In times past, my answer to this question was always an unqualified “yes”, whether that vacation was a trip to Europe or a camping/hiking excursion in Michigan. According to a recent poll, fewer Americans are planning a summer getaway this year.

“Overall, the survey found only 42 percent of Americans plan a leisure trip this summer, down from the 49 percent who said they planned to take a summer trip in an AP-Ipsos poll conducted in May 2005.”

We just returned from a 5 day trip to the Caribbean. The only cost to us was airfare and incidentals (read expensive airport food) as the stay at the all-inclusive was a gift from a friend hosting a big birthday bash. It was fun but even given the relatively small cash outlay, I had to be convinced to go. I understand the rejuvenating value of vacations but it just feels unseemly to be spending money on a vacation with jobs and self-employment revenue streams so tenuous.

Overall we spent less than $800 on the trip. That does not include the opportunity cost of potential income had we been home. Neither of us are conventionally employed so we have no vacation days. We did make the most of our time away but I realize that I made the decision to go so as not to disappoint a really good friend and not because I needed or wanted to make the trip. Was it $800 well spent? Probably. I’m not one to harbor regrets but even though the vacation was a relative bargain, that’s still a few months worth of groceries and I might be a little harder to convince next time.

How about you? Are you vacationing? Staycationing? Buying groceries instead?

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