The Weekend Getaway Cure: Survey Finds Stress Will Drive More of Us to Hit the Open Road in 2019

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready to draft a catchy "Out of Office" note and set your sights on the highway? You're not alone. Enterprise's Annual Weekend Getaway Survey found that more people are reporting a stronger desire to escape in 2019 than last year – and most of them sum up the reason in one word: stress.

Respondents claim they are more stressed now than this time last year, and all that pressure makes them want to get away more on the weekends. Three in four say they not only plan to get away in 2019, they hope to take five trips in the coming year, two more than getaway-takers reported taking in 2018.

And getting away doesn't necessarily mean traveling to a far-away destination. Most people – 85 percent – agree that planning a short trip is less stressful than planning a big vacation. According to the survey results, 55 percent of travelers plan to stay within 200 miles of home. And they're keeping it simple; the second most common weekend excursion will be a trip to a family member's or friend's house. In addition, while the most expensive getaways are less likely this year, those who took a getaway in 2018 and plan to do it again in 2019 will either spend as much (58%) or more (33%) on their 2019 trips.

"We're seeing travelers increasingly want to take simple, low-stress vacations that allow them to unwind and leave their worries at home," said Steve Short, vice president at Enterprise. "This year, our survey revealed that rather than taking longer, elaborate vacations, more respondents would rather take a weekend getaway. And they're not only staying closer to home – they're also opting to completely disconnect and turn their weekend getaway into an escape from the stress of their jobs and other responsibilities."

Compared with last year, the number of people who said that leaving their cellphones at home turns the getaway into an escape doubled, and 87 percent of respondents believe turning off alerts on their devices (email, social media, news) is a best practice when it comes to truly getting away.

The survey also found that taking a low-stress weekend getaway can greatly improve travelers' moods. Of the respondents planning to take a winter getaway this year, more than half agree their mood suffers in winter and 82 percent say a getaway helps them escape the cold weather blues. Nearly all respondents report that weekend getaways leave them recharged, relaxed and grateful.

While their trips may be shorter, travelers make the most of their time away, especially by embracing new experiences outdoors. The survey found that:

• 58 percent of respondents believe that having a brand-new experience and/or doing an activity they've never done before is what makes a weekend getaway an escape.
• 48 percent of 2019 weekend getaway-takers plan to explore outdoor destinations, while only 16 percent will travel to a major city, down from 24 percent last year.

"These short weekend trips can have enormous positive benefits when it comes to relieving stress and improving people's moods," said Jonathan Alpert, psychotherapist, performance coach and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days. "Especially in the winter, when dreary weather has people feeling down, taking time to get outdoors and experience something new leaves people feeling refreshed. Sun exposure, even if in the cold, helps reduce the winter blues and by planning a short trip, people can break up what they anticipate being a long, monotonous winter season."

For more travel inspiration and tips on planning your true escape, check out Enterprise.com/Pursuits.

About Enterprise
The Enterprise brand – which comprises Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Enterprise CarShare, Enterprise Truck Rental, Enterprise Car Sales, the Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise, Zimride by Enterprise and Commute with Enterprise – offers customers a total transportation solution. Its flagship brand, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, was founded in 1957 and is known for an extensive network of convenient locations, affordable rates and outstanding customer service. Enterprise Rent-A-Car was ranked on BusinessWeek magazine's annual list of "Customer Service Champs" for four years in a row. Enterprise operates not only as a key provider for insurance replacement, weekend getaways and special occasions, but also as a local transportation alternative. With more than 5,800 fully staffed airport and neighborhood offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise can meet whatever transportation need customers may have – renting, buying or sharing. 

Methodology
Enterprise Rent-A-Car commissioned an online survey of 1,003 Americans ages 25 and older to explore attitudes toward weekend getaways, escapes and making the drive part of the trip. The survey was fielded from November 15 through November 20, 2018. The margin of error is +/-3.1% for the total sample and higher for subpopulations.

SOURCE Enterprise

Related Links

http://www.enterprise.com