Regular holidays, reading a good book, getting a great deal, having reliable neighbours and belly laughing with friends are just some of life’s essentials that the Welsh value the most, according to a new study by Travelodge.
The budget chain which welcomes nearly 19 million people across its 583 hotels, which includes 27 properties in Wales, surveyed 1,500 adults to discover what the nation values the most in life.
Key findings revealed for Wales topping the top 50 value poll at first position is spending quality time with the family (44%). In second place is having a happy home life (43%) and in third place is having a good bill of health (41%).
The study also found that trying new experiences and discovering new places is of the upmost importance for modern Welsh people as over a third (36%) value regular holidays and weekends away. Just over a fifth (22%) of adults in Wales appreciate being at one with nature and value exploring Britain’s countryside. More than one in five respondents said the freedom to travel whenever and wherever was a precious gift in modern life.
Other key findings revealed that living in a fast-paced world is taking its toll on the Welsh as 21% of adults reported getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep has become a precious commodity. A fifth (20%) of those in Wales reported that having a whole day to do nothing was priceless whilst 12% of tired adults in Wales placed value on a weekend lie-in. Interestingly, despite living in a social media world, just nine per cent of Welsh surveyed stated that they value social media in their lives.
The study also found that we have become a value-conscious nation just like the war generation, who thrived on getting a bargain. In today’s world, 28% of Welsh residents value getting a good bargain and rely on coupons whilst for 11% of people in Wales, loyalty schemes have become a key life essential. Eleven per cent of those surveyed reported that they are savvier with their cash than their parents were.
Other interesting items to make the poll that the Welsh value the most are a third (33%) of adults value the NHS. Three out of ten appreciate getting clean water from the tap. For a quarter of adults living in Wales, it’s having a garden, whilst for 22%, it is the simplicity of a good mug of tea.
Interestingly, just 19% of Welsh adults reported that they value the freedom of speech.
Seventeen per cent of the Welsh value Netflix and 16% of those surveyed reported they appreciate service with a smile.
The survey also found that 41% of respondents believe that as a nation Wales is less community-minded nowadays.
Over a third (36%) believes we place less emphasis on good manners. Whilst 26% of the Welsh reported that they have higher expectations than their parents had and 21% believe that they are more tolerant than their parents.
Just over three out of ten (31%) of adults in Wales reported that they care more about the environment now than they ever did.
Shakila Ahmed, from Travelodge said:
“Our research shows that we have become a value-seeking nation that is striving to get the most out of all aspects of our lives. We want our time, money, friendships and love to work hard for us and provide a good return.”
“At Travelodge, we are seeing a growing trend in more Britons maximising their leisure time by eliminating the traditional two week holiday and booking lots of short breaks throughout the year. This way they can extend their leisure time throughout the year and do more experiences and have multiple short bursts of quality time with family and friends.”
Listed below are the top 50 things Britons value the most below
- Family time – 44 percent
- A happy home – 43 percent
- Physical health – 41 percent
- Mental health – 38 percent
- Faithfulness in your relationship – 35 percent
- Laughing with friends – 35 percent
- Your overall wellbeing – 34 percent
- Honesty – 34 percent
- Trustworthy friends – 33 percent
- Your parents – 33 percent
- The NHS – 33 percent
- Politeness – 33 percent
- Time with your children – 32 percent
- Clean water from the tap – 30 percent
- Time with your other half – 29 percent
- Your pet – 27 percent
- Having a garden or outside space – 25 percent
- Siblings – 24 percent
- Regular holidays – 24 percent
- Nature – 23 percent
- Time in the countryside – 22 percent
- A good cup of tea – 22 percent
- The freedom to travel – 21 percent
- Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep – 21 percent
- A whole day to yourself – 20 percent
- Freedom of speech – 19 percent
- A good book – 18 percent
- Netflix – 17 percent
- Nights out with friends – 16 percent
- Service with a smile – 16 percent
- Music – 14 percent
- Your education – 14 percent
- Good, strong coffee – 14 percent
- Being cooked for – 14 percent
- Getting a great deal – 14 percent
- Your car – 13 percent
- Wealth – 13 percent
- A lie in on a Saturday – 12 percent
- Regular weekends away – 12 percent
- Reliable neighbours – 11 percent
- Supportive colleagues – 11 percent
- Meal deals – 11 percent
- A fair priced pint of beer – 11 percent
- Being able to work from home – 10 percent
- Being able to park outside your home – 10 percent
- Your childhood home – 9 percent
- Watching football – 9 percent
- Social media – 9 percent
- Art – 9 percent
- Loyalty schemes- 9 percent
