ResortPass Survey Unveils Fascinating Trends in Americans’ Summer Vacation Habits

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ResortPass, the leading app for booking day access at luxury hotels, released results from a survey conducted by The Harris Poll, shedding light on how Americans’ summer travel habits and leisure behaviors are evolving. The survey revealed that 72% of Americans often find themselves wishing for more memorable summer outings by the end of the season. This may be due to the fact that, on average, Americans took only 1.6 vacations last summer. Additionally, 70% of full-time employed Americans said they tend to stay home during their summer PTO unless they are traveling.

However, the survey indicates several potential shifts in behavior. Americans are planning to take 56% more vacations, on average, than in 2023, and 67% agree that taking more frequent, shorter trips is more restful than fewer, longer vacations. Notably, 85% of employed Americans feel recharged after taking just one day off work. Consequently, there is a trend towards local travel, with Americans nearly three times more likely to travel within 100 miles than internationally this summer (49% vs. 18%).

“Consumers are realizing that if they rely only on long vacations for rest and relaxation, they won’t make the most of their PTO and will be missing out on both the recharge and memorable experiences they can fit in by taking more regular brief escapes,” said Michael Wolf, Chief Executive Officer at ResortPass. “Local getaways and daycations are becoming the new norm, and that’s why the idea of day-guesting – using the hotel amenities without having to book an overnight stay – fits right into this trend.”

Full Survey Findings

Time Off

• On average, Americans took 1.6 vacations last summer, but ideally, they would like to take 2.5 summer vacations.
• 70% of employed Americans typically stay home during their summer time off if they don’t have any trips planned.
• Only 36% of employed Americans used all their paid time off from work last year.
• 67% of Americans believe that taking more short vacations would be more restful than fewer, longer vacations.
• 85% of employed Americans feel recharged after taking just one day off work.
• 83% of Americans believe they can better utilize hotel amenities when vacationing on dates when most people are at work.

Leisure

• Americans are nearly three times more likely to travel locally (within 100 miles) this summer than internationally (49% vs. 18%).
• A majority of Americans may regret their summer activities, with 72% often wishing they had more memorable summer outings once the season ends.
• 51% of Americans say food tastes better poolside; this sentiment is shared by 59% of Gen Z (ages 18-27) and millennials (ages 28-43).
• The top poolside foods for Americans are ice cream (26%), burgers (23%), pizza (19%), and chips & guacamole (18%), with salad being a favorite for only 7%.
• Americans spent an average of 7 days poolside last summer, while 31% spent no days poolside.

Survey Methodology

The ResortPass Summer Survey was conducted by The Harris Poll from May 10-14, 2024, and included 2,094 U.S. adults. adults ages 18 and older, including 895 who are employed full-time. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured using a Bayesian credible interval, with the sample data accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [email protected].