Does a nice relaxing vacation sound terrible to you? Then you might be up for a “skillcation” or “curiosity leave,” in which you swap the beach for knowledge.
This could be either professional development, or learning a cool skill or hobby. Axios Chicago highlighted trips surrounding foraging, falconry, and learning to play Mahjong.
We just hate to be bored…
… which probably explains all the time we spend staring at our phones. But what if we could trade our doomscrolling for something fun and enlightening!
- Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report found that many travelers were taking “whycations,” where the intention behind the trip mattered more than the destination itself.
- Hilton also found 72% of survey respondents wanted to take time off to explore a personal passion, skill, or hobby.
These vacationers generally spend ~$7k on such getaways, significantly more than those who choose relaxation, per a Future Partners survey.
What’s the benefit?
Personal growth and new hobbies can be just as rejuvenating as a day at the spa.
Samantha Edu, senior manager for care, equity, and inclusion at meditation and mental health app Headspace, told Thrillist that they allow us to access a beginner’s mindset — the concept of approaching something with openness and curiosity.
That unlocks the state of play we experience as children, which can help us feel more creative.
That said…
… Lana Peters, chief revenue & experience officer at HR platform Klaar, told Forbes that upskilling should be part of what companies offer employees, not something they feel they must use their PTO to do.
“Workers should instead use earned vacation time to relax, unwind ,and disconnect,” she said. “Doing this can help them bring their best selves to work and reduce the likelihood that they’ll experience burnout.”
But if unwinding means learning how to play the didgeridoo or ride a horse, go for it.
Fun fact: Future Partners also found that 26% of US travelers were into Doom Tourism, or visiting a location threatened by environmental or other factors before it’s too late.
