FILE – The iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign is shown in a file image. (Photo by Chris Farina/Corbis via Getty Images)
Where is the “happiest” place to travel in North America? Las Vegas, apparently.
Club Med, a French hospitality group with all-inclusive resorts worldwide, released a list of the 10 happiest travel destinations for 2022, including those ranked in North America, Europe and the world at large.
The ranking was based on the 50 most visited tourist destinations globally and using nine metrics, which included crime, safety, pollution, cost of local beers in a restaurant, outdoor activities, day trips, spas and wellness centers, LGBTQ+ friendliness and a general one. happiness score on a scale from 0 to 100.
After compiling an average final score for each city, Sin City came out on top as the most popular destination for vacationers looking for a blissful getaway, according to Club Med.
“Las Vegas had the edge thanks to a wide range of daytime activities, perfect for visitors planning to make the most of their stay,” the group said in a statement.
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Top 10 Happiest Travel Destinations in North America
- Vegas, Nevada
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Vancouver, Canada
- San Francisco, California
- Washington DC
- Los Angeles, California
- Portland, Oregon
- Toronto, Canada
- Halifax, Canada
- Nashville, Tennessee
“All these beautiful destinations have so much to offer, with a range of day trips and spa and wellness centres, we can certainly see why these destinations made the list,” Club Med said in its report.
Happiest travel destinations in Europe
DOOSJE – Tourists walk on the Barceloneta pier heading to the beach wearing beachwear and hats on July 11, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Europe’s iconic cities were “a clear favourite” among those looking for blissful holiday destinations, the group said.
Barcelona, Spain, topped the European list, thanks to its beaches, art and architecture, among other attractions in the cosmopolitan city. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Budapest, Hungary, Porto, Portugal and Marseille, Francia, rounded out the top five happiest destinations.
Spain’s Madrid, Dublin, Ireland, London, England, Spain’s Valencia and Italy’s Milan follow in the top 10.
3 US destinations make the worldwide list
The overall happiest vacation destinations in the world for 2022 were also calculated, and Bali, Indonesia, was No. 1 and three US cities made the top 10.
“Our research found that Bali was the most popular destination for those looking for a blissful, stress-free getaway,” Club Med said in the report. “Bali came out on top because of the incredible spa and wellness centers it offers and amazing outdoor activities – perfect for those looking for relaxation and adventure on their holiday.”
FILE – Tourists at Batubolong Beach in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia on May 6, 2022. Photo: Putu Sayoga/Bloomberg via Getty Images
After Bali, Las Vegas, Barcelona and Amsterdam again ranked as the top 5 happiest destinations worldwide.
“With over 40 outdoor activities, Las Vegas is the place to be if it’s adventure you seek. This city also has a high safety score, so you can feel at ease while exploring all that Las Vegas has to offer, ” said Club Med. .
“New Orleans and Barcelona were great options for those looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, both scoring the maximum LGBTQ+ rating – so you’ll be as happy as can be on your vacation,” the group added.
Rounding out the top 10 happiest holiday destinations worldwide were Budapest, Hungary, Vancouver, Canada, San Francisco, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This story was reported by Cincinnati.