Compared with many other countries, Americans receive relatively few paid vacation days. For most U.S. jobs, the typical vacation allotment starts at two weeks and may increase with tenure or promotion. Despite the widespread perception that Americans work long hours and take minimal time off, recent data show a shift in how vacation time is being used.
Travel search site Liligo analyzed year-over-year trends and found that in 2017 Americans used more of their allotted vacation days than in prior years. On average U.S. travelers took the full 14 days of vacation available to them in 2017, compared with roughly 10 days in both 2015 and 2016. This rise suggests a growing willingness among Americans to prioritize leisure time and make fuller use of paid leave benefits.
Spending on leisure travel also increased. The average round-trip vacation cost for American travelers in 2017 rose to more than $600, up from $567 the previous year. That higher spend likely reflects a combination of longer trips, more distant destinations and greater demand for better travel experiences.
Destination choices shifted as well. While many of the top destinations for 2016 were domestic, in 2017 Americans favored a mix of U.S. cities and international hotspots. The most searched or visited locations included Orlando, New York City, Las Vegas, Paris and Fort Lauderdale. Declining transatlantic airfare and more attractive Europe-bound fares have made intercontinental travel more accessible, encouraging more Americans to travel overseas.
These trends—using more vacation days, increasing average trip spending and exploring a broader range of destinations—point to a notable change in American travel behavior. Employers, travel planners and the hospitality industry may want to account for higher demand in both domestic hotspots and international routes as Americans continue to take fuller advantage of their vacation time.