Now you have the perfect excuse to take a good long holiday this Christmas - it may help you live longer.
Research suggesting regular holiday travel can lead to greater happiness - and prevent factors leading to early death - is emerging from studies both in New Zealand and overseas.
Dr Sebastian Filep, a New Zealand expert in tourism psychology and a senior lecturer in the tourism department at the University of Otago, says regular holidays are not only associated with greater happiness levels, but help us perform better at work, improve sleep quality and cushion us against depression.
In an opinion published in New Zealand newspapers last year he said: "There is even research that shows failing to holiday regularly can be a contributing factor to early death.
"We instinctively know going on holidays must be good for us," he said. "Research proves this feeling without a doubt."
With Christmas less than 12 weeks away the idea of buying travel for loved ones - rather than traditional stocking fillers - has taken on a whole new meaning.
Through its low fares, Jetstar believes it can help make gifting travel easy. Each week, Jetstar operates up to 5,000 flights to more than 85 destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific - a network of flights that opens the world to loved ones.
Jetstar pilot, Catherine Howley, says: "travel is one of the most important things you can do in life, and gift your loved ones. It expands your horizons and gives perspective you can't get by staying at home or opening a box of Christmas chocolates," she says.
Fileps views are similar to the findings of a 2014 study in the US by the US Travel Association in collaboration with the Global Ageing Coalition which shows travel can lower the risk of heart attacks and death from coronary disease.
Michael Hodin, the coalition's executive director at the time said several decades ago people didn't fully grasp the benefits of diet and exercise: "The same might hold true for travel today.
"Travel has been found to lower the risk of heart attacks and death from coronary disease in certain groups; it's not too far-fetched to imagine doctors prescribing travel for their patients as these benefits become more widely appreciated."
Research conducted by San Francisco State University in the US says the thrill of material items fades quickly compared to the experiences of travelling, which can last a lifetime.
It says people who use their money to buy and enjoy experiences rather than flashy status symbols are happier and feel their money is better spent.
The San Francisco research, published on Forbes.com an online business magazine, examined the proposition most people equate big purchases with large amounts of happiness.
"While it's true that buying a Maserati may give you more of a thrill than dining out with your friends," the research says, "that excitement will soon fade compared with the money and enjoyment spent on dining out twice a week for years with friends and family."
People should resist the urge to spend huge sums of money on presents and instead invest in experiences.
"The money you would spend to own any one of these things could be used to rent all of them and the benefit to renting is that you aren't responsible for it once you're done using it. You don't really want to own a horse, you want to ride a horse and there is a big difference."
Enjoying an adventure is likely to create a more enjoyable and fulfilling experience, the research suggests. "Take a class in woodworking or skydiving or fencing or quilting. Learn to surf.
"Not only is the act of learning a new skill fun and rewarding, but you will broaden your horizons as a person, giving yourself fun new activities that you can participate in for a lifetime while expanding your social circle."
Nine times out of 10, the research suggests, "you're better spending your money on experiences and other people than on yourself. You're much more likely to have genuine, fulfilling happiness as a result."
That's particularly relevant as the Christmas season approaches, and the pressure to find and buy a unique gift adds to the year-end stress. Rather than the big-ticket present, an envelope that opens the door to a once-in-a-lifetime experience might be the answer.
Certainly this was true for Brigette Ayres, a Jetstar cabin crew manager, who recalls her times in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bali: "One of my favourite experiences would be visiting Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples in Cambodia before cycling 7km on pushbikes."
Lewis Gaskin, Jetstar aircraft engineer, remembers his favourite Christmas gift, a trip to the Australian Alps with a group of friends.
"My most memorable travel experience, and Christmas gift, was travelling to the Australian Alps with my mates. We spent the winter snowboarding and skiing every day. We met a new group of friends and returned to do it again," he says.
# Rather than a one-off travel experience, for the price of a pair of undies and socks your loved one could receive a Club Jetstar membership that they can use throughout the year on as many travel experiences they like. For an annual fee of NZD$49 Club Jetstar allows members early access to sales, ongoing discounts on flights, bag and seat selection
Spend less on flights and more on making memories. Book now at Jetstar.com for the lowest fares. With their Price Beat Guarantee, if you find a lower fare online, they'll beat it by 10 per cent. Conditions apply, see http://www.jetstar.com/nz/en/price-beat-guarantee.