Americans Pack in a Vacation this Summer

As time spent in the office begins to dip, spending on gas, flights and hotels start to rise. With summer days comes freedom, a break in routine, relaxing times in the sun, and above all, vacations. And with the season in full swing, we wanted to take a snapshot of who’s getting away.

Overall, the results of our eNation survey conducted in June 2014 indicate that over half of Americans (54%) plan to take a vacation this summer. Of course, money is a big factor when deciding to get away: 63% of households with an annual income of $50,000 and over say they have or will plan a vacation compared to 40% of households that earn under $50,000 annually. Beyond income, younger respondents (58%), those with children (60%) and those who are married (59%) are more likely to vacation this summer.

Among the 46% of Americans who do not plan to take a vacation, lack of funds (64%) was the overwhelming number one reason given. Women (72%) mentioned lack of funds significantly more than men (55%). Work appears to be the next largest factor in preventing summer trips: no time off work (14%) and being too busy at work (11%) were top mentions. And rather shockingly, 11% indicate that they simply do not feel like it—a number that is higher for men (15%) and those who aren’t married (16%).

So what do Americans want from a vacation? Overall most look to summer trips to get out, have fun, and create priceless memories. When asked, sightseeing (42%) and just being together as a family (36%) were the top two mentions. The latter is especially true for households with children (53%) or spouses (43%). Women (32%) selected outdoor activities significantly more than men (17%)—but perhaps men are just so happy to be away from the office (25%) they don’t care what they do!

Our country has a diverse selection of destinations to choose from. So it’s not too surprising that most Americans agree that they don’t need to leave the country to enjoy these pastimes. Of those who will take a vacation this summer, 82% plan to travel in the United States only. But international travel hasn’t entirely been dismissed—almost one out of five (18%) say they will also travel abroad this summer. This jumps to one out of four among households with an income of $50,000 and more (23%) and respondents 18-34 years old (24%). For some, the lure of leaving the country is strong, with 6% of Americans overall opting to travel only outside the United States.

Companies in the travel industry should be content that over half of Americans have planned or are planning a summer getaway this year. But the challenge will be in finding a way to help Americans plan trips that won’t break the bank, both financially and with available time off. And keep in mind, an enjoyable vacation to most means seeing the sights and just spending time together as a family.

For detailed data results and charts, please view our Thought Starter here.