Our Final (Vacation) Destinations: The Dream We’re Dying to Take
Ahead of May 16th’s highly anticipated release of Final Destination: Bloodlines we asked people across the US and Canada about a different kind of final destination: their dream last vacation. People clearly aren’t settling for anything but paradise, excess, and going out with a bang!
Key Takeaways:
- Paris tops the list as the ultimate final destination, with 14.7% of respondents ready to bid their last au revoir
- Bali at (9.3%) Santorini at (7.8%), Venice (5.4%) and Bora Bora (5.0%) round out the top island escapes
- Nearly one-third of travelers would choose their romantic partner as the companion for their final adventure
- Private islands and jets reign supreme for luxury splurges
- Financial constraints remain the primary barrier between dreamers and the reality of visiting their dream destinations
Paris Claims Most Last Breaths: 14.7% Choose City of Light
From Vancouver to Miami, travelers are planning their perfect final getaway. While some are dead set on ancient wonders like the Great Pyramids of Giza or Petra, others are willing to risk it all for a slice of paradise in Bali or the Maldives.
The astounding beauty of the Great Barrier Reef emerged as a clear favorite across multiple states and provinces, with Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all choosing this natural wonder as their final stop. Meanwhile, Paris captured the hearts of Oregon, Arizona, Louisiana, and New York, proving that the City of Light still holds the power to draw people in for one last romantic rendezvous.
Alberta and Prince Edward Island set their sights on Santorini’s whitewashed cliffs, while British Columbia dreamed of Tokyo’s neon nights. Quebec naturally is drawn to Paris, while Ontario planned one last trip to the Great Pyramids. New Brunswick and Newfoundland are split between New Zealand’s adventures and Barcelona’s architectural wonders.
Minnesotans dreamed of Norway’s fjords, while both Idaho and Washington set their sights on New Zealand’s rugged landscapes. Analysis from Online-Casinos.com revealed a fitting preference for Las Vegas among Delaware and New Jersey residents, suggesting a desire to go out with a bang, while Montana’s choice of Patagonia and Wyoming’s pull toward the Swiss Alps proved that mountain state residents want to go out on top.
Put The Devices Down: 18% Want to Live Their Last Moments Phone-Free
When it comes to embracing travel clichés on their last-ever trip, travelers were ready to throw caution to the wind. The top choice? After taking fewer photos and soaking in the moment (18.2%), because after all, these memories are quite literally to die for. Following closely behind, 14.7% would finally splurge without guilt, while 12.5% would talk to strangers and make random memories, proving that you can’t take your social anxiety with you.
Step Aside Jets, Private Islands Beat First Class For Final Trips
If money were no object for their final adventure, travelers would go all out. Why wouldn’t they? A private island resort stay tops the luxury wishlist at 17.3%, followed by private jet charters at 14.8%. Because if you’re going out, you might as well go out in style.
As for timing these dream trips, the Summer Olympics emerged as the most coveted global event (15.2%), with New Year’s Eve in Times Square following at 11.1%. Speaking of crowds, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (10.3%) and Mardi Gras in New Orleans (7.5%) were also popular choices.
Platform 9¾ or Bust: Fantasy Realms Top Real-World Destinations
Given the option to visit fictional locations, respondents were quick to don the Sorting Hats. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry topped the list at 18.6%, because if you’re choosing a final destination, you might as well make it magical. Middle-earth’s serene Shire claimed second place at 13.3%. Apparently, many prefer their last vacation to be in a place where second breakfast is always on the menu.
Wakanda, the technologically advanced marvel from Black Panther, secured 8.5% of votes, proving that some would rather take their chances with rival tribes than typical tourist crowds. The magical realm of Narnia enchanted 7.8% of respondents, who must be unfazed by eternal winters and temperamental lions. Westeros from Game of Thrones rounded out the top five at 6.9%: though perhaps those respondents haven’t watched the series finale, or they’re just really committed to going out with a bang.
But for many, even trips in this universe are firmly in the realm of fantasy. Financial constraints (34.2%), work responsibilities (16.7%), and family commitments (12.5%) top the list of barriers between travelers and their perfect final destination.
The Last Word on Last Trips
Paris may be the city that people are dying to visit (14.7%), but our survey reveals the perfect final vacation isn’t just about location – it’s about who you take (32.6% pick their romantic partner for that last hurrah), how you live it (cameras down, moments up), and what you splurge on before the final curtain falls.
Whether it’s tempting fate at Hogwarts or living large on a private island, these aren’t just destinations. They’re personifications of how we see ourselves. Sure, life may get in the way and commit these dreams to purgatory for now. But if we are lucky, we’ll all get to visit our dream final destination.
Methodology
To learn more about where and how residents of Canada and the US would spend their final vacation, the Online-Casinos.com research team surveyed 2,212 adults, comprising 916 in Canada and 1,296 in the US. There was insufficient data from the Canadian territories of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon to be included in this report.
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