Use National Plan for Vacation Day to Battle Burnout in 2023

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Americans leave an average of 9.5 vacation days unused per year, according to a 2022 study by Qualtrics, and only about a quarter of employed Americans used all of their PTO. Employees are consistently leaving time on the table, with 705 million unused days in 2017, which was an increase from 662 million the year prior, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Vacation is important to recover from the stress of the always-on American work environment, especially after the compounded strain of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. A Virtuoso study found that travelers are, on average, booking trips farther ahead for 2023 than they did back in 2019, which means planning ahead is more important than ever.

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated annually on the last Tuesday in January - this year, January 31 - offers a great opportunity for Americans to outline how they will use their PTO in 2023.

While inflation has also impacted travel prices across the board - from airfares and lodging to gasoline and rental cars - taking a vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. The Parking Spot, the country’s largest near-airport parking lot, offers some tips to build the best and most affordable vacation possible.

1. Be flexible and set flight alerts. If you’re willing to travel on off-peak days, say Tuesday to Tuesday, you’re more likely to find a cheaper rate. Using a service like Google Flights makes it easy to track prices when you have a specific destination in mind, or sign up for email deals through Scott’s Cheap Flights and choose whatever destination best fits your budget.
2. Research your current memberships: Examine all of your credit cards, insurance, phone company, credit union, and other memberships (like Costco) to see if you have access to any deals on travel, transportation, or parking at airports that you’re not aware of. Many people don’t even know all of the perks they’re not leveraging because they don’t read the fine print when they sign up for services and memberships. For example, many people sign up for certain credit cards to earn points towards rewards based on money spent, but a number offer additional lesser-known perks like reimbursement for TSA Pre-Check or access to airport lounges.
3. Take advantage of reward programs. Wherever you book, if the loyalty program is free, be sure to sign up. By joining these programs, like The Parking Spot’s The Spot Club, you can enjoy many additional perks, like waived reservation fees and access to exclusive deals and upgrades, as well as earn points toward free parking.
4. Don’t forget parking! While rideshare can be convenient, travelers are subject to whatever surge pricing is taking place at the time requested and wait times can vary based on driver availability. With something like The Parking Spot, shuttles pick you up at your trunk and assist with luggage, frequency of service is consistent and reliable, and pricing is affordable. Many people leave this step out of their planning process, but travelers can get the best pricing by reserving a parking spot in advance. To protect travelers from uncertainty, reservations allow travelers to cancel up to an hour ahead of their arrival and include the lowest price. Different parking options allow travelers to pay for just what they need with the safety of canceling if their trip is interrupted.

On National Pan for Vacation Day, many travel companies are offering discounts and deals to help Americans take full advantage of their vacation days this year at the best possible prices. At The Parking Spot, we’re offering 20% off for any trip with a check-in date through February 28 when pre-booked on January 30 or 31 with code PTO2023.

Find out more about amenities offered at The Parking Spot near you here.

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