Everyone has a dream “happy place” in their hearts, regardless of age. It is a place where the daily accumulation of work and life stress gradually dissipates, and inner peace begins to emerge. Looking across the globe, where is the sought-after happy travel destination for people?
To seek the answer, the well-known Irish travel insurance specialist JustCover analyzed over a million online reviews of 155 vacation destinations worldwide, including landmarks, resorts, national parks, and other travel destinations. Researchers filtered out reviews that expressed feelings of happiness or joy, such as visitors mentioning a destination “making me very happy,” or experiencing “true happiness” during the tour, and noted the frequency of guests expressing “heartfelt joy” when describing these attractions.
Subsequently, researchers calculated a “Happy Place Score” for each destination based on the proportion of “happiness-related reviews” to the total number of reviews. These proportions were converted into a percentage scale, where a higher score indicates a higher frequency of happiness expressions in visitor reviews, revealing the places that can make people feel the happiest.
In the top ten, five cities in North America are listed, with four from the United States and one from Canada. Las Vegas tops the list as the happiest travel destination in North America, ranking fourth globally, followed by Maui in fifth place, New York City in sixth, Chicago in ninth, and Toronto in tenth.
Tulum in Mexico ranks as the number one happiest destination globally with a Happy Place Score of 100. The seaside town of Tulum, located about 130 kilometers south of Cancun on the Yucatán Peninsula, is considered one of the happiest places. As one of the last cities inhabited by the Maya, Tulum is renowned for its well-preserved Maya ruins. Apart from historical sites and nature experiences, the local cuisine, nightlife, and emphasis on mental and physical well-being also attract visitors from around the world.
The “Happy Place Score” for New York City, United States, is 81.5. This city tops the “must-visit list” for many people and lives up to its reputation. Just the gathering of top-notch Broadway performances attracts millions of visitors; strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge or ascending the Empire State Building will surely bring a smile of happiness to anyone’s face. The “City That Never Sleeps” possesses a unique charm that captivates visitors, leaving them wanting to revisit over and over again.
When discussing Las Vegas in the report of the world’s happiest travel destinations, it mentions, “The highly concentrated restaurants, entertainment activities, and spectacular shows give people ample reasons to feel cheerful here. Additionally, it is a popular destination for weddings, important birthday celebrations, and bachelor parties, meaning many visitors arrive with a celebratory mood.” Coupled with Las Vegas’s diverse and colorful activities, visitors of all ages and interests can find things that make them happy – be it the famous Bellagio fountain show, professional sports events, or immersive entertainment experiences at the Sphere venue.
The laid-back island lifestyle of Maui, Hawaii, has solidified its reputation as a “Happy Place.” Locals embrace a slow-paced life. Visitors can snorkel with marine wildlife, hike in Haleakalā National Park, or drive along the 103-kilometer road to Hāna – passing through rainforests, black sand beaches, and picturesque scenery.
Toronto, Canada, with a “Happy Place Score” of 71.4, ranks in the top ten and is one of the most culturally diverse cities globally. Visitors can sample a variety of cuisines: simply walking through Chinatown or Korea Town allows for authentic Asian flavors, or pausing in “Little Italy” to enjoy freshly-made pasta and aromatic coffee. To get a bird’s eye view of this largest city in Canada, the 553-meter CN Tower is an excellent vantage point.
It is worth noting that in the top 20 happiest travel destinations globally, the United States cities occupy 11 positions, showing that tourists traveling to various cities in the United States experience full happiness.