Roughly six in 10 will splurge on accommodations and meals out.

This kind of spending — on experiences, rather than more stuff — is a good idea, said Michael Norton, a professor of marketing at Harvard Business School. That’s because, by and large, it’s more satisfying. If it’s between spending $2,000 on a television or a vacation, “for most people the $2,000 vacation will make them happier,” according to Dr. Norton.

But splurging is most effective when done sparingly, something people sometimes forget in this era of overconsumption, Dr. Norton said. “The specialness of the one can be really meaningful,” he said.

Buying yourself time can lead to greater happiness, but it is something many people are reluctant to do.

Ashley Muir Bruhn, who lives in Davis, Calif., recommends paying extra for a direct flight. The mother of two and author of the blog Hither & Thither argues that whatever money you save on connecting flights is negated by the added risks. Missing your next flight or losing your bags is a terrific way to ruin a trip. Two shorter legs could mean less in-flight service, and how much more would you pay for those extra hours at the pool where you are headed?

Plus, there is the mental toll, especially with children (hers are ages 5 and 7). By booking connecting flights, “you’ve made your whole travel time — the not-fun part — so much longer,” Ms. Muir Bruhn, 40, said. Her family takes two to three major trips a year and will go out of their way to get a direct flight. Instead of flying out of Sacramento, the closest airport, she will travel to Oakland or even San Francisco in order to fly nonstop.

Some travelers splurge on making their first moments hassle free. Tina Leung, a stylist and blogger who splits her time between New York and Hong Kong, always hires a black car to pick her up from the airport. “I’m so happy to see someone holding a sign with my name,” Ms. Leung said. “You don’t have to think about it, right when you get off the plane and you’re already frazzled.”