Visit California next week will launch a free, limited-time hotline to help travelers brighten their outlook by planning a future road trip in the Golden State. The California Dream Dial will coincide with the U.S. Travel Association’s “National Plan for Vacation Day” on January 26, an initiative that encourages Americans to plan their time off in the year ahead.
To use the California Dream Dial as a resource for trip planning, travelers are invited to complete a short questionnaire to make a 20-minute appointment for Tuesday, January 26. If unable to make an appointment, travelers can call the hotline directly at 1-833-PLAN-PTO from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST.
California Dream Dial will present inspirational ideas for exploring the Golden State in the future, a proven practice for brightening mental health. Polling conducted by Michelle Gielan, founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and an expert in the science of happiness, found 97 percent of Americans say having a trip on the calendar makes them happier. Three-fourths said planning a trip would make them feel more in control amid so much uncertainty.
With road trip expertise from California travel experts, California Dream Dial provides a planning tool with tips on everything from California’s hidden gems and national park hacks to culture- and culinary-filled getaways. The hotline experts will explore each traveler’s specific interests and offer curated guidance for future road trips once the pandemic has subsided and it is safe to explore the Golden State again.
Americans left a third of all their earned vacation days on the table in 2020, according to research from the U.S. Travel Association, while more than half say they looking to visit bucket list destinations in 2021 when the time is right. Californians themselves say they expect to take 39 percent more time off in 2021, according to research by SMARInsights.
Travel is a powerful component of California’s economy that accounted for $145 billion in spending in 2019 and supported 1.2 million jobs. The pandemic halved those numbers in 2020.
To make an appointment for California Dream Dial, go to visitcalifornia.com/plan2021.
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