The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations - Paperback

by Jaime Kurtz (Author)

Travel is one of the most sought-after experiences in life. It has the singular ability to capture our imaginations, serving as a canvas onto which we project our deepest desires and needs: escape, relaxation, transcendence, interpersonal connection, cultural education, and more. Few things hold such a privileged place, yet until now, there has been no instruction manual for how to make the most of travelling, be it to an exotic country or to the local beach.

In The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations, psychology professor Jaime Kurtz applies the large and ever-growing body of research on happiness and decision-making to enhance the experience of travel. An avid explorer, study abroad instructor, teacher, and happiness researcher, Dr. Kurtz shows how anyone who has a vacation in his or her future can create the most meaningful, fulfilling, and joyful experiences possible.

When the price of travel is daunting, getting the most "bang for your buck", both financially and emotionally, is essential to an ideal travel experience. With a sense of humor and adventure, Dr. Kurtz provides guidance on how to craft your perfect trip, boost your excitement before your trip even begins, and actively immerse yourself in a new culture while unplugging from your technological ties to home. She also explains how to best cherish and share travel moments, how to ease back into your daily life upon returning, and how to carry the secrets of happy travel into every day.

This is a must-have guide if you are looking to make the most of your precious vacation days.

Author Biography

Jaime Kurtz is Associate Professor of Psychology at James Madison University. Her research on happiness and savoring has been published widely in scientific journals, receiving national attention from NPR and The Today Show, as well as in print and online magazines. With bestselling author Sonja Lyubomirsky, she is co-author of Positively Happy: Routes to Sustainable Happiness, a workbook for putting happiness strategies into practice in everyday life. Dr. Kurtz is a collaborator on the "Many Labs" study, a groundbreaking project designed to test whether psychological research replicates across time and place. This ongoing work has received national acclaim from National Geographic, Science, and Nature. Dr. Kurtz's mindful travel photography has been featured in The New York Times. Dr. Kurtz has visited 29 countries and 45 of the 50 United States.