The Gift of Travel

As soon as you open your eyes the morning after Thanksgiving you can sense its vile presence in the room.  There it is, crouched in the corner, aching to crush your holiday good cheer.  It’s “Christmas Season Stress”. 

Initially it’s the size of a box of diapers.  Not really heavy, just a bit inconvenient to carry around.

By December 15th it’s as large as the living room recliner. You can’t carry it by yourself, and you seem to be constantly tripping over it.  You recognize feelings of desperation. 

What ARE you going to get Mom, Dad, the husband, the kids and grandkids, for Christmas this year? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a perfect gift for everyone?  

Hallelujah, there is. I have statistics to prove it.

89% of U.S. adults cited vacations taken with immediate family members as the most memorable of their lives.  

72% think about vacations taken with family “often” or “very often”.

58% of US adults feel they are in more need of a vacation this year than last year.  

Obviously the gift of a vacation would be appreciated by everyone.  “Hold on” you say, “I can’t afford to do that”.  Sure you can, here’s how.

First and foremost you need to have a Christmas/Travel savings account and deposit into it with every pay check.

Second-it’s critical to book early.  If you plan to travel in December you need to have it booked by April.  Both pricing and availability are going to be less advantageous to you the further into the year you go. 

Third, commit to making monthly payments.  By spreading the cost of the trip over several months the trip becomes much more manageable from a financial perspective. 

Since Holiday travel is typically more costly, many families exchange travel documents under the tree, then get together later in the year for the family trip.  This is a great way to take advantage of off-peak pricing and get the biggest bang for the vacation buck.

48% of U. S. adults are happier and more positive in their workplaces and personal lives after taking a vacation.  So this year make your list, check it twice, and give a gift your loved ones will appreciate and remember for the rest of their lives. Give them a much appreciated vacation.  

Joy Gawf Crutchfield owns The Joy of Travel.