Aussies 'least likely to take holiday'

Australians are the least likely people to hit up their credit card for a getaway break after a new survey found they are the most "holiday deprived" people in the world.

The study by global research firm Harris Interactive on behalf of vacation booking website Expedia found that 38 per cent of Australians do not take their allocated holiday time from their job - up one per cent from last year.

It is the second year running that Australians have finished as the least likely holidaymakers. This year, they are ahead of Americans - 31 per cent of whom do not take all their annual leave - and the Spanish, 24 per cent of whom leave the vacation days stacked up.

According to the figures, cited by goldcoast.com.au, around one third of Australians now get one holiday a year or less, while 13 per cent only manage to get away from it all every five years or so.

For the majority of Australians, work commitments are the number one reason for putting a break on the back burner, with ten per cent saying they feel guilty for taking holiday. Another seven per cent said worries over job security are keeping them at their desk instead of on the beach.

Economic conditions have also put the squeeze on holiday plans, with 32 per cent of Australians saying the credit crunch and higher interest rates have negatively impacted on their vacation plans this year.

However, Dr Ben Serle of Macquarie University in Syndey told the site that holidays should be viewed as an essential contributor to good health, rather than a luxury for a lucky few.

"Working for extended periods without taking time off to recharge can affect health and relationships, and in extreme cases has been linked to premature deaths," he said.

One option for those looking to pay for a much-needed getaway is to take out an unsecured personal loan.

Compare loan deals.

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