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A majority of Americans are planning a vacation this summer, but did you know that their favorite foreign destination is Mexico? Or how many travelers consider issues like the Zika Virus when choosing a destination? Those are just some of the questions answered in a recent survey about summer travel habits, recently released by our 24-Hour Emergency Assistance provider, Generali Global Assistance.

See if these statistics about summer travel plans match what you’re seeing in your business. You may even notice an insightful travel trend you hadn’t seen before!

• 61% of Americans intend to go on a trip this summer, for one week (39%) or two (26%).

• The average budget is $1,771. Less than half of Americans consider summer trips to be a category in which they want to cut costs, slightly for 25% or even significantly for 17% of them. However, their intended budget plays a major role in their choice of destination (55%). Opportunities for leisure or cultural activities also play an essential role (52%).

• 27% of Americans consider health risks to be an essential factor in the choice of destination.

• When they think of their ideal vacation, they want to get together as a family, with their spouse or with friends (30%), as well as rest and find peace of mind (21%).

• The seaside (44%) and the city (43%) are the favorite destinations for their summer trips.

• As far as their practices are concerned, the preferred way for Americans to book accommodations is by computer (77%), mainly for the convenience (37%) and also because they usually book this way (21%).

• While 55% intend to book a hotel, 35% would choose to stay for free with friends or family, or at their vacation home.

• They show interest in renting an entire private home (38%) and in renting a room or shared space (20%).

• 35% of Americans would not completely switch off from work during their vacation. Half of them would spend between 30 min and 2 hours per week on it.

Read more about the survey findings

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Note: Conducted by Ipsos at the request of Generali Global Assistance on a sample of 3,000 Europeans (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Belgian and Austrian), the aim of this reference survey — carried out by telephone and published for the 16th year running — is to offer an annual estimate of the vacation plans of the citizens of the countries in question, in addition to their motivations, destinations and preferred types of trips. The 2016 survey was also carried out in the United States and Brazil with a view to comparing practices (samples of 750 individuals surveyed online in each country).

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 0821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services.  Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions.  Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

Sign up to sell CSA's travel insurance plans

It may not seem like it, but short vacations, like Memorial Day getaways, are prime trips for offering travel insurance to your customers. It’s important that all travelers are offered travel insurance, because you never know who might find it useful or necessary.

On a short trip, one long flight delay or road closure could mean having to cancel an entire vacation, and medical emergencies can happen wherever your customers are traveling. Even last minute bookings can be disrupted by last minute cancellations, and travelers may not be able to afford to lose what they’ve invested in their trip.

Last year, a projected 37.2 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles from home and on roads that were typically clogged. And while Memorial Day is synonymous with hitting the road, more and more Americans are opting to fly, with approximately 2.6 million people taking flight during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. For those road trippers, many of our plans have rental car damage coverage available, and for those taking flights, travel delay and baggage delay coverages can help.

Chances are, this could be the only trip your client takes all year. It’s no secret that Americans are vacation-starved. A survey by online travel publication Skift found that 41% of Americans didn’t take a single vacation day in 2015, and 32% took 10 days or less. If this is the only trip they’ll take in 2016 and one of the travelers gets sick, then they could be out of luck if they rented that deluxe vacation home or have non-refundable airline tickets. For a relatively small fee, travel insurance may reimburse those non-refundable, prepaid trip costs.

“Anyone planning a trip, whether domestic or international, should consider travel insurance to help protect them and their traveling companions in case things don’t turn out as planned,” said Bob Chambers, vice president of operations at CSA travel Protection.

Problems happen more often than travelers think. One in six U.S. adults had a trip cut short or changed travel plans, according to a recent U.S. Travel Insurance Association survey. Travel insurance plans are designed to help protect travelers from certain unexpected events that can occur before and during their trips.

Sign up to sell CSA's travel insurance plans

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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