No trip, no shame: Why skipping summer travel might be smart

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Is the thought of going on summer vacation too much for you? Too much money, too much hassle, too much everything?

Well, you've got company.

Americans are having second thoughts about their summer vacations, according to Stephen Day, director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Economic Education. 

"People think their vacation dollars won't take them very far," he said.

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A new survey finds that more than half of Americans are cutting back their summer travel plans, spurred by economic worries and price increases.

Should they? The answer is yes – and no. There's no requirement to take a summer vacation. But there are also good – and not so good – reasons to cancel this year's summer vacation.

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You don't have to take a vacation this summer

You may feel some pressure to go somewhere this summer, but experts say that's nonsense. 

"There's nothing wrong with staying home," said Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips. "I respect a client who says, 'We just can't afford a trip this year.' I appreciate that kind of honesty. Financial stress can spoil a vacation."

The best reason to postpone or cancel a summer vacation is your personal circumstances – health issues, job loss, or personal crises. Friends and family can put a lot of pressure on you to go somewhere. Maybe there's that moment next to the water cooler after Labor Day where you're comparing your vacation stories with your colleagues, and maybe it fills you with dread.

So I'll let you off the hook. If someone gives you an eye roll when you admit you stayed home this summer, show them this column. Read Sherren's quote. Hold your head high, my friend. 

Summer vacation is not mandatory.

Here's why you should cancel your summer vacation

There are legitimate reasons to call off your summer vacation.

• It's too expensive: Face it, traveling this summer is far from affordable. Airfares and hotel rates are trending higher in many popular places. "It's massively expensive," said Sarah Davies, who works for a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. She's thinking of canceling her summer trip to Italy. "Is it a wise use of our finances?" she wonders. (Typically, if you have to ask that question, you already know the answer, which is to cancel.)
• It's too crowded: Crowds will probably be a serious problem this summer. Maria Szandrach has already canceled her summer vacation in Portugal. "I had everything planned – days wandering through Lisbon’s historic streets, exploring the stunning cliffs in the Algarve, and indulging in way too many pastéis de nata," said Szandrach, who runs a technology company in San Francisco. "But after reading about how crowded things were going to be, I decided to cancel." She said she didn't want to spend her entire vacation "packed like a sardine at every major site." And that's a legitimate concern. 
• It's too dangerous: Sebastian Garrido, a marketing manager for a tour operator based in Mexico City, said he's canceled his summer vacation to visit his family in northern Mexico because he's worried about security. "Northern Mexico is not the safest place," he said. That may be an understatement. The U.S. State Department has warned of gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault along parts of the border with the U.S.. Better choose a safer summer vacation destination.

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Bad reasons to cancel your summer vacation

But there are also reasons people are calling off their summer vacation that don't really hold up. Those include:

• "I can't leave my pet alone": Oh, for heaven's sake! Get a friend to stop by your place to feed or walk your dog, or to house sit while you're away, and enjoy a little time off. If you can't bear to part with your furry friend, then find a pet-friendly summer vacation.
• "I'm too busy for a vacation": What nonsense! If you don't take a little time off, you're going to burn out. Everyone needs a little downtime away from the phone and laptop and spending time with friends or family. You have to make the time.
• "I'm not a good traveler": Guess what? No one is a good traveler. Travel is uncomfortable, expensive and inconvenient – but once you get to your destination, it's usually worth it. So don't give me any excuses about being a bad traveler, please.

Warning: If you cancel your vacation, you will have to deal with this

If you decide to cancel your summer vacation plans, be prepared for a few things. First, there will be fallout from the rest of your family or travel companions, who were really looking forward to seeing Rome or Lisbon this summer. You may have to promise them a do-over during the fall, when travel will be less expensive and crowded, so that's a real win-win. 

But second, and equally important, is that you could face some steep cancellation penalties. If you've already prepaid for airfare and hotels, you may lose some money. (That's one reason I sometimes recommend travel insurance, especially "cancel for any reason" travel insurance. Because stuff happens.)

I'm having second thoughts about my summer travels, too. I'm currently in Germany and headed to Greece next week. I'm trying to avoid the popular places, and I'm staying flexible just in case things take a turn for the worse. 

You never know.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.