Study Reveals Around the World Trips and Australia are the Top Trips of a Lifetime Destinations

(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 23, 2010 ) CHICAGO Â–
Some interesting findings:

Â• Seeing the World Wonders, safaris and rain forest expeditions are the top experiences travelers are most interested in for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. 70% of respondents said they are most interested in visiting natural and man-made wonders on a once-in-a-lifetime trip such as Machu Picchu, the Pyramids or Victoria Falls. Beyond that, 53% said they were very interested in going on safari and 42% were very interested in a rainforest expedition.

Â• Picking the right travel companion is THE most important consideration when planning a once in a lifetime trip. 50% of respondents felt Â“who I travel withÂ” is a very important consideration, followed closely by Â“being able to fulfill a personal goalÂ”, which was selected as very important by 45% of respondents. The preferred travel companion(s) are typically a partner/spouse (59% of respondents) or friends (24%), although 5% of married respondents would prefer to go on their trip by themselves.

Â• Travel media plays an important role in decision making--70% of travelers said that inspiration for a trip typically came from books or magazines versus 40% who were inspired from hearing stories from other people or 27% who gained inspiration from TV.

Â• The majority of travelers are independent, yet travel agents and tour groups play an important planning role. While 52% of respondents organized their lifetime trip independently, 18% join a tour group, and 16% use a travel agent to organize their trip. The remainder either used a combination of options or let their traveling partner handle the arrangements.

Â• A Once-in-lifetime trip does not have to break the bank. 28% of respondents who are planning a once- in-a- lifetime trip reported that they are willing to spend between $2,000 and $3,999 (excluding airfare) and another 26% are willing to spend $4,000 to $5,999.

This survey will serve as an important tool for outfitters in 2010. The results have reiterated that baby-boomers are the jetsetters of today. A beach house in Cabo isnÂ’t enough to cure the travel bug anymore. Travelers are inclined to be more adventurous and take a trip to see the Eiffel Tower or the Great Barrier Reef.

iExplore (http://www.iexplore.com) is one of National GeographicÂ’s Â‘Best Adventure Travel Companies on EarthÂ’ and GoogleÂ’s authority site on adventure travel. The website gets over 1 million visitors a month and offers over 200 privately guided tours throughout the world, giving travelers complete freedom to make itineraries exclusive and catered to their interests.

GeckoGo (http://www.geckogo.com) is a leading travel community for independent travelers to share travel experiences and discover cool places to visit. Launched in October 2008, GeckoGo has welcomed over 2 million visitors sharing over 180,000 unique tips and reviews, has partnered with Bradt Travel Guides for expert guide content , and has received funding from the fbFund program.

For the complete survey or more information about contact Amanda Sundt at amanda@iexplore.com or call (312) 492-9443 x140 or Pokin Yeung at pokin@geckogo.com (408) 966-8770
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iExplore
Hailey McDonald
970-379-9363
hailey@atmstravelnews.com