U.S. Travelers Singing the Post-Vacation Blues, Reveals TripAdvisor Survey

Once Back to the Grind, Seventy-Three Percent Lift their Spirits by Planning the Next Getaway

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Sep 14, 2011, 06:00 ET

NEWTON, Mass., Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today announced the results of its post-vacation blues survey of more than 1,400 U.S. respondents who took leisure trips this summer, revealing that 34 percent often struggle with feelings of melancholy following their return from vacation, while 20 percent always do.

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As autumn temperatures begin to drop, stress levels rise for many recently-returned travelers; 84 percent say their stress-o-meter readings return to pre-vacation highs soon after returning home. Forty-three percent feel the strain within the first week back, and 19 percent within the very first day. In addition, 41 percent said they find it depressing that Labor Day represents the end of summer.

Travelers' Top Five Post-Vacation Blues-Busting Measures

Begin planning the next trip - 73%
Regularly view pictures or videos of the trip - 52%
Create a photo album of the trip - 41%
Take weekend breaks to bridge the gap until the next vacation - 18%
Cook the local cuisine enjoyed on the trip - 16%

Mid-Vacation Vexations

On a typical one-week vacation, 64 percent start to feel anxious about the end of their trip before it's over.
Day five of a one-week trip is the most anxiety-inducing, with 17 percent feeling apprehensive about returning home following just four days of rest and relaxation.
A further four percent confess that the worry of homecoming looms large from day one of the trip.

Work Woes Weigh Heavy

Travelers cite the return to work as the most challenging aspect of returning from a vacation (34 percent).
Within the first month of being back to the grind, 12 percent confess they have falsely phoned in sick.
Eight percent consider finding a new job, while four percent are regularly late for work, in the first month back from vacation.

"While many Americans struggle to maintain the feel-good factor upon returning to work and a daily routine after a terrific summer vacation, the process of planning another getaway helps 73 percent of travelers remain upbeat," said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and Instant Personalization) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 65 million unique monthly visitors* across 19 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 50 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor Media Group websites have been recognized as top travel resources in 2010 by Conde Nast Traveller, Good Housekeeping, TIME magazine and Travel + Leisure.

TripAdvisor Media Group generated $486 million in revenue in 2010. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, July 2011

** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn.