Ripa and Consuelos joke they’re 'like the herpes of vacation' as they reveal habit of returning to favorite destinations

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos joked on Tuesday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark that they are "like the herpes of vacation" because they keep returning to their favorite destinations. Ripa referenced a recent survey she said shows Americans prefer comfort and familiarity when planning getaways, a trend she and Consuelos say describes their own approach to travel.

Ripa called them "creatures of habit," and she quoted, "We find a place, and if they’re nice to us, they have us for life. We are like the herpes of vacation. We just keep returning. They can't get rid of us. Right?" The moment drew laughter from the studio audience. Consuelos agreed that when a vacation goes wrong, "it's not so fun," and Ripa added that "when it goes wonky, we never return." The segment noted that about 30 percent of American travelers return to the same vacation spot year after year, treating it like a second home.

While they tend to stick with familiar destinations, the couple acknowledged they do venture off occasionally. They cited their own trip to Iceland as one they would go back to, even as they know friends with young families who opt for more "exotic" locales such as Patagonia, the Galapagos, or Chichén Itzá. "And I’m sitting there and I’m like, I wanna, but I don’t wanna," Consuelos said. Ripa teased, "We literally ask the important questions: Is there a buffet?" Consuelos replied, "I’d like to do that stuff, but I don’t want to do it."

Ripa amplified that their preference for familiar settings is a distinctly American trait, a point she and Consuelos framed as they discussed the survey findings. "We’re American," Ripa said, while Consuelos agreed, noting they’re "Very on brand." The couple described how decades of travel with their family have taught them what makes a vacation enjoyable: time with loved ones, reliable comforts, and an itinerary that blends ease with occasional new experiences.

Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays, and the pair often uses their moments on the show to riff about family life, travel quirks, and the balance between novelty and comfort. The comments came as part of a broader conversation about how Americans approach vacation planning, a trend highlighted by the report they referenced and discussed on air.