AAA ENCOURAGES CAROLINIANS TO PLAN FOR VACATION
Research Shows Planners Take More Vacations and are Happier
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 28, 2019) – National Plan for Vacation Day is Tuesday, January 29 and AAA Carolinas is encouraging employees to start taking advantage of their vacation days by planning ahead for a getaway.
In 2017, the most recent data from Project: Time Off, 50 percent of North Carolinians had unused vacation days, totaling 19,063,916 days – which is up 2,428,657 days from 2016. This resulted in an estimated $2,534,100,595 of untapped economic benefit. In South Carolina, 55% of people had unused vacation days totaling 10,221,090 days – up 1,393,231 days from 2016 and resulting in $1,830,077,692 of untapped economic benefit.
“National Plan for Vacation Day is the perfect time to encourage Carolinians to take advantage of their well-deserved time off,” said Sarah Henshall, Senior Vice President of AAA Carolinas Travel. “What better way to take a day off from work than to travel? By committing to planning on January 29, we can all reap the benefits of taking a break while giving ourselves something to look forward to.”
Project: Time Off breaks down its findings by the numbers in its State of the American Vacation 2018 report:
- Americans are still worried about appearing less dedicated if they take vacation – with the 61% of those leaving time unused compared to the nation’s average of 52%.
- 86% of Americans feel they haven’t seen enough of the country.
- 84% of Americans say it is important to use vacation days for travel, but only 47% of vacation days are used for travel.
AAA Travel has a long list of recommendations for employees in the Carolinas looking to vacation close to home. Some of the top destinations include:
- Asheville, NC
- Blowing Rock/Boone, NC
- Charleston, SC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/ Sevierville, TN
- Beaufort/Fripp Island/Harbor Island/St. Helena Island, SC
The top international travel destinations according to AAA Carolinas Travel include:
- Indonesia
- Belize
- Egypt
- Slovenia
- Portugal
- Panama
- Ecuador
- Morocco
AAA Carolinas Travel suggests the following tips to make your vacation planning a reality:
- Create a tentative budget and 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 AAA exclusive member discounts for car rentals, flights, hotels, vacation packages and much more. Visit AAA.com/Travel or download the free AAA mobile app.
- Consider booking vacations with a travel agent. AAA offers travel services at their branch locations. In addition to having in-depth expertise about destinations across the globe, AAA Travel Agencies have relationships with cruise lines, hotels and tour operators and often have 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 is designed to offer protection against sudden and unforeseen events. Check with a travel agent and carefully review insurance policies before purchasing, as coverage options vary.
About National Plan for Vacation Day
National Plan for Vacation Day is celebrated the last Tuesday in January as the day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.
AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 2.1 million member and the public with travel, automobile and insurance services while being an advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
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