Culture + Design 12 Hilarious Out-of-office Messages for Your Next Vacation Don't leave your poor coworkers with a lame auto-response. By Andrea Romano Andrea Romano Twitter Website Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for Mashable, Brit+Co, Reviewed, and Bustle. For Travel + Leisure, she has used her experience as a writer and pop culture aficionado to discover many interesting destinations including unique Airbnbs and pop-up restaurants that have a nostalgic or pop culture twist. In addition to travel writing, she writes and performs comedy around New York City and spends her free time exploring places both at home and abroad. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on June 9, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Nothing beats the feeling of setting your out-of-office reply just before a vacation. However, these days the boring, run-of-the-mill vacation response simply won’t do. It’s not enough to give your coworkers the logistics of when and where you’re going to be out of the office. Your colleagues need some pizzazz. Some oomph. Some energy and entertainment while they’re missing you terribly. Sure, you might be off tanning on a beach, having an adventure in some exotic city, or hiking on top of a mountain, but your poor office friends are stuck inside. Your away message is really about them. That's why many people on the internet have come up with some clever and hilarious ways to brighten up their away messages, without ruining their own vacations. After all, your auto-response should do two things: keep your pesky work emails at bay and keep your coworkers feeling cherished in your absence. A good laugh goes a long way. 1. Perhaps you’re feeling science-y. Show them your geeky side. 2. A quick, slightly sardonic message is perfectly acceptable. It’s your time. 3. Use this message to write out your loftiest hopes and dreams. 4. Inspire a little envy based on your vacation spot. Go on, you’ve earned it. 5. Perhaps you can make a silly request in lieu of coworkers asking for work stuff. 6. Use emojis and let them figure out your message. 7. Make your out of office reply applicable to everyone. Even if it’s ridiculously obvious. 8. Turn your reply into literature. 9. Make sure you have a good alibi. Hey, you were on vacation when everyone got sick that week. 10. Use your favorite book or movie reference to give someone a quick chuckle. 11. Or perhaps your vacation is a little more paranormal than people realize. 12. Always leave your coworkers wanting more...at least until the seasons change. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit