Travel Tips

Vacation Elation

Need a Reason to Travel? 

Time Off

·         Americans are overworked and under-vacationed. 

·         (According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) Americans average more working hours than workers in Britain, France, Sweden, and Germany.

·         We have less parental leave and the least number of paid holidays and vacation—as low as 10 vacation days per year for some.  

·        The American average is 14 days off per year—only two weeks. 

·          Compare that with standards in these other wealthy industrialized nations:  

> British workers get a minimum of 24 days vacation time. 

> In Germany, the minimum is 27 days.             

> In Canada, the minimum is 19 days. > In France, not only do workers get 39 days of vacation time, but the typical workweek is only 35 hours. 

·         The United States is one of the only wealthy nations without laws to guarantee minimum vacation time.  

·         In Korea and Japan, workers take twice as much vacation time as their American counterparts, (according to Lonely Planet). 

·         Americans don’t always take as much time off as we can. Statistics show Americans leave nearly on average an extra day of unused vacation time each year.  

Working On Vacation

 ·         Many Americans check in frequently with the office while they’re away and take work with them on vacation.  

·         Additionally, people are afraid of the amount of work that will pile-up in their absence or that co-workers will be forced to pick up the slack. Some even 
      fear being fired for taking a vacation. 

·         Advancements in wireless technology and prevalence of Internet access at hotels have helped make the working vacation the norm.  

Implications

 ·         Too much work without adequate down time causes high levels of stress, which, in turn, negatively impacts our quality of life.  

·         American workers regularly complain of feeling overworked, stressed and anxious about their lives.  

·         Shortened vacations and unused vacation time can backfire and have unintended consequences. Employees who don’t take vacations, eventually they
      call in "sick" or take days off unscheduled. The remaining employees work overtime, cut short their vacations, or work under greater pressure as a 
      result. 

Actions

 ·         Knowing the importance of time off is the easy part. The hard part is acting on that knowledge. 

·         As a professional travel consultant, I have some tips that might help you make that time away from work a reality: 

> Mini-breaks, mini price. Many hotels offer special 3- and 4-night rates. Some tour operators are offering airfare, hotel and theater packages for a long weekend in the city. Cruise lines, too, are offering short cruises. Your travel agent can help you find the vacation that’s right for you and your budget. 

> Add-ons. Try adding on a day or two to a business trip and take in the sights. If possible, have your spouse or family join you. Your travel
   agent can help find you and your family the best deals, map out points of interest and take the hassle out of planning. 

> No phone, no TV. Some “wireless” resorts offer an electronics-free environment—no in-room phone, no TV, no Internet connection. Your
   travel agent can help you find the right resort for you, whether you want to leave all electronic gadgets behind or find a resort where you can
   still check in once a week from the business center. 

> Leave it behind. Leave your laptop, cell phone and P-D-A at home. To lessen the temptation of checking in with the office, put a game plan
   into place before you leave. Decide what tasks take priority in your absence, who will take care of these and other jobs while you’re away,
   and leave a set of instructions and client contact information. 

Ø  Stick to a work schedule. Some are unwilling or unable to leave work completely behind. For those people, experts
     recommend scheduling a time every day to check in with the office and take care of work issues, then stick to it.  

Ø  Establish your own boundaries. Taking a real break from work should not paint you as a less-than-productive member of
    your company. In fact, coming back rested and refreshed can increase your productivity at the office and make you more
    receptive to new ideas and approaches to problem solving.  

Summary 

·         Most Americans have a bad case of vacation deprivation.

·         Use as much of your allotted vacation time as you can.

·         Limit the amount of time devoted to work while on vacation.

·         It may be difficult, but in order to continue living healthy and productive lives, we all need to take regular breaks from the stresses of work.

·         Understand your limits and the demands on your time. Prioritize accordingly, make realistic plans and stick to them.