With the pandemic sparking a host of safety concerns and economic challenges, nearly three-fourths of Americans decided against taking a vacation this summer. That’s according to a new study from Value Penguin, which shows the stark difference between summer vacations 2020 and those in previous years.
For many Americans, a summer vacation is a yearly ritual that provides an opportunity to get away, relax and unwind. This year is pretty different…
How Summer Vacations Changed this Year
More than half of respondents — 52% — went on fewer trips, while 36% said they spent less money than usual on travel. Social distancing guidelines limited the number of people who could attend events. This accounts for the fact that 21% of respondents went to fewer special events, such as weddings and graduations.
However, some types of vacations became more popular in the age of COVID-19.
Nearly a third of consumers — 31% — decided to take a summer staycation. Staycations were particularly popular with parents, as 49% of parents with kids under 18 took one this year. In addition, 6% of respondents took more short weekend getaways than usual.
Some people have already written 2020 off and are looking ahead to 2021. Nearly a third — 32% — said they are planning a big vacation next summer.
