Americans are taking longer trips during the holiday season due to increased workplace flexibility, according to a report.

• According to the Deloitte holiday travel survey, 49% of employed travelers are "laptop luggers" who plan to work during their holiday vacation.
• Experts stated that travelers are finding alternative ways to go on trips, including driving instead of flying and cutting back on expenses.

This holiday season, Americans are resolute in their travel plans, and some creative solutions are enabling them to make those trips.

Planning out itineraries is easier with the ability to work remotely.

The percentage of employed travelers who plan to work during their holiday vacation has increased from 34% to 49%, according to the Deloitte holiday travel survey.

According to the survey, workers have the flexibility to take longer trips or go on trips they wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

High earners and Gen Zers are the groups with the highest shares of laptop luggers, at 52% and 58%, respectively, according to a survey by Deloitte.

In September, Deloitte surveyed 4,074 American adults and found that 2,005 of them were holiday travelers.

Eileen Crowley, vice chair and U.S. transportation, hospitality and services attest leader at Deloitte, stated that the change in laptop luggers is "a pretty high jump. It's almost across all income levels and age groups."

This holiday season, consider slow shopping to save money.

Remote work is now a top priority for job seekers due to the pandemic, according to Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter.

According to ZipRecruiter data, 51% of surveyed job seekers in the third quarter of 2022 cited the ability to work from anywhere as a top reason for remote jobs, an increase from 40.8% in the first quarter of the same year.

The importance of remote work to U.S. workers has increased during the remote work trial, as stated by her.

Travelers are finding alternative ways to work while on their trips, such as driving instead of flying or cutting back on expenses, experts said.

According to Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at Bankrate, individuals are inclined to take shortcuts to save money, but they do not wish to abandon the trip entirely.

Who's spending on holiday travel this year

According to experts, holiday travel and spending trends this year are being driven by high earners.

According to Morning Consult, a survey research firm, 52% of high-income shoppers can easily afford holiday travel expenses, which is the highest share among all income groups.

Stacy Francis, president and CEO of Francis Financial, stated that higher-income consumers are less price-sensitive, according to a recent interview with CNBC.

According to Francis, a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council, people in lower-wage-earning brackets are more budget conscious than they are.

According to a Deloitte survey, millennials, who were born between 1980 and 1996, have the highest budgets and plan the longest trips during the holiday season. On average, millennials plan to take about 2.6 trips and spend $3,927.

What's making holiday travel possible this year

According to Bankrate, 83% of more than 4 in 5 holiday travelers are saving money this season by opting for driving instead of flying.

Rossman stated that although many individuals are still traveling, they are doing so differently in order to reduce expenses.

According to the 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook by Hopper, 49% of respondents are picking up discounts and deals, while about 50% are cutting back on other expenses.

The Hopper report discovered that 22% of travelers plan to journey during off-peak days, while 21% utilize credit card points or miles to offset some of the expense.

Ensure you review your company's rules on remote work before working on your laptop during a holiday vacation, advised Pollak. Some companies mandate employees to work from their home, within the company's home state or within the U.S. unless authorized otherwise.

If you attempt to work remotely, there is a possibility of losing access, facing disciplinary action, or being fired, according to Pollak.

It's important to touch base with your manager or director about your work approach, as some managers only care about the job being completed and not the methods used.

To ensure a successful workday, it is crucial to verify that the location you plan to work from has a robust electric grid and reliable Wi-Fi.

Ensure you're in a location where you can complete your work if you're responsible for it, Pollak advised.

After pandemic-era lockdowns and restrictions, Americans' spending on experiences such as travel and concerts increased due to pent-up demand, experts say.

Despite the passage of time, travel remains a priority for many individuals, as evidenced by the fact that people continue to allocate value and budget for it, according to Deloitte's Crowley.