred.  Walking the Camino de Santiago I eschewed bunking in the traditional barracks-style albergues and slept in private rooms in hotels.  In airports I fled into clubs mainly because there were fewer people than in the public areas. 

And of course I had chosen a holiday that involved a dozen days of walking outdoors, mainly on the rural pathways of Galicia and – this time of year – with comparatively few fellow travelers.  That too ties in with the Amex findings which said: “Consumers surveyed are also spending on experiences as 76% of survey respondents agree that they want to spend more on travel to improve their well-being.”

And 60% of us are dreaming of planning a wellness focused trip.

Sure, I could have gone to Greece but I have done that and, frankly, those holidays tend for me to be more sybaritic. Lots of food and drink and, lovely as that can be, it wasn’t what I wanted right now.

What I wanted was exactly what Amex says: an experience that contributed to improving my well being.  It is hard to beat a centuries old trek through northwestern Spain that culminates in a Catholic cathedral where a massive incense burner marks the occasion.  (Video here.)

58% of Americans also say they want to explore the outdoors.  

Word of advice: when planning your next vacation, think outdoors.  It doesn’t have to be an out of the way state park.  I can envision a delightful walking vacation exploring Berlin neighborhoods, a trip I actually did 11 years ago, and at least then it was wonderfully enjoyable to poke into the still not fully redeveloped neighborhoods of East Berlin.  

Also: always ask – I know I’ve been doing it – is this place sanitary? Is it a threat to my health?

My guess is that the hotels, airlines and restaurants that prosper over the next year will be the ones that put a high and visible priority on health and sanitation. The pandemic will be with us in the US at least one more year and globally, who knows? It will be several more years.

So I am for dramatic steps to keep travelers safe.

To keep me safe.

Personally I support the airlines that require employees to be vaccinated and similarly I support hotels that do likewise.  

I also support enforcement of capacity limitations.  In Spain, for instance, restaurants were forced to seat only 50% of their capacity – that made for plenty of room.

And of course I support mask compliance indoors and, at least in some cases, outdoors.  Crowded city squares are places where I think masks are required, not so much a lonely country hiking trail. But when it doubt, mask up.

When picking destinations, always check the current Covid numbers – and know that on that basis I am unlikely to consider setting foot in a quarter of the US. Definitely a full quarter of the world also is off limits to me. Too many unvaccinated, too many sick. Always check the numbers in trip planning and go with facts, not hopes and best case scenarios.

Travel, yes – but do it safely, mindfully and with a full commitment to personal health and wellness. that’s how to get through this and make it into tomorrow.