Our partners at Travel Department have some news to cheer us up today – Planning a holiday is good for your mental health!
At Travel Department we love the joy and satisfaction we bring to all our customers by creating experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
From zipping up your suitcase when you are finally packed to the instant relaxation on arrival at your destination; few things leave us feeling refreshed and revitalised, like a quick getaway.
Unfortunately, with the pandemic changing our travel plans, we’ve had much less of an opportunity to get the feel-good factor that comes with a break.
However, new research proves that planning a holiday alone is good for your mental health. This is great news across the board as we recently carried out some surveys which show that people are looking forward to travelling again. So now, regardless of the situation, preparing for that break is a positive act of wellbeing.
SAVE: Enjoy exclusive discounts of up to €75pp off your 2022 holiday with Donegal Daily’s codes at: https://www.traveldepartment.com/donegal-daily
Sara Zimmerman, CEO of Travel Department, said that there’s been a significant uplift in holiday bookings and that customers are becoming more comfortable about international travel:
“Travel Department is delighted to be welcoming customers back and we share their excitement to travel again. We actively listened to our customers throughout the pandemic and understand that some people may have lingering anxieties about travel so we’ve gone the extra mile to make sure we take care of everything. We have created dedicated pages on our website outlining travel requirements by country and the steps we take to keep our customers safe while abroad.
“Once on holiday, our guides are ready and waiting to greet our customers again and not only to share their wealth of knowledge and passion for each destination but to provide practical information on local customs and practices. This new research just confirms what we have long since suspected: holidays are great for our wellbeing, and not just while we’re away, but from the moment we start planning.”
Travel Department Guided Group Tours
These signs of holiday travel returning to normality are also to be seen in Italy, one of the most popular holiday destinations for the UK and Ireland at the moment.
Explora S.p.A who helps promote the touristic offering of the Lombardy region, confirms that there are evident signs of recovery in the Lombardy region. “European travellers have shown a tendency towards proximity tourism, showing a keen interest in the rediscovery of small villages, mountains and lesser known tourist destinations,” says Explora. “We are seeing promising signs of a return to holiday travel, with trends growing for both Italian and foreign tourists.”
The Research Findings
Firstly, let’s look at the research around what that holiday prep can do for you. Studies from Cornwall University show that planning a holiday can improve your mental health, as well as making us feel better about our social and economic means. According to Jessica De Bloom, Academy Research Fellow in the University of Groningen, holidays not only benefit people’s health but make them happier as well. The benefits of a well-needed trip away don’t just come into effect once the holiday has begun, but can be seen as soon as you start researching accommodation, scrolling through Instagram hashtags or booking your annual leave from work.
These results correlate strongly with Dr Gerard Flaherty in Galway, Ireland, a world expert in the emerging field of Travel Psychiatry. Recently appointed as President-Elect of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), he says, “The psychological benefits of international travel, especially for tourism purposes, have been largely ignored until relatively recently in the travel medicine literature.’’ In a recent Editorial to the Journal of Travel Medicine, Dr Flaherty states that “The fear engendered by this pandemic will eventually be replaced by optimism and hope for our future. Achieving this mindset will summon our collective reserves of fortitude and resilience. Psychological resilience during the COVID-19 shelterin-place period has been shown to be related to higher levels of exercise, sleep quality, social support and spirituality.”
Exclusive Discount
So, what are you waiting for? Travel Department’s January sale is now on, with exclusive offers through Donegal Daily.
This offer is only available until 31st January 2022, so book today and secure your spot! You don’t want to miss out on your chance to enjoy the holiday you very definitely deserve.
SAVE €75pp* on any holiday of 8 nights or more. Use promo code: VP-DON75
SAVE €50pp* on any 5-7 nights holiday. Use promo code: VP-DON50
SAVE €25pp* on any holiday of 4 nights or less. Use promo code: VP-DON25
Available on all departures for 2022.
Browse and book on our exclusive offer page: https://www.traveldepartment.com/donegal-daily
If you have any questions, or would simply like to learn more about Travel Department’s wonderful destinations, why not give one of their brilliant team a call on 01 637 1698