An adult’s “dream holiday” is four years in the making, according to research. A poll of 2,000 adults found 60 percent have a special trip they hope to go on, with a fifth of those over 45 planning it from the age of 18.

The average adult has been on 23 holidays over their lifetime – but 67 percent are saving the perfect trip for much later in life.

Reasons for this included being more financially comfortable the older you get, having less dependencies, and appreciating things later in life.

The Maldives, New Zealand, and the USA topped the list of destinations Brits would most like to visit – with Australia and Japan following closely behind.

Ryan Howsam, CEO and founder of specialist travel insurance provider, Staysure, which commissioned the survey, said: “Most of us have that one special trip we’ve been dreaming of since we can remember, and it’s great to see that people have been planning it for a long time.

“It’s only as we get older that it starts to become more attainable, as certain barriers start to come down – such as having more free time, or less responsibilities.

“Holidays are so important to us, and sharing new experiences with family and friends is priceless.”

To help those who are unsure on where their dream holiday destination might be, Staysure has created a fun and useful quiz that will help you decide the best places to visit, based on your travel preferences.

The study also found that, when thinking about their dream destination, 41 percent said it’s a place they’ve wanted to visit since they were young – although 21 percent discovered theirs online, and instantly felt they wanted to go.

Ideally, the trip would last an average of three weeks, and involve visiting eight different sights.

The hunt for the northern lights in Finland topped the list of “dream experiences”, followed by a safari in Kenya, and soaking in the healing minerals of the blue lagoon in Iceland.

Visiting Australia to see Uluru, and snorkelling in the famous Great Barrier Reef, also featured as must-do activities.

However, 74 percent still aren’t sure on all the details of their dream holiday yet, even though they often think about it.

More than a quarter are already saving specifically for their dream holiday, and regularly add money to an account – with 18-24-year-olds leading the way with this (43 percent).

But when it comes to genders, men are almost twice as likely as women to be topping up the holiday fund (35 percent, versus 18 percent).

Of all those polled, 32 percent aren’t yet financially organised enough to be putting money aside, but said they do plan on saving for their trip in the not-too-distant future.

And when it comes to the main things they hope to get out of their holiday, 57 percent said making unforgettable memories, while 52 percent are looking to experience new things.

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Meanwhile, one in three hope it will boost their happiness and improve their mental health – and 35 percent simply don’t want to regret not ever doing it.

The OnePoll.com study also found 74 percent believe this type of trip would be transformative for them as a person – leaving them feeling fulfilled (52 percent) and content (43 percent).

But when it comes to protecting themselves on this type of holiday, four in ten worry the insurance for it will be too expensive, while 17 percent aren’t confident they will be able to get the right cover.

Of those who have already been on this type of holiday, 43 percent plan on doing it again in the future.

Ryan Howsam added: “Aside from ticking it off the list, an unforgettable holiday has so much more to offer – from self-discovery, to opening your eyes to a completely different culture.

“Our research shows just how much time and money people put into planning their dream holidays, the things they’d like to experience, and why they might feel the need to save it for later in life.

“But for any successful holiday, having confidence in your travel insurance is key – it’s worth checking your insurer can cover the experiences you’re hoping to have, as well as the length of time you can spend in one destination, as all policies differ.

“Whilst financially we are all feeling the pinch as we navigate through rising costs at every turn, it’s important not to scrimp on cover.”

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