Greece ranks among the top dream destinations for travelers from the United States, according to a new study by international travel company Scenic Group.
Following the wave of “revenge travel” after the pandemic, Americans are now reshaping how they plan trips, with choices increasingly tied to personal goals. Yet data shows that seven in 10 Americans (69 percent) feel they are falling behind on their travel ambitions, particularly when comparing themselves to others — a phenomenon researchers call “travel dysmorphia”.
Despite these feelings, Americans continue to dream big. Greece emerged as the third most aspirational destination, cited by 19 percent of participants.
Japan and Paris topped the list at 24 percent each, followed by Australia (17 percent), Puerto Rico (16 percent), Germany (14 percent), Iceland (12 percent), and both Antarctica and Vietnam (5 percent).
Travel as a driver of well-being
Photo source: Scenic Group
The survey also highlights travel’s strong emotional impact: 72 percent of respondents said it improves their well-being.
“At the heart of travel dysmorphia is the tension between aspiration and action. Our research shows travelers aren’t lacking the desire — they’re held back by time, planning stress, and cost,” said Ken Muskat, President of Scenic Group USA and LATAM.
When looking ahead, Americans said they dream most of beach getaways (37 percent), followed by cruising (28 percent ocean, 18 percent river, 6 percent polar), all-inclusive escapes (24 percent), and experiential journeys focused on wildlife (22 percent), wellness (13 percent) and cuisine (12 percent).
The survey was conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Scenic Group, polling 2,000 Americans evenly split across Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers between June 6 and 13, 2025.
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