John Pham spent last Thanksgiving half a world away from his family, opting to share a makeshift American feast with a group of Australians in Sydney instead of with his parents in the northwest suburbs.
Though he got the cold shoulder from his mother-who still considers attendance mandatory-Pham said Thanksgiving has been a dwindling, low-key tradition in his family, especially in recent years. So, with the right combination of cheap airfare-his trip included 10 flights for a little more than $2,000 -and time off from work, Pham jetted out to spend the holiday abroad.
"Honestly, it was the best Thanksgiving I ever had," the 28-year-old Uptown resident said. "It was really fun to celebrate abroad."
Pham is an outlier when it comes to holiday travelers. Fifty-nine percent of people said their journeys in November and December were to visit friends and family, according to a 2011 survey of holiday travel habits by Trip Advisor. But choosing to skip traditional holiday plans may be on the uptick. There was a 14 percent decline in the number of people who said they're staying at a family or friend's home during the holiday season over last year-from 51 percent to 37 percent-according to vacation rental website HomeAway. Many of those surveyed who said they are spending the holiday elsewhere cited the chance to have different experiences as a motivation. Why ditch the turkey dinner or holiday happenings with family? Some Chicagoans say they just want to get away.
This Thanksgiving, 43.6 million Americans will be traveling more than 50 miles for the holiday, a slight increase over the 43.3 million who traveled last year, according to AAA. Eighty-nine percent, or 39 million, will travel by car, with about 3 million taking to the skies.
"Holidays have always stressed me out more than I have enjoyed them," said Aki Braun, 27, of Lincoln Park. Especially this year, as she worked as part of a political campaign, getting out of town after the election season is a must. After debating a trip to the Dominican Republic or a quiet vacation to western Wisconsin, she settled on Cancun and won't be around for Thanksgiving.
"To say that I can't wait would be a dramatic, dramatic understatement," Braun said, adding that she got the idea from her partner's sister, who spends every other Thanksgiving in Costa Rica.
Braun said she won't miss the stress of the holiday. Splitting up the time between her family and her partner's family becomes exhausting, and inevitably there's a guilt trip to expect if they can't make a gathering. After all, when she missed the annual tradition six years ago while working retail, she heard about it.
"It was like the end of the world for them," she said.
Pham said besides upsetting his mother a bit, the fallout wasn't enough to keep him from thinking about going away again this year. Though no plans are set in stone, the experience in Australia and New Zealand last year has made him consider a trip to Europe this year, even if it miffs his mom again.
"Having seen the cultural differences and sharing a new holiday with new people, it's actually really fun," he said.
Braun said she's not going to let herself worry about upsetting the family either, and is even considering taking a Christmas vacation as well.
"At least if I am gone, I am gone for everyone," she said.
mswasko@tribune.com | @mickswasko
Vacation Vocabulary
Getting away doesn't have to happen around the holidays. In fact, there's an entire lexicon of getaway jargon. Some are legit, and others are just real enough for an Urban Dictionary entry. Read up on some vacation vocab.
Brocation
See also: "mancation." This endeavor is strictly for a dude and the dude's friends. It features destinations meant to appeal to guys, including golf outings and brewery tours. Almost like a bachelor party without the bachelor, but definitely with the heavy drinking.
Girlcation
The Brocation's antonym. It's a getaway for the ladies. It can be a cruise, a trip to a tropical locale or just time away. No guys allowed.
Staycation
Pretty self-explanatory, it's time away without being away. Trips to places that aren't more than a bus or train ride away usually are the norm. Mostly, it's just some time to chill at home. And maybe get some laundry done, as long as you're there.
Barcation
Time off to visit a multitude of bars. The term seems to still be catching on. If libation gestation is your destination, it's probably right for you.
Friends-Giving
A gathering of friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Many times, the occasion is reserved for a group of transplants who don't live close to family but want to feast and watch football anyway. Need ideas for your own? Check Pinterest, where there are approximately 17 million posts tagged under that category.