Survey: Hotel Location Is the Splurge-Worthy Vacation Decision

Hotels are in a prime position to capture a large proportion of travelers’ vacation spend.

Travelers pass a large amount of their time there, eat there when possible, and often book services or tours through the hotel.

It’s not surprising then that it’s also where traveler look to splurge.

According to Expedia’s new survey of 11,165 people across five continents, travelers view “hotel in a desired location” as the most splurge-worthy expense with 39 percent citing it as the optimal expense.

Six of the seven top splurges include hotel features from room with a view (29 percent) to on-site spas (16 percent).

When it comes to flight perks, travelers are more willing to pay for a direct flight over a connecting trip, but only 7 percent of travelers are willing to pay for a first or business class seat.

The following chart shows which perks travelers are most willing to dig deep into their pockets to afford.

Searching for Deals

Travelers also look to hotel options when seeking out a deal.

According to the Expedia survey, the majority, or 87 percent, of global travelers say they actively search for deals when booking a vacation.

Half, or 49 percent, of travelers search for flight deals, but a slightly lower proportion of travelers search for all-inclusive hotels with meal plans (37 percent) or hotels with meals included (33 percent).