Boomers & Vacation Plans: An AARP Bulletin Survey

With an overall objective to explore American Boomers’ overnight vacation (a vacation away from home that lasts one night or longer) plans within the next 12 months, this survey was conducted via telephone by AARP Research, on behalf of the AARP Bulletin, in March 2014, among a national representative sample of 1,410 Boomers.

Key Findings:

• About six-in-ten (57%) American Boomers say they are planning to take an overnight vacation within the next 12 months. 
  
  
• Among those Boomers who have planned to take an overnight
  vacation in the next 12 months, about seven-in-ten (68%) report they are planning to take more than one overnight vacation, while three-in-ten (29%) report they are planning to make only one overnight vacation.
  
  
• About half (47%) of Boomers who have an overnight vacation planned in the next 12 months, say they are planning for one to two weeks away on vacation, while one-third (34%) say they are planning for more than two weeks away on vacation. 
  
  
• Half (49%) of Boomers who have an overnight vacation planned in the next 12 months say they are planning to spend $1,000 to less than $5,000 for their overnight vacations. However, one-third (34%) say they are planning to spend less than $1,000 while eight-in-ten (13%) say they are planning to spend $5,000 or more for their overnight vacations. 
  
  
• The high majority (56%) of Boomers who have an overnight vacation planned in the next 12 months say their spouse or partner will be going with them, and one-in-seven (15%) say their child/children will be going with them, while one-in-six (17%) Boomers say they are planning on going self/alone for their vacation.
  
  
• Two-thirds (64%) of Boomers say they will be going to another state within the U.S. and one-in-five (20%) report they will be vacationing within their own state. But, one-in-five (19%) Boomers report going out of the country for their vacation in the next 12 months.
  
  
• The highest proportion of Boomers, who are planning for an out of country vacation, are planning on going to Europe (38%), followed by Latin or South America (21%), Caribbean (13%), and Canada (10%). 
  
  
• While asking about the motive for their overnight vacation within the next 12 months, most of Boomers say the main reason is either “To see, connect, or spend time with family and/or friends” (45%), or “For a pure fun, or relaxation” (38%).

Data for this survey were gathered by a random-digit dial telephone omnibus survey fielded March 5-March 30, 2014, using a national representative sample of 1,410 respondents ages 49 to 67 (Boomers). Of those, a total of 907 respondents are under age 60 and a total of 461 are age 60+, and 42 respondents refused to report their actual age.  For more information, contact Matrika Chapagain at mchapagain@aarp.org.