gnome beach chair

Just how important is your vacation? Personally, I take vacationing very seriously. Typically, I take one big trip (more than a week) each year, plus several long weekend trips (three or four nights) plus many weekends (one or two nights) and then two family trips (one on my husband's side and one on my side) to the same destination each year for varying lengths of time. (Thankfully, Travelocity has a generous vacation policy).

If you think most people don't think vacations are as important as I do, that perhaps they have more pressing issues to think about since the meltdown of the global economy, well, you'd be wrong. A recent Travelocity poll with TakingtheKids.com revealed that an overwhelming 85 percent of respondents feel vacations are as, or more, important than before the recession. (For complete coverage on the joint Travelocity / TakingtheKids.com poll, click here.)

What I found most intriguing, however, is what the poll respondents were willing to sacrifice in order to take their vacations. In order, they are:

Entertainment: 67%

Eating out: 67%

Major purchases: 51%

Health and beauty expenses: 33%

Gifts to others: 29%

Charitable donations: 17%

Medical needs: 3%

Really? Medical needs? Ok, even I don't take vacations that seriously. Thankfully, it is a small percentage of people willing to risk their health for a trip. (Though there is the argument that vacations are actually good for your  health). What about you readers? What would you or have you given up to take a vacation? Let me know in the comment section below.