Burnout is Fueling This New Trend as Americans Travel to Cope
More Americans are booking trips not out of wanderlust, but out of frustration, exhaustion, and a need for emotional reset. It’s a trend Faye Travel Insurance calls “rage-booking.” And so if you’re doing it, here’s why. And here’s how to do it well!
Rage-cation? Rage-booking? What in the holy holiday trend is this? Yes. Apparently, travel envy driven by your Instagram feed is so 2023. In 2025 we are simply seething to escape the everyday. And it’s driven not by jealousy, or aspiration but by multiple versions of burnout.
“We often think about burnout in relation to work, which according to survey takers, is accurate, with 38% saying their current job is adding to these feelings of burnout,” Lauren Gumport, VP of Communications and Brand, Faye Travel Insurance, told Vacationer exclusively.
“That said, the top four themes driving burnout even more so than work are financial anxiety (61%), the economy (54%), politics (43%), and the news (41%).”
“Well over half of the travelers who report burnout are heading abroad,” she says.
Key Findings of the Faye Study
- 52% of U.S. travelers report feeling burned out.
- 32% say they’re booking trips specifically to cope with burnout.
- 1 in 3 Americans say booking a vacation is their best cure for stress, ranking higher than meditation, exercise, or taking time off work.
- Financial anxiety (61%), the economy (54%), and politics (43%) are the top burnout drivers.
- Younger travelers feel it most: 74% of Gen Z and 69% of Millennials report burnout, versus just 26% of Boomers.
The Rise of Rage-Booking
- 22% of travelers admit they’ve rage-booked a trip out of anger, stress, or heartbreak.
- 83% say it made them feel better, 39% “much better,” 44% “somewhat better.”
- Millennials lead the movement, with 38% saying they’ve rage-booked.
- 23% booked a trip directly because of burnout, and 21% due to job stress (with more men than women: 23% vs. 15%).
- The emotional ROI: It takes travelers about four days into a trip to start feeling better.
What’s Motivating 2026 Travel
- 34% prioritize connection (visiting friends/family or group travel).
- 34% are focused on budget-friendly getaways.
- 33% are seeking nature-based escapes, from national parks to eco-trips.
Emotional Triggers Still Matter
- 9% book after a breakup.
- 9% after quitting a job.
- 20% to avoid seasonal sadness.
Lauren concluded: “Our latest survey shows how Americans are coping with burnout through travel. Over half of U.S. travelers report experiencing burnout, and 32% are booking trips specifically to handle it, ranking this method higher than relaxing through meditation, exercise, or taking time off work.”
“In addition, 22% of Americans say they’ve rage-booked a trip, meaning they booked out of anger, stress, or heartbreak. This habit is most popular among millennials —38% of whom are most likely to book a ragecation.”
