Universidad Mariano Gálvez

Facultad de Humanidades
Escuela de Idiomas
Licenciatura en Traducción
Redacción en Inglés
Lic. Carolina Samayoa
Nombre y No. De Carné: Withney Joan Morgan Toledo,
3776-21-2357
Fecha: 21 de octubre de 2022

ARE HOLIDAYS ABROAD A WASTE OF MONEY?

For most people, holidays are all about spending time with the people you
love. Whether it that is in the coziness of a wooden cabin or in a colorful beach,
people look at the last months of the year with the hope of seeing their loved ones
who live far away and share some wonderful memories.

Therefore, it is only logical that the traveling rates increase during the holiday
season, especially due to the celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New
Year´s Eve. According to holiday travel statistics, travel to a destination 50 miles or
more away increases by 54% over Thanksgiving weekend, and 23% during
Christmas and New Year’s.

However, missing relatives and homesickness is not the only reason why
people travel during the holidays. As per the data collected, more than 109 million
Americans traveled during the holidays last year, despite the Omicron variant
concerns. Most of this was due to the fact that vacation flights were cancelled during
2019 and 2020, when the virus was at its peak, and people are taking advantage of
the tickets that they had already purchased. Since people are often prone to buy
non-refundable plane tickets—because they cost less—, spending the holidays
abroad with the family seems like a better idea than to stay home and get a partial
refund, or no refund at all.

But, is traveling during the holidays the best option, or is it a waste of time and
money?

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 One can start to answer this question by considering the costs.

Traveling is expensive, but doing so during the holidays always adds an extra
cost. According to NerdWallet, last year, travelers expected to spend over 1,800
USD on Holiday travel, and most of them were planning to pay this amount with their
credit cards. Usually, travelers spend from 150 USD to 683 USD in lodging alone for
a four-night trip, depending on whether it is domestic or international. To this, we
need to consider the cost of food/alcohol, and entertainment, which can add up to
about 3,200 USD.

Considering that the minimum wage in the US is 7.25 USD per hour
(approximately 1,160 USD per month), this is a very high price to pay for a holiday
trip. Travelers would have to save money for months to be able to pay for their trips
and making ends meet, or they would have to relay on their credit card, which would
only contribute to their debt.

With this fact alone, staying in for the holidays may seem like the best option,
but it is also important to consider the non-economical aspect of the holiday trips.
Although they can bring joy and excitement during the time people are away, many
travelers come to experience what can be described as a “short-lived” experience.
Travelers can feel like their time away “was not enough”, and they might feel more
tired when they return home to their usual routine than when they left in the first
place.

Another emotional reason to consider is the stress that traveling. With

possible delays, weather issues, security checks and time spent driving back and
forth, travelers can often feel exhausted and stressed. This, as mentioned above,
can make it harder for people to readjust to their usual routines, as opposed to
staying home. If one spends the holidays in a known environment with less time on
the road and more time in known environments, the transition to “real life” might be
easier.

Despite all of this, there is one key aspect to determine if spending the
holidays abroad is or not the right option: the desire to travel. If one person has the

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desire to spend the holidays with their whole family abroad, or if he or she just needs
a few days to “run away” and disconnect from their surroundings, the costs and the
emotional stress of traveling might seem worth it. And they might be, as the whole
experience of accomplishing their goal will make them feel happier.

Therefore, whether traveling during the holidays is a waste of time and money
or not will depend entirely on the traveler. The traveler must only make sure to have
enough financial capacity to travel, plan their trip with enough time, and do their best
to enjoy the holiday season as much as the ones who have decided to spend a quiet
holiday at home.

References:

• Alison, A. (n.d). 8 reasons why holidays are a waste of time. All Women´s
Talk. Available at : https://allwomenstalk.com/8-reasons-why-holidays-are-a-
waste-of-time/
• Lee, R. (n.d). US Holiday Travel Statistics Might Surprise You. Swift Travel
Services. Available at : https://www.swiftpassportservices.com/blog/holiday-
travel-statistics-surprise/
• Thiruvengadam, M. (October 28, 2021). Here's How Much Americans Are
Spending on Holiday Travel This Year. Travel + Leisure. Available at :
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/how-much-americans-spend-
on-travel
• Paycor. (July 21, 2022). Minimum Wage by State 2022 and 2023
Increases. Paycor. Available at: https://www.paycor.com/resource-
center/articles/minimum-wage-by-state/