Swedes are the least likely Europeans to travel to a new destination. As many as 42 per cent of Swedes state that they will return to the same destination in 2015 as in 2014. This is according to a new survey from YouGov on behalf of Airbnb.
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The same place every year?
We Swedes take more holidays than our European neighbours and we travel abroad most often (8 out of 10 Swedes have been abroad at least five times in their lives). But we are not particularly adventurous, we like to go to the same place every time!
The reasons given for returning to the same places are that we have access to accommodation in the place (33%), that we have memories of the destination (29%) or that we want to visit someone in the destination (23%).
How does this apply to you? Are you planning to travel to the same destination this year as you did last year? Of course, travelling to the same place is not necessarily wrong, but we want to encourage you to try new destinations. There are so many beautiful and interesting places to discover! Here are five tips for travelling in Europe this summer.
Poland's Baltic coast
Discover the beautiful city Gdansk, sunbathing in exclusive Sopot, surfing on the magically beautiful headland Hel or visit the interesting castle Malbork.
The Algarve coast in Portugal
Live the holiday life in cosy Albufeira, sunbathing on the beautiful beach in Galé, visit the charming Tavira or climb to the far end of the dramatic cliffs of the Cabo de Sao Vicente.
West coast of France
Savour seafood in Brittany, visit the mighty abbey Mont St Michel, learn about the history of war in Normandy or sunbathing and swimming at the beautiful Silver Coast.
Spain's interesting cities
Spain is more than Barcelona! Visit Seville with its beautiful park Maria Luisa, Valencia with old and new architecture (and The Fallas Festival in March) or Tarragona with the 20th century amphitheatre.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Experience the smouldering landscape from horseback, swim in the waters of the Blue Lagoon, visit Reykjavik's interesting sights or enjoy modern Icelandic cuisine.
You might also like:
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How do Swedes travel? - Vagabond's travel barometer 2022
Popular destinations in 2023 - according to Ticket Collection
12 destinations to dream about for 2024
17 questions about travelling - and our answers
English (UK) 
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Linnea says:
We plan to continue discovering the Alps, spend a few weeks on northern Öland, drive down and cycle a bit in Croatia, get to know our nearest city Munich better and maybe drive down to Vienna, Salzburg or maybe some city in Italy in the autumn. None of the places except Öland and Munich have been visited by us before so we look forward to our excursions and trips in 2015! 🙂
03 May 2015 - 16:28
Alexandra says:
This year we are actually going back to Playitas where we were last summer too! But we will also go to Rome, Naples, Sorrento and Venice and we haven't been there before. I have not gone to the same place very often (except for Egypt, but if you are half Egyptian, it is quite justified to go there several times hehe). I actually think that's a bit of a dilemma... I love all the places I go to and want to go back, but I want to see new places too. And neither the time resources nor the money are unfortunately unlimited haha. Fortunately, you are still young and hopefully have a lot of time to travel.
03 May 2015 - 17:09
Helena says:
"We Swedes are the least likely Europeans to travel to a new destination."
I'm one of those people who likes to return to a destination that I've fallen in love with, but at the same time I love to discover new places and try not to get stuck in old ruts.
This year, I've actually been to mostly new destinations and there will be more 🙂 .
03 May 2015 - 18:17
Matts Torebring says:
Once again we are the bitch of the opposition. We try never to return to the same place in Europe. We think we lose the "first love" when we return to the same place. We try to discover new countries and new places all the time. In Sweden we are forced to return to the same places in the neighbourhood.
A camper at Gränna Camping was asked this very question. "We live in Kaxholmen (12 kilometres away) and this is the thirteenth year we have returned to Gränna Camping," the camper told a journalist.
03 May 2015 - 18:20
Anja says:
In recent years, summers have been governed by pretty much the same thing: as long as there are Crabs (to catch), Snorkeling and not so hot that you faint and not a million tourists to be crowded with ... Often it becomes both a motorhome trip and a flight on holiday then. We're lovers of Brittany, but crabs are mostly found in the sea :-), so a wonderful autumn trip to the Italian side of the Adriatic Sea resulted in a lot of exciting catches....
Greetings from someone who started her motorhome travelling in an old VW bus with only two plastic drink trays as seats (if you're in love, you're in love :))! ).
03 May 2015 - 19:15
Lars Permeln says:
We like to discover and experience new places. Often, chance and the time of day determine where we spend the night. However, we are quite picky when it comes to choosing a destination and a place to rest. In times of crisis, we may end up in a safe place that we have visited before.
03 May 2015 - 19:24
Anette says:
Yes we are so boring that we will probably go to Greece again, for the tenth time in twelve years!!!! But it should be said that we usually take different routes down there ... as a motorhome driver, you have to vary a little ... and this year I have a plan, we will revisit some places we have seen for at least ten years, and that we will go to Napflion and Monemvasia this year? planning is possible ... however, on the way there we usually stop at places we know about before, easiest that way! With the hope that we might meet you in Italy before you cross over to Sicily, Anette!
03 May 2015 - 19:31
Marie says:
Yes, it doesn't take much outside the box to hear: "How nice that you are travelling to such strange places, not just Thailand." It feels like many families with children (and not only families with children) think that it is more complicated to travel to other countries, for some reason, but it is rarely so.
A good thing is if you've enjoyed where you've been so much that you want to go back. This is often based on positive memories, which is nice. However, you can miss many other pleasant memories too. 🙂
03 May 2015 - 19:44
admin says:
Linnea, that sounds like several interesting destinations! We also hope to see a bit more of Croatia this summer. We have been to Istria, but nowhere else.
Alexandra, you have many interesting destinations ahead of you! Venice is nice and interesting even if it is touristy and expensive. I understand that you have travelled to Egypt several times, and of course time and resources are limited!
Helena, I can agree that you want to come back to your favourite places and discover new ones. But the charm of the new is that you don't know if there are new favourite places!
😉
Matts, interesting description of losing "first love". I can probably recognise that! And haha, yes, the thing about the same campsite year after year - well, you have to see it as that they really enjoy it... and are not particularly curious...
😉
Anja, haha, yes, there are different things that determine where you want to travel - and what makes it a successful holiday! An autumn trip to the Adriatic Sea sounds nice! And I am pleased that we are a little more comfortable than two plastic drinking places, but being in love is not bad either!
😉
Lars, it can be practical and convenient to choose secure cards sometimes! Especially if you're just staying for the night and want to find a good place to do so.
Anette, the important thing is that you choose to travel where you want! How come you always choose Greece? It would be great fun to meet! But maybe we come to Italy too late... We are travelling Corsica - Sardinia - Sicily and then up through Italy.
Marie, I can agree! Often we get those reactions too, even if we go to places with tourist resorts etc - but because we might not choose Thailand but some other Asian country etc. We have also gone back to the same place at some point, although not very often.
03 May 2015 - 20:06
BP says:
So when we were younger, we travelled around and never "duplicated" the destinations. Now that we are (a little) older, we have discovered that it is really fun to "walk down memory lane" as my husband says. So we have returned to many places just to see if they had changed or if we recognised ourselves.
Then you become more picky too. If you have a fantastic apartment available somewhere you like, it's soooo convenient to just return. Because the funny thing is that even though you think you've seen everything in one place, you're always discovering something new.
03 May 2015 - 20:10
admin says:
BP, I can understand that it can be fun to go back sometimes, especially if it's been a long time! And you do discover new things even in "old" places! We have also returned a few times, although quite rarely.
03 May 2015 - 20:27
Maggan and Ingemar says:
We like to discover new places. This summer we will "discover" Lapland 🙂.
In the autumn, there will probably be a trip down to Portugal and Spain and who knows....maybe a third time to Morocco, but there may be some newer places there 🙂 Of course, it feels safe to return to known places, but if you want to see a little more of Europe...well then you are allowed to move. Spain will be because it is easy to fly home over Christmas.
03 May 2015 - 20:36
Anette says:
We have probably chosen to go back to Greece because of the weather, we have always, and I mean always had bad weather in Italy, for example!!! Spain I can imagine, but as a leisure researcher, a few years left there! Portugal goes away for cold water, of course the Algarve is there, but we will take it later ... Croatia is also weather-sensitive, there you have to go further south, so yes, we are considering Croatia and Albania as a travel route this year, it remains to be seen how it will be, how did you plan to go to Sicily?
03 May 2015 - 20:59
ActiveDays-Camilla says:
I like to try new things, there is so much to discover! But sometimes it can be nice and comfortable to return to something familiar. This year it will be a bit mixed...
03 May 2015 - 21:12
admin says:
Maggan and Ingemar, it sounds like interesting and nice plans! When travelling for a long time, it can also be nice to alternate familiar places with new exciting ones!
Anette, great that you always had good weather in Greece! We have had good weather in Italy, but we have only been there twice, so we may have been lucky! We plan to take a ferry from France to Corsica, then a ferry from Corsica to Sardinia, and then a ferry from Sardinia to Sicily. From Sicily we go up through Italy, from south to north.
Camilla, you are going on an interesting trip with the caravan this year, I look forward to "joining you"!
🙂
03 May 2015 - 21:24
Renate's travels says:
Many nice suggestions for destinations!
I like to travel to new destinations when I first start travelling, but there have been times when I have returned to a place I have been before (e.g. 7-8 times in London and 4 times in the USA).
In a few days I will be travelling to Serbia and Kosovo where I have not been before, and in August I will be travelling to Armenia and Georgia, which are also new destinations for me. And there will be even more in the autumn.
The feeling of standing in a new city or a new place is for me just absolutely magical 🙂.
03 May 2015 - 23:10
Marina says:
My first reaction was that it sounded strange, we Swedes who love to discover and look around. But then I started to think about it, and I guess that a lot of the respondents belong to those who live abroad, there are still quite a few in that group. We also have a travelling generation that likes to go back for convenience. The question is whether the result will be the same in x number of years when the next generation answers the question ... For my part, I love to discover new places, but have still got some favourites around here that I have visited several times, so one need not exclude the other ...
04 May 2015 - 3:13
Mr Steve says:
When I could still travel, I always went to a new place, even if it was the same country. Weekend trips could be to the same city many times.
04 May 2015 - 6:59
Lennart says:
Poland is high on our list!
Live well!
04 May 2015 - 8:04
admin says:
Renate, you have some really interesting destinations ahead of you! We have not been to any of those countries and look forward to the reports!
Marina, there are many people who have apartments in southern Europe for example. I thought my generation (the backpacker generation) travelled a lot, but now I think many of the younger generation want luxury over adventure?
Steve, there are always new things to discover in the same place, especially if you go for a weekend!
Lennart, Poland is soooo affordable, and a bit underrated!
04 May 2015 - 8:59
Ama de casa says:
I love discovering new places, but I also love returning to old favourites. I guess it's just that I love travelling.
😀
04 May 2015 - 9:15
Frankie & Co says:
Hello!!! Apart from domestic travel, I have not returned to any destination more than once, it was to Corsica I fell in love with and actually - I could return there. But, I would like to see more and new things 🙂.
04 May 2015 - 10:09
admin says:
Ama de casa, hmm, it's true... you want to do everything... travelling is fun!
🙂
Frankie & Co, glad you liked Corsica so much! We are going there soon!
🙂
04 May 2015 - 14:40
Ditte says:
Travelling is part of our life.In Europe I have seen a lot and much remains. In the USA we have probably visited half of the states and that is enough, even the West Indies and this does not attract me anymore. Asia is always nice and we have visited a number of countries. Australia and New Zealand were lovely. South Africa is waiting, as well as the Seychelles at some point. And Poland I would like to see more of, I have only been to Gdansk. Portugal is nice and I have been to the Algarve coast southwards towards the Spanish border. I really recommend boating in Greece on your own. We did this for several summers when the children were small. Mallorca, I can return to any number of times. Italy is nice and France I love and Spain I like.
Yes, travelling is living and I like to try something new.
Nice to hear your tips and experiences, and to read other comments.
04 May 2015 - 18:29
Ninni, Henrik and the Knasen motorhome says:
If you go on only shorter trips over a weekend, which takes a little more time for us as we have to go on a ferry and fit those times than if you live in, for example, Sweden and / or Finland and take a weekend trip in the country you are already in, so to speak, such short trips on a weekend, it is usually to Sweden or at home on the island. But tries in Sve to find new places as often as possible.
Then when we go on slightly longer trips, we like to go to new places. It is so much fun to see new things, see more, experience new things than the same things you have seen and done before.
04 May 2015 - 19:17
Snows says:
I'm a bit torn there. Some places I would like to visit again but at the same time there are so many new things to discover. The only time so far that I have returned to the same place and hotel is when I was in Egypt. But then I visited our youngest daughter who was working there. Should the son move to Brazil again, I will definitely be travelling there again!
05 May 2015 - 6:45
admin says:
Ditte, you really have travelled a lot and over large parts of the world! Exciting and interesting!
Ninni, I understand that it takes a bit more time when you have to take ferries. Even we are limited when we only have a weekend. It has been the same destination a few times, although we usually look for new ones.
Znogge, sometimes there are reasons to go back to the same place! We have done it a few times when we wanted to take one of Peter's sons to a place we liked.
05 May 2015 - 8:58
Rkuth in Virginia says:
If you live in the US, there are not many trips abroad except to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Have had the opportunity to drive a car from east to west and back several times. Lived in Anchorage, Alaska for 15 months.
Have actually been to every state. Also, after we were transferred from Alaska to the Washington area, we drove the Trans-Canadian Highway from Prince Rupert on the Pacific Ocean to Toronto, Ontario, a journey of 7-8 days.
When the children were young, we had no money for travelling. My husband's job as a geologist kept him busy with field work during the summers. We lived in a small town northeast of Reno, Nevada. It took 9 years, before I could travel back to Sweden for the first time, after I got married. Travelling from San Francisco to Stockholm in the 1950s was not easy. Jetplan had not yet been put into service, so our journey took almost 24 hours with a couple of stops for refuelling.
After Don retired, we travelled a lot. Two interesting trips we made with an English travel agency, SAGA, were
to the Asian Plateau in 1988. Flew from London to Yalta and from there to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Train to Samarkand and Bokhara (Marco Polo's Silk Road). Ended with Moscow and Leningrad (St Petersburg).
On the second trip, in 1989, just a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, SAGA travelled to the countries behind the Berlin Wall.
The Iron Curtain. From London we flew to Bucharest. Cescescu
reigned. It was horrible to see and feel the fear that the
prevailed. I couldn't even bring myself to take a photo.
The next stop was Sofia, Bulgaria; a pleasant surprise.
Budapest next - ever since then you could feel that freedom
were on their way. Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Krakow, Poland (nice city),
but the excursion to Auswitch (spelling?) was depressing
to the highest degree. Prague, beautiful city. Don had been there in l968 for an international congress, when the Russians invaded, so there were memories for him. Then it was East Berlin with a visit to West Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie - and back to London.
We always wanted to travel to places we haven't been. When we lived in Java, we flew to Australia and New Zealand plus Sumatra and Bali.
Have never been interested in beach resorts.
Sorry it was so long!
05 May 2015 - 18:01
Olga cat says:
If I go to the same place several times, it's to visit friends or family. But I love going to new places or travelling in new ways. I have just returned from travelling by train in Central Europe through Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Not the fastest trains, but somewhat circuitous roads with many changes. That it could be combined with five opera performances was an extra plus.
(But what boring food they serve in these countries, dumplings and no spices! Thankfully, I know southern China, the Caucasus, Greece, France, etc.).
07 May 2015 - 23:28