Kuoni reveals 84 per cent of Brits say holidays are worth more than they cost in terms of wellbeing

Kuoni Travel and Nuffield Health have revealed 84 per cent of British holidaymakers claim holidays are worth more to them in terms of wellbeing than the money they spend on them.

The UK's largest healthcare charity and Kuoni Travel surveyed 2,845 UK adults between 14 April to 30 June 2012 to find out how a holiday can help to alleviate the effects that everyday life has on the public's mental and physical wellbeing.

The research showed that taking a break can improve people's lives in four key ways:
- It enables to break out of a routine
- Offers an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones
- Puts a fresh perspective on people's lives
- Enables us to relax and recharge our batteries

These benefits explain why almost a third (32 per cent) of Britons say that every pound they spend on a holiday is worth 2-4 times more to them in terms of wellbeing, 21 per cent say it's worth 5-7 times more, more than a quarter (27 per cent) say that its worth 8-10 times more, and 4 per cent say it's worth over 11 times more.

Interestingly, of those surveyed, 67 per cent said it took up to four days to stop worrying about work, this breaks down into:
- 44 percent said it took between 1 and 2 days
- 23 per cent said it took between 3 and 4 days
- Younger adults (16-24) were most likely to worry the longest (74 per cent)

Chris Jones, Head of Physiology at Nuffield Health, said: "On a day-to-day basis, our bodies give us subtle physical signals for stress or tiredness that may be caused by our busy modern lives and we all intuitively know that a holiday can help us re-charge our batteries. The fact that two-thirds of people are taking up to four days to switch off maybe an important indicator of how we manage stress from our everyday lives."

Derek Jones, MD Kuoni, said: "This study highlights the health benefits of a significant 10-day to two week holiday. Kuoni is well known for its expertise in tailor-making trips to long-haul destinations across the globe, and it seems more time away means the better we unwind and recover from the demands of our busy lives."

This survey is part of a bigger research study the luxury holidays provider and Nuffield Health are carrying out this year called The Holiday Health Experiment. Across August, Kuoni are sending three different couples away on three radically different types of holiday - to Amazonian Peru, to Thailand and to the Maldives. Nuffield Health and psychotherapist, Christine Webber, will be conducing medical tests on the couples before, during and after their time away to see how the holidays may impact on a person's well-being.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. Kuoni has branch operations in over 40 countries. Its portfolio includes: safari holidays, Hawaii holidays, Vietnam holidays and Maldives honeymoon options.

Kuoni has come top of a Which? Recommended Provider survey, due to the company's reliability and 'excellent customer care'; been voted World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards; Britain's Favourite Tour Operator as voted by the readers of Ultra Travel and the Daily Mail; and been voted Britain's Best Longhaul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years. Kuoni recently opened 21 new stylish travel stores across the UK offering a new experience in travel retail with stylish décor, complimentary champagne, impeccable service and the expert knowledge of Personal Travel Experts.

PR contact:
Anne-Marie Hansen
Kuoni House
Deepdene Avenue
Dorking
Surrey
RH5 4AZ
01306 744 173
www.kuoni.co.uk