In an increasingly stressful world, many travellers are finding comfort in repetition: returning to the same ski towns, seaside suburbs and favourite cafes each year. Experts say the appeal goes far deeper than nostalgia.

For the past 15 years, photographer Jason Greene and his family have headed north from New York City to Mont Tremblant in Quebec for a winter week in the snow. "We have a tradition that on our first day, we eat maple syrup on a stick, go ice skating, then stop at the local candy store." The French Canadian resort town, he says, "holds a special place in our hearts because it's where we all learned how to ski and snowboard".

For many travellers, novelty is the point: ticking off new destinations and chasing new sensations. But an increasing number, like Greene and his four kids, are doing the opposite – returning to the same spot each year. They book the same room, eat the same meals and walk the same streets to find comfort in the familiar rather than the thrill of discovery.

"For many people, there's a sense of safety in returning to the familiar," says Dr Charlotte Russell, a clinical psychologist and founder of The Travel Psychologist. "We know what to expect, what suits us… and [we're] less likely to face unexpected challenges."

The behaviour, she adds, often appeals to people who are overwhelmed in their daily lives, which is why taking the same holiday again and again can feel so soothing.

It's that unrivalled sense of ease that pulled me back to Lima, Peru, this past May, exactly one year after my first visit when I was writing my travel book Street Cats & Where to Find Them. I stayed at the same hotel, ate the same sandwich at the same cafe, walked the same streets and let many of the same cats sleep on my lap – revelling in the contentment that had first surprised me there.

Sociology professor Rebecca Tiger has returned to Athens eight times, with a ninth visit scheduled this month, for similar reasons. "I always stay in Pangrati because I love the neighbourhood's cafes [and] its cats," she told me. "I now have locals with whom I keep in touch while away, and socialise with when I return." She appreciates the familiarity she has cultivated over time, yet doesn't get bored due to the diversity of experiences on offer.

Data reflects this nostalgia-driven shift. According to Priceline's 2026 Where to Next? report, 73% of travellers surveyed said that they are drawn back to the places and experiences that shaped them, from family beaches to amusement parks. Hilton's latest

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