Ready to Post a Status Update? PEMCO Poll Finds That Many Northwest Residents Keep Their Vacation Plans Offline

Your suitcases are packed, and your out-of-office is set, but before hitting the road, many Northwest residents say they stop short of sharing their vacation plans online. According to the latest poll from PEMCO Mutual Insurance, most residents say they avoid posting their out-of-town plans to social media in advance, however not all travelers are so restrained.

PEMCO’s survey of Washington and Oregon residents found that of the 90% of Northwesterners who take at least one vacation per year, about two-thirds of them (67%) say they rarely or never post information about their upcoming trips online.

Younger travelers, however, are much more open about their whereabouts: 53% of adults under 35 say they post information about an upcoming vacation before they leave town, while fewer than one-quarter of their older counterparts over 35 (22%) admit to the same habits.

Parents are prone to posting, too. In Washington, people with children are five times more likely than those without kids to always or usually post information on social media about future vacations (33% vs. 6%). Similarly, 17% of parents in Oregon always or usually share travel plans on social media, whereas just 6% of Oregon adults without children say the same.

And when it comes to sharing those poolside selfies during their trips, about one-third (38%) of respondents say they post social media updates while on vacay, and 28% say they post both on vacation and after they get home. Another 22% say they wait to post anything about their vacation to social media until they’re home.

“As we book our tickets and pack our bags for our next adventures, it is always important to be conscious of our online sharing habits,” said PEMCO spokesperson Derek Wing. “Taking a few extra steps to ensure that your stuff remains safe while you are away can give you peace of mind and make your trip that much more enjoyable.”

Encouragingly, most Northwest residents also take offline precautions to prevent any unwanted activity while they’re away: 44% alert their neighbors that they’ll be away or take steps to make it appear they are home.

Younger adults, however, are significantly less likely than their older counterparts to take “offline” pre-vacation precautions. In fact, millennials are almost twice as likely to say they do nothing at all to prepare (16% vs. 8%), and only about one in three (30%) will alert their neighbors or try to make it look like they are home.

For a complete summary of PEMCO’s poll results, visit www.pemco.com/blog/nw-polls where you’ll find the responses collected by FBK Research of Seattle in January 2019.

About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll

PEMCO Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 600 respondents in Washington and 600 in Oregon, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.

About PEMCO Insurance

PEMCO Mutual Insurance is a Northwest company providing auto, home, renters and boat insurance. PEMCO is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee wellness and social impact. PEMCO helps its communities thrive through Mutual Good programs that raise youths’ educational achievement levels; build stronger, greener environments; and increase safety at home, on the road and at play. PEMCO is known for its commitment to its mission: Free our communities to worry less and live more.

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