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Many people look forward to the summer as a time to relax, enjoy time with family and friends and possibly travel more and work less. A recent Adweek/Harris Poll shows that two in five U.S. adults say they have taken or are planning to take a vacation this summer (40%) and 12% are not sure if they will take a vacation. But, how relaxing are these summer vacations?

Among Americans vacationing this summer almost half say that they will (or did) work on their vacation (46%). This number includes over a third who monitor emails (35%) and just under a quarter each who check voicemails (22%) or occasionally take phone calls (22%). An unlucky but very small 1% of Americans who are vacationing this summer connect with the sentiment: "What's a vacation?" because they work as if they are not on vacation at all. Over a third of Americans vacationing this summer detach more fully and say they will not (or did not) do any work on their summer vacation (35%) while 19% were not or will not be employed at the time of their vacation.

These are some of the findings of a recent Adweek/Harris Poll survey of 3,304 U.S. adults surveyed online between July 13 and 15, 2011 by Harris Interactive.

Men are more likely than women to work on their summer vacation (54% vs. 37%) and among different age groups the chosen vacation-working style varies as well. Vacationing adults aged 35-44 are most likely to say they monitor emails (47% do vs. between 24% and 38% of all other age groups), those 45-54 are most likely to check voicemails (29% vs. between 15% and 25%) and the youngest group, aged 18-34, is most likely to occasionally take phone calls (26% vs. between 17% and 22% of other age groups who do the same).

High-tech vacationing

Whether these devices facilitate work or fun, over eight in ten Americans vacationing this summer say they will bring (or they brought) at least one technology device listed on their vacation (81%): half say so about a laptop computer (50%), 45% do for a smartphone such as an iPhone, Droid or BlackBerry, and 35% say so for an MP3 player like an iPod. Fewer than one in five vacationing Americans bring an eReader device (16%), DVD player (14%) or tablet computer such as an iPad (12%) on their vacation.

Among those who bring a tablet computer on their summer vacation, a third says it makes them more likely to do work on that vacation (32%) with one in five saying it makes them much more likely to do so (18%). A majority, however, says that bringing a tablet does not affect their likelihood to do work on vacation (62%) while a few say it makes them less likely to work (7%). Among those who bring an eReader device on vacation half say they read more than when they're not on vacation (47%), 37% read the same amount and 16% read less while on vacation. In terms of low-tech media consumption, just 22% of Americans vacationing this summer say they read more magazines while on vacation, slightly fewer say they read less (14%) while half say their magazine-reading habits do not change on vacation (51%); 13% never read magazines at all.

So What?

Vacations are seen as time to relax and unwind, among other benefits, but it seems many Americans continue to work during this purported downtime. Americans bring technology devices on their vacations as well, which some say may encourage them stay involved with work (monitoring emails, etc.) while others assert that spending an extended period of time without a relied-upon technology device may actually increase stress and anxiety. Regardless if Americans choose to work on their vacations or not, hopefully they still find the time to do what's enjoyable to them--some experts say the impact of even one great moment on vacation, like a unique activity or an incredible meal--can have lasting impact, create memories and make the whole trip worthwhile. 

         TABLE 1                         
TAKING VACATION THIS SUMMER    
"Have you taken, or are you planning to take a vacation this summer       (i.e., the period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day)?"    
Base: All U.S. adults  

Total               
                  Age                                          Gender                                
                  18-34   35-44   45-54      55+  Male   Female                          
                     %       %       %       %      %       %       %    
Yes                40      45      46      37     35      43      38    
No                 48      45      46      45     53      46      50    
Not sure         12      10       8       18     13      11      12  

       A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

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