At least, the answer is According to a recent study, It depends on where you live. A survey by Canadian Online Casinos asked 3,000 U.S. residents about their vacation preferences and how much they spend while on vacation. In New England, vacation budgets ranged from $1,900 to $2,600, with one big exception.
The most surprising finding from the study is that New Hampshire residents spend the least money on vacations compared to other states. New Hampshire residents are the most frugal, budgeting just $450 per year for vacations. They also take the least amount of vacation time, with New Hampshire and Maine workers taking just one vacation per year, while New Englanders get an average of two weeks of vacation.
Here’s a breakdown of how much New Englanders spend on vacation:
- Connecticut: $2,583 and two vacation days per year.
- Maine: $1,860, one vacation per year.
- Massachusetts: $2,234 and two vacations per year.
- New Hampshire: $450, one vacation per year.
- Rhode Island: $2,271 and two vacation days per year.
- Vermont: $2,000 and two vacations per year.
Budgets aren’t the only things that vary by state: our research also found that preferred activities vary depending on which state you live in. While there’s a lot of overlap (like beaches), there are also important differences.
What activities do people in New England enjoy during the holidays?
Connecticut
Connecticut’s super-rich prefer beach and poolside vacations, with adventure holidays coming in second and cruises third. Families are the preferred travel companions.
Maine
The number one vacation choice for Maine residents is adventure travel. Cultural vacations and lake vacations are tied for second place, and amusement park vacations are third. For some reason, beach vacations don’t make the list of top vacations. Perhaps Mainers are escaping the beach because Massachusetts residents are too busy on the sand.
Massachusetts
It’s no surprise that Massachusetts residents love beach and poolside vacations, with cultural vacations coming in second, and adventure and city trips tied for third. Bay State residents also love to have family as their travel companions.
New Hampshire
Thrifty New Hampshire residents prefer beach and poolside vacations. The second most popular choice is road trips, and the third is city getaways. New Hampshire residents prefer to travel with their families.
Rhode Island
While most New Englanders aspire to enjoy nature, city breaks are the top vacation choice for Rhode Islanders. Cultural breaks are the second most popular, and relaxing on the beach or by the pool is third. The preferred travel companion for Ocean State residents is their partner or spouse.
Vermont
The number one choice for Vermont residents is a ski vacation, with relaxing on the beach or by the pool coming in second and adventure vacations coming in third. Vermont residents may love skiing, but they don’t want to hit the slopes with their families – they prefer to vacation with friends.
Contact Christopher Muther at christopher.muther@globe.com. Follow him: Chris Mather and Instagram @chris_muther.