If you are contemplating traveling the Silk Road with kids, Uzbekistan should be the first destination on your list.
The Single Biggest Travel Mistake Americans Make Every Year
27.07.2023 - 18:28 / smartertravel.com
Every summer, Americans selectively schedule their vacation time, typically taking a week or two to get out and enjoy the sun or a dreamy, far-off destination. But as the midyear heat wanes and the holiday season approaches, more of us should assess the vacation days we’re not using—all 658 million of them.
That’s how many paid days off were forfeited last year in the United States, according to Project Time Off, a research movement dedicated to improving work-life balance in the States. Project Time Off collects data from Americans to shed light on our vacation time problem every year. They found that 55 percent of Americans didn’t use all their paid time off last year.
Yes, more than half of us are essentially giving away our valuable time and hard-earned money by forfeiting vacation days. This is especially troubling considering the fact that Americans already get less paid time off than many other industrialized countries, including Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and most of Europe.
According to Expedia’s 2015 Vacation Deprivation Study, the median worldwide number of paid vacation days (after holidays) is 25. The average American gets only 15. Americans forfeit about four of their days each year—which means we’re only taking 11 days on average. That’s almost one third of our already minimal earned time off—gone.
Here’s a visual breakdown of Expedia’s findings in each country. Americans forfeit the same amount of days that Malaysians do, and more than most of the other nations Expedia surveyed.
Those extra days we’re forfeiting could have gone toward long weekends, down time with family, or even a midweek trip. So, why are we giving it up?
Related: How to Maximize Vacation Time OffIt often comes down to guilt. Both Expedia and Project Time Off found that people forfeiting days say they think it looks bad to use them all—and that they assume bosses prefer employees to leave some days on the table.
“For some workers, vacation is a right, and for others, it’s a guilty pleasure,” Expedia’s findings state. “Some workers also fear that their bosses will disapprove.”
It looks like the guilt issue won’t be improving in America any time soon. Project Time Off announced last week that they’ve found millennials overall experience more anxiety about taking days off, while older generations are more likely to see vacation as an earned right in the workplace. As more millennials enter the workforce and older employees retire, that mindset is likely to become more prevalent.
Related: Millenials Are Changing the Way Hotels Cater to Travelers“Compared to [Baby] Boomers, Millennials are at least twice as likely to find taking time off difficult,” Project Time Off told me via email.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
cntraveler.com
04.08.2023 / 14:23
The New Business Traveler: Ceremonia's Babba Rivera Plans Work Trips Just for Inspiration
These days, Babba Rivera is practically synonymous with her haircare line Ceremonia. The brand's Instagram feed is filled with shots of her lush brown hair, drenched in guava-scented products; signature pops of hibiscus pink, lime, and tangerine, are both splashed across bottles of deep-conditioners and her envy-inducing wardrobe. In that way, the line between work and personal life is always blurry—something she was reminded of when she recently spent a month working from Mexico City.
lonelyplanet.com
02.08.2023 / 11:25
7 years walking the world: what the ultimate slow travel trip taught me about life
Inspired to live life more fully following the death of a friend, New Jersey native Tom Turcich, set himself a goal to see and experience the world on foot.
forbes.com
29.07.2023 / 19:51
Best Beach Towns In Every State (West Of The Mississippi)
America’s coastal areas don’t have a monopoly on great beaches . . . or groovy beach towns.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:50
Why Other Countries Warn Travelers About Visiting the U.S.
Seasoned American travelers often look to the Department of State for advisories about everything from natural disasters to labor strikes in unfamiliar places. But what hazards are foreign governments warning their own travelers about when it comes to visiting the States?
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:45
The 10 Most Livable Cities in the World for 2017
Ever dreamed of packing up everything and moving to another country? Here are the most livable cities in the world, according to a study by The Economist.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:30
Brexit Means Now Is the Time to Travel to the UK
Although the United Kingdom is one of the closest European destinations to the United States, it’s been out of reach for many Americans for a long time, due to the unfavorable pound to dollar exchange rate.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:26
The Latest Trump Travel Ban, Banned by 2 Courts
Just hours before it was to take effect, the Trump administration’s revised travel ban was blocked by a federal judge in Hawaii. A second judge, in Maryland, followed suit.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:23
The 10 Best Museums in the World (and How to Skip the Lines)
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:18
Recap: The Week’s Biggest Travel Stories and Best Deals
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:15
The Busiest Summer Travel Destinations for 2019, According to AAA
Summer, also known as high season for travel, is almost here. And according to AAA just about everyone is poised to hit the road. The organization predicts two-thirds of what it categorizes as “leisure travelers” plan to take vacations this summer, meaning millions of Americans will be hitting the road.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:13
The World’s 10 Happiest and 5 Unhappiest Countries, Ranked
I don’t suppose that most travelers choose their trip destinations based on a country’s happiness index. On the other hand, if they knew that Country A scored near the top of the happiness index and Country B scored near the bottom, it seems probable they’d be inclined to book their flights to Country A. Who wants to spend their vacation among unhappy people?