‘Calmcation’ travel trend: A Study names the best vacation destinations for rest and relaxation this September…

• The ‘calmcation’ trend promotes a restorative trip focusing on rest and relaxation – with Canada named the best place for Americans to do this.
• The study scores destinations based on tourist activities like spas and beaches, as well as key considerations like cost, popularity, and safety. 
• Other spots that are ideal for a ‘calmcation’ include Italy, Greece, and Costa Rica, while the worst-scoring destination is Pakistan. 

A new travel study has identified which tourist destinations are best-suited to American travelers looking to take a ‘calmcation’ this fall.

Student travel company Rustic Pathways analyzed 70 travel destinations against 39 factors related to popularity among US travelers, logistics and costs (flights and hotels), local safety, geopolitical stability, amenities, and dining experience.

Extra emphasis was given to factors related to relaxation to create the calmcation index, including the number of beaches and availability of spas and wellness centers. Each destination was given a final score out of 100 to form the ranking.

Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways, describes the calmcation trend: “A calmcation is essentially a short-term vacation that focuses on peace, relaxation, and rest, as opposed to itinerary-packed city breaks or work trips. Rather than rushing between landmarks and worrying about money, it’s about doing affordable and slow-paced activities that replenish you.

“Fall is the ideal time to take this slow-paced trip, as you can benefit from off-season holiday deals as well as reduced crowds. As families settle into their back-to-school routines, it’s the perfect time to unwind and reset after the summer rush.”

Travel Study Results

Canada takes first place as the best destination, scoring 64.74 out of 100. Not only is this perfect for those not looking for a long flight, but Canada has one of the highest availability rates of spas and wellness centers, with 37.7 available per 100k international arrivals. This is 220% higher than the study average (11.77 per 100k).

It’s easier to find quiet accommodation here than any other destination analyzed, as Canada has 21.56 villas available per 100k international arrivals, and flights are relatively affordable at an average of $392.17 for a return this September.

In terms of safety, Canada holds a far lower crime rate than most other destinations, with 1.64 homicides reported per year – 84% below the study average of 10.46. The country also holds a very low projected conflict probability score of 0.01 on the INFORM Risk Index, meaning a low likelihood of humanitarian crisis.

Next is Italy, with a score of 63.49 out of 100. Visitors have access to 6.72 beaches per 100k international arrivals, compared to the study average of 4.24 (a 58% increase), as well as 10.68 spas and wellness centers per 100k. 

Managing the finances behind vacation planning should be relatively stress-free, with an average return flight cost of $507.73, and a nightly hotel rate of $119.06. Finding suitable accommodation is also comparatively easy, with 15.1 hotels available per 100k international arrivals – 168% higher than the study average of 5.63 per 100k.

Rounding out the top three is Greece, scoring 61.16 out of 100. The destination is home to 6.69 beaches and 3.80 spas per 100k international visitors, as well as 18.92 sightseeing tours and 1.89 landmarks that are rated five stars on Tripadvisor.

It’s slightly more expensive to visit than Canada and Italy, with an average return flight cost of $664.41 and a nightly hotel rate of $110.01. Visitors can save on dining costs while visiting, with 6.47 cheap dining options available per 100k international visitors and locals, compared to 4.25 in Canada and 5.97 in Italy.

Both Italy and Greece scored well on the INFORM Risk Index for projected conflict probability, at 0.02 and 0.01, respectively.

Top 10 destinations for a ‘calmcation’ this fall: data snapshot

	Destination	Index Score (Out of 100)	Average Return Flight Cost: September	Average Nightly Hotel Rate	Number of Spas & Wellness Centers per 100k International Arrivals	Number of Beaches per 100k International Arrivals
1	Canada	64.74	$392.17	$111.05	37.73	4.30
2	Italy	63.49	$507.73	$119.06	10.68	6.72
3	Greece	61.16	$664.41	$110.01	3.80	6.69
4	Costa Rica	60.69	$425.53	$89.43	22.13	6.04
5	New Zealand	59.89	$1,147.88	$80.71	48.52	13.61
6	Australia	56.75	$1,121.37	$97.37	50.57	11.19
7	Jamaica	55.62	$227.65	$108.27	3.83	2.14
8	United Kingdom	55.61	$614.90	$121.49	22.51	3.17
9	Brazil	55.41	$640.26	$65.21	54.79	69.78
10	Japan	55.15	$819.12	$89.67	30.34	4.44

At the other end of the scale, the least suitable destination for a calmcation was found to be Pakistan, with a score of 25.70 out of 100.

This is largely due to instability, with a current conflict intensity score of 3.24, a projected conflict probability of 0.99 (the highest in the study), and a high malaria risk, as 98.3% of residents are vulnerable, according to the INFORM Risk Index.

Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways adds: “While September is the ideal time to head on a relaxing getaway, it’s vital that you plan your trip with the same due diligence as you would when organizing any trip abroad.

“This study doesn’t recommend destinations for relaxation seekers with the exclusion of factors that should always be considered when vacation planning. By accounting for key aspects like local crime rates and conflict probability, as well as affordability and appeal, this is a well-rounded list of destinations to visit this fall.” 

-ENDS-

If you use these findings, we’d appreciate a link to https://rusticpathways.com/ within the article please, as this is how the success of the study is measured. We’d be happy to provide a bespoke expert quote or further insights upon request.

Methodology: This study is specifically focused on US travelers to convey the best destinations to visit in 2025, split by various areas of focus. 70 destinations were analyzed across 39 factors, with relaxation-related tourist activities given extra weight when calculating the final score out of 100. Factors included are:

• Share of US overseas travelers (2023) – Survey of International Air Travelers 
• Social media travel activity, Instagram posts and TikTok travel videos – TikTok and Instagram 
• Online demand (average monthly US Google searches for flights, hotels, and tours) – Google Keyword Planner 
• Flights (return flights per person from anywhere in the US for Sept 2025) – Skyscanner 
• Popularity (annual tourists per capita) – Our World in Data
• Hotels (number of hotels/villas and average nightly rates, Sept 2025) – Booking.com
• Restaurants (number of mid-/fine-dining options per 100k international arrivals and local population, and average ratings) – Tripadvisor 
• Safety, socioeconomics and geopolitical stability (% of population using internet, homicide rate, conflict probability, health expenditure, crisis risk, current conflict intensity, human development index) – US State Department, World Health Organization, World Bank, INFORM Risk Index 
• Activities and tours (inc. food & drink, sightseeing, art galleries etc) – Tripadvisor 

Full raw data comprising of all ranking categories listed above can be seen here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1whoVtY1BAzAYVcbU2q6JDENjXK4V3MnkkiveSSMpQ74/edit?usp=sharing