In an increasingly stressful world, many travellers are finding comfort in repetition: returning to the same ski towns, seaside suburbs and favourite cafes each year. Experts say the appeal goes far deeper than nostalgia.
For the past 15 years, photographer Jason Greene and his family have headed north from New York City to Mont Tremblant in Quebec for a winter week in the snow. “We have a tradition that on our first day, we eat maple syrup on a stick, go ice skating, then stop at the local candy store.” The French Canadian resort town, he says, “holds a special place in our hearts because it’s where we all learned how to ski and snowboard”.
For many travellers, novelty is the point: ticking off new destinations and chasing new sensations. But an increasing number, like Greene and his four kids, are doing the opposite – returning to the same spot each year. They book the same room, eat the same meals and walk the same streets to find comfort in the familiar rather than the thrill of discovery.
“For many people, there’s a sense of safety in returning to the familiar,” says Dr Charlotte Russell, a clinical psychologist and founder of The Travel Psychologist. “We know what to expect, what suits us… and [we’re] less likely to face unexpected challenges.”
The behaviour, she adds, often appeals to people who are overwhelmed in their daily lives, which is why taking the same holiday again and again can feel so soothing.
