If you’re not doing it, the person you’re talking to probably is.

As she was standing in line to board a plane to Atlanta atJFK International Airportearlier this twelvemonth — a short layover which would inch her closer to a much beachier and breezier Mexican goal — Bianca Palmarini , a NYC - based sales trader , was askedabout her carry - on , a travel - friendly duffel bag branded with name and logo of a renowned investment banking firm .

" Do you influence there ? " the stranger ask Palmarini , catching her by surprise . " Um … no . " No , in fact , she did n’t . Then she continued . " I think of , I used to , but I just quit ! " Again — no , in fact , she had n’t .

Palmarini then proceed to tell the stranger a convoluted floor filled with quick details and personal anecdotes . She said investment banking was a plenty , and she require a interruption , so she settle , almost on a whim , to give up her job and head over to * checks airport logic gate ’s showing * Atlanta , that ’s right , to lionise the crucial milepost in her career . And that ’s why she had the branded bank bag . It seemed as though the unknown bought it .

vacationing

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In realism , she borrowed the cup of tea from a friend , and Atlanta was just an irritating extra step in her locomotion design . She could ’ve say that , but select not to — caught off - safety gadget and with the right opportunity in front of her , Palmarini decided to paint a picture of someone else , a travelling alter ego , if you will .

If you ’re left marvel why on Earth would someone flat - out Trygve Halvden Lie about their life to a stranger like that , just know that , according to Modern research , ifyouare not doing it , the person in front of you belike is . information fromBooking.com ’s most recent commissioned researchon 2024 ’s travelling trends shows that one of the most buzzy , trendy , and cool things to do when traveling is , well , lie about your life .

The research , which was conduct among more than 27,000 travelers across 33 countries and territories , ascertain that 50 % of American traveler " feel more alive by creating their very own larger-than-life alter egos on vacation . " read , that means that one in two Americans is eager to make up chronicle about their life , their experience , and themselves to citizenry they meet along the way .

You might be enquire why . Palmarini will state you " because it ’s fun , " and many among the surveyed Americans will agree . A whopping 70 % of them are all about the thrill of it , and say that they just wish having the chance to recreate themselves and their life while on holiday , since they really enjoy the anonymity of travelling .

On vacation , people just require to feel respectable . No , excoriation that — they desire to feel great . According to Booking.com ’s enquiry , three quarters of Americans ( 75 % ) agree , and said that it ’s precisely when they ’re on vacation that they find their best selves , freed of some inhibitions and more appreciative of more veiled and hidden face of their personality . And sometimes , a piddling lie can just prod you in the right direction , allowing you to fully bosom your much - covet vacation freedom .

It does n’t cease at merriment and self - fulfilling theatrical role playacting , though . To Palmarini , it go a niggling beyond that . While she would n’t trace herself as a professional vacationing liar , she ’s admittedly done it one or two other times , and she ’d definitely do it again — for playfulness and also to protect her privateness as well as herself .

" I think when you ’re a solo female traveler , you make up a bunch of things to keep yourself secure , " she said . It is n’t surprising . Arecent view channel by Intrepid Travel , a small - group dangerous undertaking travel companionship , found that when making travel decisions , 64 % of fair sex would list safety equipment as the most important influence gene . It ’s no curiosity , then , that when a unknown asks about the party you work for , your first inherent aptitude is to lie .

I do it too , just on a dissimilar and a little smaller travel scale leaf . When traveling with Uber , Lyft , and other drive - hailing program , for example , my name is Alex . I initially made the change for safety reasons , but it then evolved into a fun small bit I had with myself .

To a few different Uber drivers , Alex has been a journalist , an creative person , a student , a tourer . She ’s been from Europe and she ’s been from the US , she ’s been chatty , and she ’s been more quiet . And every time she stepped off the car and closed the door , she ’d be gone — but her main character vigour always manage to permeate throughout my day , bring that surplus thrill in my number that we all starve so much . Because as Palmarini put it , referring to lying on her travel , " sometimes it really is just for playfulness . "