37 Adventurous Facts about Travel

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published April 16, 2018

Traveling can improve problem solving skills and boost creativity. New sounds, smells, tastes, languages, and sights create new synapses in the brain and promote neuroplasticity._[9]
The average person in the United Kingdom has visited 10 countries. On average, Germans have been to eight, and the average French person has traveled to five. Only 29% of Americans have even been abroad._[4]
Women who vacation at least twice a year have a significantly lower risk of suffering a heart attack than those who travel every six years or so._[4]
Men who do not take a vacation at least once a year have a 20% higher risk of death and 30% greater risk of heart disease._[4]
While losing a passport or missing a flight is stressful, on the whole, travelling has been scientifically proven to dramatically lower stress._[4]
Women who travel on vacation at least twice a year are less likely to suffer from depression than those who don't travel or those who vacation less._[4]

Traveling is full of joy, challenges, and broadened perspectives

Because traveling pulls people out of their own cultural bubbles, their sense of connection with different people increases._[9]
Every country in the European Union, by law, has at least four weeks of paid vacation. The United States is the only developed country in the world without a single legally required paid vacation day._[10]
France is the most visited country in the world, with over 82 million international visitors per year. The United States (75.6 million) and Spain (75.6 million) round out the top three, respectively._[1]
The busiest airport in the United States is the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, with over 50 million flights a year._[26]
Malaysia boasts the world's largest hotel, the First World Hotel. The hotel has a whopping 7,351 rooms. Las Vegas has the second largest hotel in the world; the Venetian and the Palazzo complex has an impressive 7,117 rooms and over 40 restaurants._[25]
A unique travel company called "Pack Up + Go" schedules travelers on surprise trips. They survey their clients and then schedule a secret destination._[8]
Money spent on traveling makes us happier than money spent on material things._[21]

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

- Mark Twain

Top jobs for people who love to travel include international aid worker, English teacher, tour guide, bartender, government employee, and archaeologist._[22]
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farming) is a program that allows a person to travel the world for free in exchange for volunteer work._[3]
Paris, France, ranks as the world's most romantic city. Venice, Italy, and Florence, Italy, round out the top 3._[16]
People who read emails and work on their laptops while on vacation remember less of their vacation than those who leave their laptops at home. Specifically, one hour of working leads to 43% fewer memories of the vacation._[5]
An introvert is more likely to choose to travel to the mountains for vacation, while an extrovert is more likely to travel to the beach._[23]
"Hodophobia" is the fear of traveling or road traveling. The word "hodo" is Greek for "travel" or "road," and "phobia" is Greek for "fear."_[7]
Originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century, the Louvre Museum is the most visited museum in the world, with over nine million visitors annually._[17]

The Louvre is the largest museum in the world. (AndreyKrav//GettyImages)

A "xenophobe" is someone who fears travelers from a foreign land._[17]
The word "siderodromophobia" is the fear of trains, railroads, or traveling on trains. "Sidero" is Greek for "iron" or "things made of iron," and "dromo" is Greek for "race course."_[19]
While the world seems open to travel, there are some places that are nearly impossible to enter. Top secret places include the Google Data Center (codenamed Project 02), Area 51, the ADX Florence (America's highest security prison), and the Fort Knox Bullion Depository._[20]
The desire to travel may be genetic, and it can possibly be traced to what has been dubbed "the wanderlust gene." Associated with increased levels of curiosity and restlessness, the gene is associated with dopamine levels in the brain._[18]
Couples who travel together tend to have stronger relationships. Humans naturally bond when they need to trust one another in new situations and circumstances._[2]

Couples who travel together, stay together.

The German word "fernweh" means "far sickness," or an intense urge to travel._[11]
In 2017, over four billion people flew on commercial aircrafts globally._[15]
During peak airline traffic, which is usually a Friday between 2–4pm in July or August, there are over 16,000 airplanes in the air around the world._[15]
The beginning of the Chinese New Year marks the world's largest human migration. Over 385 million Chinese will travel home for the holiday._[13]
The world's longest flight is from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Los Angeles, California, at 17 hours._[24]
An average jet engine is over 70,000 horsepower. An average car engine is about 100 horsepower._[12]

It's more difficult to go to sleep earlier than you usually do, rather than later.

Jet lag feels worse when you travel from west to east, because traveling from west to east makes our day shorter. Because our sleep/wake cycles are slightly longer than 24 hours, traveling from east to west, which makes our days longer, is easier for our brain to adapt to._[6]
The largest human migration in America occurs annually at Thanksgiving, with nearly 51 million traveling home for the holidays._[13]
The Arba'een Pilgrimage is the world's largest public gathering. Held every year in Iraq, it is twice the size of the more well-known Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca._[13]
The shortest passenger flight is between Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland's Orkney Islands, which are separated by just 1.7 miles of land and sea. The flight lasts just 47 seconds._[24]
Between 1948 and 2014, 85 aircraft have vanished without a trace._[15]
The most visited city in the world is Bangkok, Thailand, with over 20.2 million international visitors. London (20 million international visitors) and Paris (16.1 million international visitors) round out the top 3._[14]

Country	International Visitors (Millions)
10 Most Visited Countries in the World
1. France	82.6
2. United States	75.6
3. Spain	75.6
4. China	59.3
5. Italy	52.4
6. United Kingdom	35.8
7. Germany	35.6
8. Mexico	35
9. Thailand	32.6
10. Malaysia	26.8

City	Internaitonal Visitors (Millions)
10 Most Visited Cities in the World
1.Bangkok, Thailand	20.2
2. London, U.K.	20
3. Paris, France	16.1
4. Dubai, UAE	16
5. Singapore	13.45
6. Tokyo, Japan	12.5
7. Seoul, South Korea	12.44
8. New York, New York	12.4
9. Kuala, Malaysia	12.1
Hong Kong	9.25