Minnesotans Waste Over 13 Million Vacation Days at Work

AAA Minneapolis Encourages Americans to Plan for Vacation

01/23/18 | Travel

MINNEAPOLIS (January 23^th, 2018) — Every year, more than half of Americans fail to use all of their time off, for a combined total of 662 million unused vacation days.  In order to lessen those numbers, AAA has partnered with Project: Time Off, to encourage Americans to better plan.

In Minnesota, 56 percent of employees leave over 13 million days unused; and in the Twin Cities, 57 percent of employees leave over 8 million days unused.

“By planning our vacation days, we are giving ourselves something to look forward to and reaping the benefits of taking a break,” said Linda Snyder, Vice President of Travel and Retail Services for AAA Minneapolis. “On January 30^th, National Plan for Vacation Day, we encourage all Minnesotans to prioritize their planning.”

AAA Minneapolis invites members to participate in the celebration of National Plan for Vacation Day.  Stop by any AAA Minneapolis branch location on January 30^th!  If you book a trip with a travel agent, you will be entered to win a 3 piece set of Delsey Sky Max purple luggage equal to $640.

“Vacation planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Make it easy by using a travel agent to plan the perfect vacation,” added Snyder.  “AAA not only provides peace of mind when you travel, but helps you get started and get you to your destination.”

• 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.

In addition to AAA’s tips, Project: Time Off created a vacation-planning tool to help employees get their vacation days on the calendar.

• Research shows that people who plan their vacation days have a distinct advantage over people who don’t plan. 
• Project: Time Off’s The State of American Vacation 2017 report found that people who plan out their vacation days, use more of their time off, take longer vacations, and as a result have a higher level of happiness.  52 percent of planners took all of their vacation time vs. 40 percent of non-planners.
• 75 percent of planners were more likely to take a full week of vacation time or more at a time. Non-planners take significantly fewer days—zero to three—than planners at once (42 vs. 18 percent).
• More planners report they are “very” or “extremely” happy with their relationships (83 vs. 70 percent), health and well-being (57 vs. 48 percent), company (57 vs. 51 percent), and job (59 vs. 50 percent) compared to non-planners.

The decision to travel is a very personal one that must be made by the traveler. No matter where you go, always remain informed of travel alerts and consult a travel agent for their expert advice. AAA travel agents are available to assist members with this information. Travelers can get started planning their next vacation at AAA.com/Travel or download the AAA Mobile app at AAA.com/mobile. Travelers can find discounts, book a hotel and more.

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About National Plan for Vacation Day

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on January 30, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.  Launched by the U.S. Travel Association’s Project: Time Off initiative in 2017, National Plan for Vacation Day provides an opportunity to come together at a single moment to rally around the importance of planning for vacation. In its inaugural year, more than 600 organizations, representing all 50 states came together to encourage Americans to plan for vacation. Learn more at ProjectTimeOff.com/Plan and join the conversation online with #PlanForVacation.