55% of MA Residents Leave Vacation Time on Table, Says New Study

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Thursday, February 01, 2018

GoLocalWorcester News Team

More than half of Massachusetts residents leave vacation days on the table each year.

According to data from the U.S. Travel Association's Initiative “Project: Time Off” study, 55% of Massachusetts residents leave time on the table.

“Massachusetts residents in general fare better:  55% leave vacation time on the table, ranking the state 24th in time given up—while Idaho holds the dubious distinction of having workers who are least inclined to take a break and use the earned time coming to them. Through good planning, Massachusetts residents and all Americans can come to enjoy more of their accrued vacation time while reaping valuable benefits to both their physical and mental well-being,” said Mary Maguire, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs.

Among cities, Boston residents leave 61% of their vacation days on the table, ranking fifth most among U.S. cities.

Project: Time Off

Project: Time Off conducted a survey in 2017 to rank vacation use across the 50 states.

The survey showed that it was the planning, or lack of planning, that was a major factor in the use of vacation time.

Nationally the study found that Americans leave 662 million vacation days on the table each year.

However, only 54% of households set aside time to plan the use of vacation time.

“Vacation planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Travel professionals across the state, including those at the auto club, not only provide peace of mind when you travel, but can also develop interesting and exciting itineraries while being mindful of a traveler’s budget," said Rick Del Nero, Vice President of Travel for AAA Northeast.

AAA, a partner in the initiative offers the following tips to help with vacation planning:

• Create a tentative budget and a schedule so your trip planning can be accomplished in a realistic manner.
• Research and understand the pros and cons of traveling to a destination during your preferred timeframe. Identify attractions or activities you are most interested in and determine if they will be available.
• Leverage your travel company’s exclusive travel discounts for car rentals, flights, hotels and vacation packages.
• Consider booking vacations with a travel agent. In addition to having in-depth expertise about destinations across the globe, a travel professional has relationships with cruise lines, hotels and tour operators and often has access to special rates and added benefits that are not available elsewhere.
• Plan ahead. If you are leaving the country you will need a passport, and possibly a visa or health documentation. It can take up to six weeks to get a new passport, so allow time to secure all necessary documents.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance. It’s designed to offer protection against unforeseen events. Check with a travel agent and carefully review insurance policies before purchasing, as coverage options vary.

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