Survey finds most men wait until last day to pack for vacation

WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Women vacation more than men, and half the people going on vacation wait until the day before they leave to pack, a national travel survey indicates.

Women go on vacation every 10 months while men go every 12 months, a survey released Thursday by Springhill Suites by Marriott indicates.

Fifty-four percent of the men queried said they wait until a day before departure to pack. Only 46 percent of women said they procrastinated that long.

Some 85 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to give up something during their vacation if it meant they could cut 25 percent off the cost of their hotel stays. For 54 percent of those of drinking age, that "something" was alcoholic beverages.

The survey found nearly a quarter of Americans don't get paid vacation days. Less than half of workers who do get that perk are given less than 15 days of paid vacation.

Americans also have mixed feelings about how to treat the housekeeping staff as their vacation comes to an end. Some 26 percent said they don't think the room maid should be tipped, but 74 percent still leave a tip. The average? About $8 for each night's stay.

The poll by Kelton Research surveyed 1,048 Americans more than 18 years of age March 12-19.