MIAMI – October 29, 2026 -- A new survey of 2,000 adults in the United States and Canada finds that 81% miss the sense of wonder they had as kids more than the free time they had back then. Club Med, the all-inclusive resort operator, commissioned the study from Wakefield Research as the first edition of its Art of Free Time Report 2026.
Obligations beat enjoyment for most adults
Some 87% of respondents say obligations take priority over things they want to do for enjoyment at least some of the time. For 41%, that happens most or all of the time. Club Med calls this distance between wanting more fun and making room for it the "Joy Gap."
Trying something new pays off, but cost gets in the way
Nearly nine in 10 respondents (88%) report at least one positive impact the last time they challenged themselves to try something new. Still, 80% agree there are activities they would like to try but haven't, because lessons or gear feel too expensive when they aren't sure they'll enjoy them.
Vacation may lower that barrier. In the survey, 79% say they're likely to try an activity they've never done before on their next trip. At Club Med resorts, sports, activities and experiences are built into the stay, so guests can try something, return to a favorite or move on.
Freedom, not pampering, defines luxury for 91% of travelers
Of those surveyed, 91% agree that when traveling, luxury means the freedom to do what they want, when they want, rather than fine dining and being pampered. And 74% prefer an open-ended vacation with room for spontaneity over a detailed daily itinerary.
"Somewhere along the way, we've lost some of the spontaneity and playfulness that once came so naturally," said Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean.
Club Med launches The Art of Free Time platform
The research arrives alongside The Art of Free Time, a new global Club Med platform built around freedom, joy and possibility. Across its mountain, beach and island resorts, the brand says guests might try a new sport, discover a local flavor, spend time with family and friends, join something on a whim or do nothing at all.
How the survey was run
Wakefield Research surveyed 2,000 adults aged 21 and older, 1,000 in the U.S. and 1,000 in Canada, between September 11 and September 23, 2026. Respondents were invited by email and answered online. The data was weighted, and the findings reflect combined U.S. and Canadian responses.