CHARLESTON, West Virginia (January 28, 2020) – As part of National Plan for Vacation on January 28, AAA is reminding travelers to give yourself the gift of time with a spring break getaway.

More than half of American workers (55%) failed to use all their time off last year. That’s a stockpile of 768 million unused vacation days just in 2018, of which 236 million were forfeited completely.

“AAA is celebrating National Plan for Vacation Day to encourage Americans to take their well-deserved time off,” said Jenifer Moore, AAA spokeswoman. “And what better way start than with a spring break getaway? By committing to planning on January 28, Americans can all enjoy the many benefits of taking a break while giving themselves something to look forward to—and local AAA travel agents can help you determine the perfect destination.”

What’s the key to using more vacation time? Planning. But nearly half of American households (46%) don’t do this simple step—and they lose out on their time off and the benefits it brings.

“The beginning of the year is the time to pull out the calendar and start planning for the entire year. Before you know it, life happens, and you may find yourself in November with weeks left to use and simply not enough time left in the year to schedule them,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, the organization rallying the industry around this nationwide event. “National Plan for Vacation Day is the perfect reminder for Americans to plan to use those well-earned days off to explore this great nation. From the beaches of Puerto Rico to the Montana mountain tops, America truly has something for every travel style and budget.”

Using vacation days to travel could also improve the U.S. economy, create American jobs and have a positive impact on our health and overall well-being. In fact, if Americans used all their time off to travel, our economy could see a boost of $151.5 billion in travel spending and an additional 2 million U.S. jobs.

AAA suggests the following tips to make your vacation planning a reality:

• Create a tentative budget and schedule so your trip planning can be accomplished in a realistic manner.
• Research and understand the pros and cons of traveling to a destination during your preferred timeframe. Identify attractions or activities you are most interested in and determine if they will be available.
• Leverage your AAA exclusive member discounts for car rentals, flights, hotels, vacation packages and much more. Visit AAA.com/Travel or download the free AAA mobile app.
• Consider booking vacations with a travel agent.  AAA offers travel services at their branch locations. In addition to having in-depth expertise about destinations across the globe, AAA Travel Agencies have relationships with cruise lines, hotels and tour operators and often have access to special rates and added benefits that are not available elsewhere.
• Plan ahead. If you are leaving the country you will need a passport, and possibly a visa or health documentation. It can take up to six weeks to get a new passport, so allow time to secure all necessary documents.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance, it is designed to offer protection against sudden and unforeseen events. Check with a travel agent and carefully review insurance policies before purchasing, as coverage options vary.

To help employees get their vacation days on the calendar, U.S. Travel Association has created a Vacation Planning Tool. By simply entering the number of days off they earn, users can plot out their trips or vacations for the year, export to their work or personal calendar and share with their friends, family and co-workers. National Plan for Vacation Day takes place during the last Tuesday in January as a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.

AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to 58 million members nationwide and nearly 200,000 members in West Virginia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  AAA is a non-stock, non-profit corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.