24th Annual Vacation Deprivation Report finds Americans are more vacation deprived than ever; unveils tips from around the world to help U.S. travelers get more out of their time off and save on their next trip
According to Expedia’s 24th annual Vacation Deprivation Report,1 released today, roughly half of Americans don’t plan on using all their time off this year (53%), despite receiving just 12 days off annually — the fewest of any country surveyed. Expedia’s report has been analyzing time-off trends around the world for 24 years, and while American vacation deprivation (defined as the feeling of not having enough time off) has now hit an 11-year high at 65%, rates are down in many other parts of the world. It’s clear working adults in the U.S. could benefit from adopting some of the time-off strategies and attitudes in other countries.
Lessons in Leisure
The 2024 report found that American and Japanese workers take a similar number of days off each year (11 and 12 respectively), but surprisingly Japan boasts the lowest vacation deprivation levels in the world (53%). France and Hong Kong take nearly a month off annually while Americans struggle to use up just 12 days. And, compared to the rest of the world, Americans are nearly twice as likely to go a year or more between vacations (32% vs. 18% globally).
Of the 53% of Americans that didn’t use all their time off last year, the top reason why was “life is too busy to plan or go on vacation.”
“We may not be able to control how many days off we get, but the research begs the question: What can we learn from other countries that will help Americans break this horrible habit of not using the time off we do have, said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. “In Japan, people take time off every month instead of just twice a year. For the French, not even a full month of vacation feels like enough time. Clearly there’s a lot for the U.S. to borrow from, whether it’s spreading your PTO throughout the year or prioritizing rest on your next vacation.”
Holiday Habits From Around the World
Japan
Takeaways from the least vacation-deprived country in the world:
- Make weekends count: Japanese respondents are seven times more likely to vacation monthly compared to U.S. workers (32% vs. 5%), despite only taking one additional day of PTO (12 vs. 11) annually. Their strategy: Take advantage of federal holidays or office and school closures to schedule frequent, short getaways that allow for a break from the routine and a quick refresh between longer trips, without dipping into precious PTO.
- Prioritize R&R: It’s tempting to pack as much as possible into a week away. Americans rank among the lowest in terms of prioritizing rest and relaxation during their trips (61%), while it’s the number one goal for 84% of Japanese travelers, perhaps contributing to lower feelings of deprivation.
France
No one vacations quite like the French, taking the most days off of any country globally. Here’s their formula:
- Spread it out: Around one in five Americans (19%) didn’t use all their time off in 2023 because they were saving up for a big trip, then often end up leaving days unused. French respondents, on the other hand, tend to shy away from the “big trip,” with nearly a third (30%) opting to spread their days off evenly throughout the year instead. Taking the pressure off a big annual trip can be a time, money and PTO saver for deprived U.S. travelers.
- Get some perspective. Despite having a month off annually, France still reports even higher levels of vacation deprivation (69%) than the U.S (65%). That’s because, overwhelmingly, French workers believe time off is a basic right (93% vs. 83% of U.S.) and that it’s critical to overall health and wellbeing (94% vs. 86%). The distinctly French emphasis on the fundamental right to rest is one to adopt everywhere.
Other Time-Off Champions Around the World
- Hong Kong was the only country where respondents didn’t leave vacation days unused but instead took more time off on average than they were allocated. Looking ahead, 15% vow to do it again in 2024 (highest globally).
- Coming in as the most vacation-deprived nation this year (84%), German travelers are motivated to make a change and more determined than ever to use all their time off in 2024 (77% vs. 47% of U.S.).
“No one means to leave vacation days behind, but life gets busy and it’s the research, planning and booking part that slows us down,” says Fish. “Some 53% say they feel overwhelmed by the process, but the good news is in 2024 there’s tech that makes it easier. If it’s flight prices keeping you up at night, Price Tracking and Price Drop Protection in the app help members book without the stress and get to the fun part — vacation.”
Don’t leave days behind. One Key members can browse thousands of hotels 25% off or more during Expedia’s Summer Sale***, running June 20 through July 14, 2024, for travel through October 2024. It’s the perfect time to sign up for free and earn OneKeyCash™ on eligible bookings.
1About the Vacation Deprivation Report:
Expedia first commissioned Vacation Deprivation in the year 2000 to examine the work-life balance of people worldwide. The annual study is currently in its 24th year and was conducted online among 11,580 respondents across the U.S., UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Commissioned from March 26 to April 3, 2024, on behalf of Expedia by Harris Research Partners, a global strategic research firm, responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. Looking at the margin of error for the global average, a 1–4% difference is statistically significant at 90% confidence.
*Price Tracking price predictions are not a guarantee. Available in the app to members on select routes.
**Price Drop Protection is available for a fee on select flights, or for free on the Expedia app for Gold and Platinum One Key members. Refund will be the difference if the price of your flight on Expedia drops. Terms apply. See site for details.
*** Expedia’s Summer Sale is available to One Key members only.
