Going On Vacation Can Reduce Stress Even After You Get Back (NAPSA)—The numbers are in and it seems the news has Americans stressed out. A survey commissioned by ocity of more than 1,500 Ameri- cans showsthat current events have almost half (48 percent) of those polled more stressed out now than oneyear ago andof those, 40 percentsay that they are “much morestressed.” While in recent years unique and intense activities like ecotourism and adventure travel have becomeincreasingly popular, the self-reported stress level of Americans may indicate that this is the optimaltimeto returnto the original pur- pose of a vacation—rest andrelaxation. But what kindof travel is mostrestful? ocity turned to its community of experttravelers, the “Gnational Gnomads,’ to offer professional insight into this question. ‘The most commonly namedactivity 47.8% vivesaretocing MORE STRESSED compared to only 28.3% who feel less so WOMEN @ are far morelikely to befeeling “much morestressed” (a 7 ona scale of1-7!) than men. Over 20%in April compared to only 17% of men @Q If you're like most Americans, you need a vacation. Fortunately, taking one can be simpler than yourealize. com, says, “For too many people, sight- seeing becomes a race to check places off of a list. Sightseeing should be about experiencing the people and culture of a new place, not just a mad dash to take selfies at the most popular landmarks.” Understanding that part of a re- was, unsurprisingly, a spa treatment. Ac- laxing vacation is not having to worry anneTritt, aka Spa Gal, “There is ty recently instituted a “Customer First cording to Gnational Gnomad Ava Rox- nothing like luxuriating at a spa to truly recharge. Andbestofall, a great spa treatment can be part of an adventure across the globe or the highlight of a staycation across town.” Second only to spasas a restful travel option was to explore and enjoy local sights. Gnational Gnomad Kirstin Maxwell, founder and editor of kidsareatrip. about unforeseen problems, oci- Guarantee,” a program that offers hotel changes, free flight changes within 24 hours of booking, and a price match guarantee, among other services. It also features class-leading social media customerservice. Online analytics firm Socialbakers recently ranked ocity as the most responsive full-service online travel agency in the U.S.
