If you’re planning to pop the question to your partner, you might want to have plane tickets in hand rather than a ring. Sandals Resorts found in a recent survey that more couples would prefer a trip over a diamond.
Sandals commissioned a survey of more than 1,400 adults in the US and found that 72% of couples would choose a vacation over “an extravagant engagement ring” in the results released Tuesday, according to press materials. The survey was conducted via SurveyMonkey in November.
The all-inclusive resort company also found that more than half of the respondents would choose to share an experience with their significant other over giving each other material gifts.
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What else did the Sandals Resorts survey find?
When it came to the type of vacation respondents would prefer, 37% of couples said they would opt for a “luxury all-inclusive beach vacation,” while 27% would choose an adventurous trip, according to the press materials. Meanwhile, 26% said they would choose a culturally immersive visit, while 8% would go for a spiritual retreat.
What wedding guests get for these couples?
A report from the online wedding marketplace The Knot found experiences and virtual gifts like gift cards to Airbnb and Delta Air Lines were some of the most popular gifts registry in 2021.
The Knot found 7 of every 10 couples in 2021 were registering for cash gifts, up 10% from the previous year. These gifts include gift cards or destination-specific experiences such as a snorkel tour in Hawaii or a private gondola ride in Venice.
About 80% of the gift cards that couples registered for on The Knot’s registry in 2021 were for travel- or home-related retailers. Airbnb accounted for 17% of gift cards in registries, while 20.4% were Home Depot gift cards and 7.6% were Delta Air Lines gift cards.
Contributing: Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY
