Sex on the Beach? Why Nearly Half of Survey Respondents Believe Vacation Sex Is Superior

Psychology tells us that introducing novelty can help boost satisfaction and rekindle passion in long-term relationships. In fact, a break from old routines can trigger the same areas of the brain as the early stages of romance, releasing a similar neurological sensation.  

But what are practical ways to inject this key ingredient into your love life? Supposedly, any type of new and exciting activity or experience can do the trick, and what could be better than a sexy baecation to a hot, thrilling destination?

DatingAdvice.com put this theory to the test and conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S.-based adults to determine whether Americans use travel trips to improve their sex lives and find vacation sex more satisfying. 

It’s common for couples to fall into a rut once the honeymoon phase has ended. Committed relationships often face ebbs and flows, and sometimes couples who have been in it for the long haul need a spark to get the engines running again. 

According to our findings, vacation sex may be the solution to amping up a routine sex life for couples. When asked if vacation sex is better than regular sex, nearly half of all respondents (49%) agreed that vacation sex was superior.

While another 42.3% said the sex was the same, only 8.7% said it was worse due to travel stress. 

How does travel sex fare across generational lines? Our study found that Gen Z (73%) was twice as likely as boomers (33%) to view vacation sex as better, while boomers leaned more toward saying the sex was “about the same.”

Through the lens of sexual orientation, LGBTQ+ respondents (66%) were more likely to say vacation sex is “more exciting and passionate” than non-LGBTQ+ respondents (46%) — a 20% difference.

Fewer LGBTQ+ travelers (30%) also said sex was about the same compared to non-LGBTQ+ travelers (45%).

Top Reasons Why

Results show that a large consensus believes travel intimacy is better than intimacy at home. Why so? Diving deeper, our study also looked at the factors driving this perception. The following reasons are why respondents say they favor vacation sex:

• New environment equals more excitement (64%) 
• More time together (63%)
• Less stress/more relaxation (57%)
• Alcohol or ‘vacation mindset’ (44%)

Our study also revealed a small opposition to vacation sex. Those who were opponents had their reasons as well, which included:

• Fatigue from travel activities (15.6%)
• Stress or unknowns from a new environment (29%)
• Mismatched expectations (14%)

Out of all respondents, boomers were the least likely to engage in vacation hookups, with jet lag being the primary culprit behind their reasoning. Millennials took the crown for having the most amazing hookups.

These figures show that though vacation sex thrives on novelty and downtime, travel stress and mismatched expectations can get in the way for some couples. 

New place, new you. Travel destinations can bring a renewed sense of sexual intimacy for many couples, as our findings reveal. Interestingly, some couples intentionally seek out vacation sex by planning romantic getaways set on pleasure.

When asked if they’ve ever planned a trip for sex, 36% of respondents said, “Yes, and it worked,” while 44% said they were open to it. Another 14.7% weren’t interested at all, and only 5.5% admitted to planning a sexual pleasure trip and finding no real results.

Sexcations aren’t just fantasies playing through couples’ heads; they’re being done successfully. And some partners are booking romantic-themed resorts and hotels to enhance the experience.

Nearly 4 in 10 travelers have stayed at a sexy resort and found the accommodations worth it. To add on to that, an exact figure (38%) said they would like to, although they haven’t yet tried. Only 12.8% said they preferred traditional travel.

As it happens, couples also use vacation time to explore and experiment sexually. About half of the respondents confessed to trying something new sexually with their partner while traveling and enjoying it. This is proof that changing your environment might change your libido.

For many people, vacation prep isn’t complete without a bucket list. Unlike traditional lists, a vacation sex bucket list doesn’t consist of landmarks and must-see museums, but instead kinks, fantasies, and questionable places. 

Below is a roundup of the top fantasies and desires that respondents have reported:

• 60.6% want a private pool/jacuzzi in their hotel suite
• 42.2% dream of sex on the beach
• 32.1% want to experiment with a new kink or fantasy
• 31.2% are interested in couples-only or clothing-optional resorts
• 26.6% want a threesome while traveling
• 20% are curious about hooking up with a local
• 18.3% fantasize about a Desire cruise or Hedonism-style vacation
• 17.4% want to attend a sex party
• 16.5% want to join the Mile High Club

LGBTQ+ respondents were 2 to 3x more likely to desire threesomes, hookups with locals, and sex parties than other travelers. Gen Z was also more adventurous across the board, with 2 to 4x the interest in fantasies like beach sex, kinks, sex parties, and threesomes compared to boomers.

One thing every generation can agree on, however, is the desire for a private jacuzzi.

To end, it is evident that travel can significantly enhance sexual intimacy and excitement for many American couples.

Nearly half of all respondents found vacation sex more passionate than at-home sex, with Gen Z and LGBTQ+ travelers leading the way and reporting greater sexual satisfaction and experimentation. It looks like an escape to an enticing destination may just be the remedy for a better sex life.

This survey was conducted by DatingAdvice.com in March 2025 via Pollfish, polling 1,000 U.S.-based adults aged 18 and older. The sample was balanced to reflect national demographics across gender, age, and region. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. 

Where noted, generational cohorts were defined as: Gen Z: 18–27, millennials: 28–43, Gen X: 44–59, boomers: 60+. The margin of error is approximately ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.