Survey: Americans value travel experiences above all

A new survey from point.me, the leading travel rewards search engine, finds that Americans are increasingly opting for travel experiences instead of material possessions this holiday season. While this trend toward experiences is not new, it is gaining momentum as dream trips become more accessible through points and miles, positioning travel as the top gift choice.

Key findings for this holiday season:

• 93% of consumers would rather have a roundtrip business-class flight than a designer item.
• 81% would trade multiple physical gifts for one vacation.
• 60% prefer travel-related gift cards—like flights or hotel credits—over traditional retail options.

“As consumers increasingly value experiences over material goods, travel has become the ultimate luxury gift,” said Tiffany Funk, President and Co-Founder of point.me. “This trend reflects a broader cultural shift toward investing in memorable experiences—many of which are now within reach thanks to points and miles.”

The survey, aimed at understanding consumer preferences during the holiday season, surveyed 486 current point.me members.