Most Americans don’t take all their vacation days. Not even close. In 2024, the average American used just 17.8 days of paid time off - and that includes holidays, sick days, and personal days. The actual vacation time - meaning time off just to relax, travel, or disconnect - was closer to 14.6 days. That’s less than three weeks a year. For many, it’s even less.

Why does this matter if you’re looking for last minute holidays? Because if you’re waiting until December to book a trip, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are scrambling to use up their leftover vacation days before the year ends. And that’s why last minute deals are everywhere - hotels drop prices, airlines offer flash sales, and rental homes get discounted to avoid sitting empty.

What’s Really Happening With American Vacation Time?

The U.S. is the only developed country without federal paid vacation laws. Employers aren’t required to give any paid time off at all. But most do - on average, full-time workers get 10 days of vacation after one year on the job. By year five, that jumps to 15 days. After 20 years? Around 20 days.

Here’s the catch: nearly half of Americans say they leave at least one day unused each year. A 2024 survey from the U.S. Travel Association found that 54% of workers didn’t use all their vacation days. The top reasons? Too much work to do (61%), fear of falling behind (48%), and not wanting to appear replaceable (37%).

That’s why December is the busiest month for last minute bookings. People are staring at their PTO balances, realizing they have three days left - and they’re not letting them go to waste. They’re booking a weekend in Asheville, a cabin in the Poconos, or a flight to Cancún with a credit card they’ll pay off in January.

Where Are Americans Going on Their Last Minute Trips?

When time is short, destinations change. Long-haul international trips are rare in December for last minute travelers. Instead, Americans are choosing:

• Domestic road trips - 62% of last minute bookings in 2024 were within 500 miles of home.
• Beach towns - Florida, Gulf Coast, and Southern California still lead, even in winter. Places like Panama City Beach and Myrtle Beach saw 40% more December bookings than November.
• Mountain cabins - Colorado, North Carolina, and Vermont saw a 55% spike in last minute cabin rentals between December 1 and 10.
• City breaks - Chicago, New Orleans, and Nashville are popular for 3-day trips. People fly in Friday night, eat, drink, and leave Sunday evening.

Hotels in these spots know this pattern. That’s why they offer ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ deals in December - 30% off for stays booked within 72 hours, no cancellation fees, free breakfast included. It’s not a promotion. It’s survival.

How Much Time Do Americans Actually Need to Feel Recharged?

Research from the Journal of Happiness Studies says it takes at least eight days of vacation for people to feel significantly less stressed. But that’s not what most Americans get. The average last minute trip in December is just 2.7 days.

So what works? People who take short, focused trips - even just a Friday to Sunday - report better mood boosts than those who stretch one day over two weeks. The key isn’t length. It’s intention.

A weekend in a cabin with no Wi-Fi? That’s a reset. A 72-hour trip to a new city where you walk, eat, and sleep? That’s enough. You don’t need two weeks to feel like yourself again. You just need to get out.

Why Last Minute Deals Work (And When They Don’t)

Last minute deals aren’t magic. They’re math. Hotels and airlines have pricing algorithms that track occupancy rates. If a flight is 60% full three days out, the system drops prices to fill the rest. Same with hotels - if 80% of rooms are booked, they hold out. If it’s 50%, they slash rates.

Here’s how to use that to your advantage:

1. Set price alerts on Google Flights and Hopper for your top 3 destinations.
2. Check Airbnb and Vrbo for cancellations - many hosts drop prices if a booking falls through.
3. Book midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday stays are 20-35% cheaper than weekends.
4. Avoid holidays. December 20-25 is the worst time for deals. Book before the 15th or after the 27th.
5. Call the hotel directly. Sometimes they’ll match an online deal or throw in a free upgrade if you mention you’re using leftover PTO.

The biggest mistake? Waiting until the 23rd to book a flight to Hawaii. By then, prices have spiked. The sweet spot is December 8-14. That’s when most people realize they have days left - and the market reacts.

What You Should Do Before Booking

Before you click ‘Book Now,’ ask yourself:

• Do I have enough time off to actually relax? Or am I just checking a box?
• Will this trip leave me more tired than when I started? (If you’re still answering emails on the beach, you’re not on vacation.)
• Can I afford this without going into debt? Last minute doesn’t mean reckless.
• Is this trip something I’ll remember - or just another photo on Instagram?

One traveler in Ohio told me she booked a 72-hour trip to Lake Michigan after her boss said she had to use her remaining days. She didn’t plan anything. Just drove, walked the shore, ate at a diner, and slept. She came back saying, ‘I didn’t know I needed that.’ That’s the goal.

What’s Next After This Trip?

If you’re reading this in mid-December, you’re probably thinking: ‘I only have two days left. Is it worth it?’

Yes.

Even a short trip resets your brain. It reminds you that life isn’t just work, bills, and screens. You don’t need a month in Bali. You just need to leave.

And if you use those leftover days this year? You’re already ahead of 50% of American workers. Next year, you’ll plan better. But for now - go. Book that cabin. Grab that flight. Take the weekend.

You earned it.