As it turns out, the phrase “happy holidays” isn’t exclusive to wintertime. Club Med just released a list of the happiest holiday destinations around the globe – and wouldn’t you know it, Vancouver is near the top of the list. Whether it’s the beautiful landscape, the amazing new food we’ve added to our scene, the region’s lineup of spas & retreats, or a combo of them all – we can certainly see how visitors would be more than satisfied with their trip to our city.
And while we definitely want to shout out our home base, it also doesn’t hurt to take a look at the other happiest holiday destinations…especially with the end of summer nearing and (trigger warning), Raincouver incoming at some point.
But enough about that…let’s get into the ranking! Before we uncover the world’s ‘happiest holiday destination,’ let’s talk metrics for a quick minute.
How the ranking works
Data from multiple sources was collected on the 50 most-visited tourist destinations around the world: Numbeo data on pollution, crime rates, and the cost of beer, Trip Advisor data on the number of outdoor activities, day trips, and spas per 100,000 people, and Nomadlist data on the overall happiness of individual cities and LGBTQ+ friendliness.
All of this to say – each city has been ranked on a ‘happiness scale’ from 0-100 based on the data above. Now, let’s see which are the happiest destinations for 2022 travel!
Bali takes the #1 spot
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It comes as no surprise really that Bali takes the cake. When you picture a relaxing, stress-free vacation, often images of white sandy Indonesian beaches and swaying palm trees pop up.
“Bali came out on top due to the incredible spa and wellness centres it has to offer and amazing outdoor activities – perfect for those looking for both relaxation and adventure on their holiday.”
Following Bali are Las Vegas, New Orleans, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, each offering unique experiences for tourists by way of outdoor activities. When searching for the holiday destination that will make you the happiest, Club Med says Europe is “a clear favourite,” and suggests looking into European cities if your wallet can handle it.
For more info on the cities that made the ‘happiest’ cut, folks can check out the full report here.
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Vancouver ranks #7
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Globally, Vancouver scores 59.5 out of 100 on the happiness scale, just above San Francisco with 58.5. In terms of cities in North America, we’re number three – trailing just behind Las Vegas and New Orleans. Club Med says this is in large part due to the availability of a “wide range of daytime activities” and a variety of “day trips and spa and wellness centres.”
And that’s all for now, Vancouver! Whether it’s a trip to Europe or Bali you’re after or a trip to a popular Canadian holiday destination, we hope this helps get the creative juices flowing.
