It’s officially been a month since Santa came, but today feels a lot like Christmas. That’s because it’s National Plan for Vacation Day, an iconic movement powered by U.S. Travel, that encourages Americans to plan their 2022 vacations within the U.S. at the beginning of the year.
While we love the concept, we’ve always been ones to think globally—and if you’re anything like us, we know you’re itching to stretch your legs in places near and far.
Why plan your vacations now?
The better question is, why not? After more than two years of enduring the COVID-19 pandemic—including more social distancing and quarantining than anyone could have imagined—many of us are in desperate need of a change of scenery. Unfortunately, taking time off to recharge has garnered a bit of a negative stigma in today’s society, where work/life balance is often askew. It goes without saying, but there’s a reason why so many of us feel burned out.
Statistics provided by U.S. Travel show that more than 29% of Americans’ available paid time off went unused last year. Oddly enough, 91% of Americans say it is important to use their paid time off to travel. So, back to the question: Why plan your vacations now? Because you want it, you deserve it, and there’s no better time than the present.
Must-do’s when planning your next vacation
We could write for days about what to do (and not to do) when planning your vacation—but for the sake of time, we’ll limit it to just some of the most important.
First, be mindful of the seasonal weather conditions for where you want to visit. Hopping around the Florida Keys in the summer sounds great in theory, but the best time to visit is actually in the spring when it’s not quite as humid. Looking to hit the slopes in the Alps? Some experts say the best times are November and December before Christmas and the middle two weeks of March.
Confirming that you aren’t visiting your destination of choice at an inopportune time is a good first step to ensuring you make the most of your trip, but it’s not the only suggestion we have. We always recommend that travelers conduct plenty of research in advance to identify activities and hot spots that they don’t want to miss. Leaving a vacation with souvenirs is cool; leaving with regrets is not.
And speaking of regrets, we can’t think of a worse feeling than encountering cancellations, delays, or hiccups that sour a vacation. Thankfully, you can eliminate that stress by purchasing travel insurance from battleface. We’ve got you covered with policies encompassing COVID-19 coverage to trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss, 24/7 emergency medical assistance, and more. We even offer vacation rental damage insurance that protects you if you or one of your guests causes damage to the property where you’re staying.
A few final reminders and tips
If vacation only comes once per year, you’ll want to do whatever you can to best prepare. For instance, most people don’t realize that domestic medical insurance is unlikely to cover overseas treatments in the event you are hospitalized.
Also, don’t hesitate to bring travel-size packs of laundry detergent for washing your clothes in the sink. Not only will this keep you smelling nice, but it can cut down on the amount of clothes in your luggage. Packing baby wipes (pro tip: they’re not just for babies!) is another easy and convenient way to stay fresh when a shower isn’t always available.
Lastly, if you’re changing time zones, set your watch to the time zone for your destination immediately after the plane takes off. Do your best to eat and sleep when the locals do, despite any feelings of jetlag.
What destinations are you dreaming of for National Plan for Vacation Day? We encourage you to join the movement by using #PlanForVacation on social media. Happy traveling!
