This article was originally written by Ruby Copp for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
The older we get the more we feel time speeding up — and that’s when those “I wish I would have” thoughts begin to creep in at an unwelcome pace. According to a recent survey, the biggest regret for people over 50 wasn’t related to saving money or even keeping in touch with old friends: It was simply not having traveled more.
Commissioned by Icelandair (in headlines recently for seeking the world’s worst photographer to win a trip to the country), the poll recruited 2,000 people to share where they wished they’d visited but never had. The three locations that came out on top? New Zealand, Japan, and Australia. Canada, the Maldives, and Iceland are also in the top 10 destinations participants wanted to travel to.
Among the other experiences participants over 50 would like to have prioritized more were taking spontaneous trips without overthinking it (21%), going to bucket list destinations (17%), and saying “yes” to adventures rather than focusing on work (14%).
And it’s not just the older generations who have travel pangs — 42% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials additionally reported wishing they’d been able to travel more than they have so far.
It also emerged 71% of all adults polled are adamant it is never too late to make up for lost time. Many believe seeing new places (37%) or experiencing natural phenomena (18%) will still positively impact their lives. For Gen Zers and millennials, seeing the northern lights topped their lists of the most-coveted once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“Travel has never been more accessible, but our research shows once-in-a-lifetime experiences still sit firmly on people’s bucket lists and too many never get ticked off, leaving them with regrets about the things they didn’t do,” a spokesperson for Icelandair said in a statement. “We wanted to turn that idea on its head and encourage people to stop putting unforgettable experiences off and go live them.”
Iceland
The airline’s exciting (albeit tongue-in-cheek) idea for helping people make that happen? Launching a contest to send someone on a trip to see the next total solar eclipse that will be visible from Iceland — 170 years from now. “If you’re going to think big, why not think really big?” the spokesperson said.
They added: “With many often waiting for the right time, it’s a reminder some experiences are worth making happen — whether that’s this year, next year, or something you pass down for generations to come because you never know what might be on the bucket list of your future great-great-grandchildren, or give them the chance to say, ‘I was there.’” The contest also includes a trip to Iceland next month, so enter soon if you’re interested.
For all adults, a lack of financial security was the top barrier to achieving their travel goals (44%), followed by family responsibilities (24%) and other priorities getting in the way (22%). And 19% admitted they are always waiting for the “right time” — a figure that rose 31% for Gen Z.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found the average adult believes they’ll experience five truly once-in-a-lifetime moments. But many are optimistic this will increase for their grandchildren’s generation, with 47% hopeful the younger crowd will be able to make the most of life and 38% wanting them to enjoy the natural world more.
“Travel gives us a great opportunity for lifetime experiences,” the spokesperson for Icelandair added.
See how your travel wishlist and regrets compare to the poll results:
Top Bucket List Destinations for People Over 50
1. New Zealand
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Maldives
6. Iceland
7. Norway
8. Italy
9. Egypt
10. Vietnam
Top Things People Over 50 Wish They’d Experienced
1. Traveled more
2. Saved more money
3. Not lost touch with friends
4. Not worried too much about what others think
5. Make the most of life
6. Looked after their health
7. Made the most of their youth
8. Spent enough time with loved ones before they passed away
9. Learned a second language
10. Exercised more
11. Learned to play an instrument
12. Said how they really felt more often
13. Spent enough time with family
14. Taken spontaneous trips without overthinking it
15. Gained more qualifications
16. Not stayed in an unhappy job for too long
17. Been more spontaneous generally
18. Travelled to bucket list destinations
19. Not worked too much
20. Taken more risks
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