Why 3 in 5 haven't taken a vacation this summer

Americans are looking to squeeze in one last vacation before summer ends, with many saying they still haven’t taken a trip this season, according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of CheapCaribbean Vacations (https://www.cheapcaribbean.com/blog/stories-by-cheapcaribbean/posts/summer-salvage-effect-2026/), found nearly one in four (23%) don’t feel they’ve made the most of their summer.

It also found that 61% haven’t taken a vacation so far this summer, while 59% don’t feel they’ve had enough vacation time, showing many are still hoping to make this summer a memorable one before it slips away.

When asked to describe the season, 13% said they still have a lot of things left on their to-do list. Another 13% said financial pressures changed their summer plans, while 11% said they’re still hoping to fit in one more trip before summer ends.

Two-thirds (67%) said social media fuels their travel lust for last-minute searches, with 38% saying they regularly or constantly feel the travel itch from social media.

That desire may explain why 43% of Americans have booked a vacation within two weeks of departure, proving spontaneous travel has become a common way to salvage summer plans.

And they’re not waiting for deals to come to them. Eight percent of Americans said they search for last-minute travel deals every day, while one-quarter (24%) said they check at least once a week. Overall, one-third (34%) said they search for last-minute travel deals at least a few times a month.

Price is the biggest motivator for embracing last-minute vacation planning. More than one-third (36%) said they’d consider booking a last-minute getaway because the deal is simply too good to pass up, while 24% said it makes summer feel more exciting and 22% said it helps them feel spontaneous.

Of those who said they’ve booked a last-minute trip before, waiting was often worth it, with respondents estimating an average savings of $785 by booking closer to departure and 21% saying they’ve saved between $250 and $499 on a vacation.

“The summer season always feels like it’s flying by, and so many travelers realize they still have time for one more memorable trip,” said Dana Studebaker, Vice President of Marketing at CheapCaribbean Vacations. “Last-minute travel isn’t just about taking a spontaneous trip anymore. It’s also an opportunity for people to enjoy incredible value while making the most of the vacation season.”

Looking ahead, finding value continues to be the biggest incentive for booking another trip. One-quarter (25%) said finding a great travel deal would be the factor most likely to motivate them to book a last-minute vacation, ahead of family invitations (24%), good weather (20%) and a long weekend (19%).

The findings also show that while many Americans feel summer is passing them by, they’re still optimistic about making the most of what’s left, especially for the right opportunity.

If aiming for last-minute vacations, beach destinations are the most popular choice, followed by other trip types like national parks (31%), major cities (30%) and tropical destinations (25%).

“Travel doesn’t have to be planned months in advance to be meaningful,” added Studebaker. “Whether travelers are celebrating something special, reconnecting with family or friends or simply taking advantage of an incredible deal, there’s still plenty of time to create lasting summer memories.”