The traditional fortnight summer holiday used to be as much a part of the British summer as fish and chips on the promenade and donkey rides on the beach, but key findings from the 2015 Travelodge Holiday Index has revealed the number of Britons taking a two-week holiday has decreased by 46% over the last five years. Instead British holiday makers are opting for a one-week holiday with four shorter breaks spread out throughout the year.
The annual Travelodge report which surveyed 3,000 British adults about their holiday plans for 2015 has revealed that this year 70% of Britons are planning a Staycation break, with less than one in five (19%) taking a two-week holiday which is down from 35% in 2011.
Spending going up on Staycations
The study also found that Britons will be spending significantly more this year compared to the last five years on their UK holiday – giving the UK economy a welcome boost of £16.5 billion. This year British holidaymakers will be splashing out on average £501.28 on their UK break which is an increase of £70.95 compared to 2014, and an increase of £102.00 compared to 2013. Eight out of ten (80%) Britons stated that Staycation breaks provide great value which is why they are willing to spend more this year.
The report has also highlighted that the UK’s top Staycationers are in Wolverhampton, with 87% of people there taking a Staycation break and the average household spending £472.39. The other cities making up the top five are Coventry, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Norwich. (The top ten can be found in the table below, and the top 20 can be found in the notes to editors section).
Top 10 Staycationers
46% book four short breaks
The study also revealed that nearly half of British holidaymakers (46%) are booking four short UK breaks this year so that they have something to look forward to right throughout the year. Over a third (34%) of British holidaymakers reported that they like to book a spontaneous last minute short break in order to spice up their lives and make them look more interesting on social media channels.
A quarter of Britons (26%) reported that they need to take regular short breaks to help alleviate work stress but interestingly a third (32%) of adults surveyed that they cannot take a two-week holiday due to the pressures of their job.
Holiday types
Further findings from the holiday index highlighted that the traditional seaside holiday is back in vogue this year as over half (56%) of Britons are flocking to the coast this summer. Top holiday destinations include: Cornwall, Devon, Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth.
The next most popular type of holiday for Britons this year is the rural escape, with 35% of British holidaymakers exploring the UK’s stunning countryside. The most popular rural holiday hotspots for this year are: The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands, Norfolk Broads and Cotswolds.
With more Britons heading to the seaside and the countryside, the number of people taking city breaks has fallen this year to 25%, from 37% in 2014. Top city breaks destinations for 2015 include: London, Edinburgh, York, Bristol and Liverpool.
Top Staycation destinations for 2015 and 2014:
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “Our 2015 holiday index has revealed an interesting trend of Britons taking more multiple breaks throughout the year, which suggests the end of the traditional two-week break.
“We have become a nation of value seekers post-recession and in order to get the maximum benefit from our holiday entitlement we are using our allowance in bursts throughout the year rather than all in one go, as short breaks make us happier than one long holiday.
“This is a trend we are seeing across our 504 UK hotels, with bookings for short breaks during the summer and key holiday periods up throughout 2015. This growth in people booking short breaks is mostly seen in key seaside locations, in particular: Newquay, Blackpool, Scarborough, Torquay, St Austell, Brighton and Bournemouth.”
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