Brits cutting back to pay for holidays amid package price rises of 17%, according to new data

New data suggests Brits are cutting back on other spending in order to afford the rising cost of summer holidays. The HolidayPirates Summer Travel Trends survey, conducted with 717 UK consumers, has found that nearly half (48%) of respondents have actively reduced their leisure spend over the past year to allocate more funds for their summer travels. Not only this, over a third (34%) are yet to book this year’s holiday due to price rises.

Analysing its user booking data , HolidayPirates found that the average total cost of a summer package holiday has jumped from £2,022 in 2023 to £2,363 this year: an increase of 17%. This shows the continued pressure of the cost-of-living crisis on families, even if inflation at home has dropped significantly.

Where every penny counts, going off the beaten track and avoiding the European holiday hotspots such as Spain and Greece can result in huge savings. HolidayPirates has seen interest in Turkey nearly double, which goes hand-in-hand with a drop of nearly 18% in the average price of packages there. Similarly, they have seen interest in Tunisia increase by 79% compared with 2023 on the back of an average 20% drop in package prices. At the other end of the spectrum, Spain is having a tough year with interest in the destination down by almost half after price increases of over 15% on average.

Brits are also maximising travel budgets by booking longer holidays that come with a lower cost per night: 1 in 4 (25%) are planning to go on a holiday for longer than two weeks this summer. HolidayPirates found that almost 30% of summer holidays this year are for eight nights or more, compared to this time last year where this was just 23%.

Raphael Giacardi, Chief Editor UK at travel deals platform HolidayPirates, says: “Although the inflation rate has now lowered, the effects of its highs over the last year remain and external pressures including the rising cost of holiday packages is certainly having its impact on summer travel. However, as we approach the peak season our research has shown that travel and holidays remain a top priority for Brits, who will find a way to keep that all-important summer getaway on the cards.

We’ve seen that the nature of their travel is adapting according to affordability, and many are heading where the best deals take them rather than sticking with the most commonly-visited destinations at all costs. At HolidayPirates, we’re committed to helping consumers find the very best value-for-money travel deals so everyone can have the opportunity to travel, explore and holiday for less.”

HolidayPirates tips on getting the best summer holiday deals:

• Travel on weekdays to avoid the usual Friday to Sunday departure supplement

• Compare prices for the same holiday with different board basis. Sometimes upgrading to All Inclusive is so cheap it makes sense - but other times, it might be cheaper to book bed & breakfast or half board and rely on the local restaurants and bars (which can be great value and where the food may be better)

• Check whether car hire works out cheaper than transfers

• Investigate room types: for a family, a suite might work out cheaper than two interconnected rooms

• Consider self catering - you can save money by buying food from a local market/shop and cooking meals yourself

• Try somewhere different rather than the typical British summer holiday destinations. Check out destinations that aren't as popular, but are still hot and perfect for a summer getaway like Tirana in Albania, Nice in France or Bari in Italy.

• Make sure you check multiple departure airports. Sometimes driving a couple of hours to an alternative UK airport can slash hundreds off the total cost of your flights or package deal.

About HolidayPirates:

HolidayPirates, the UK arm of the HolidayPirates Group, is a travel deals platform with a mission to make travel accessible and affordable for everyone.

Our team of travel experts find and curate the best value-for-money deals from packages, flights and hotels, through to car hire, holiday homes, luxury stays and weekend breaks. We also work with leading travel brands to source exclusive offers that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

HolidayPirates takes the time and hassle out of finding genuine travel bargains by sharing deals directly across our website, WhatsApp, newsletters, mobile app, and on social media. 2 million travel enthusiasts visit our website every month, plus we have over 2.2 million followers on social media – the largest of any travel brand in the UK.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Berlin, the HolidayPirates Group operates in 10 countries – the UK, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. Our expert editorial teams around the world inspire over 20 million consumers every month to travel, explore and holiday more for less.

Press contact

Annabelle Rennie
PR & Communications Manager UK

E-Mail: [email protected]

E-Mail: [email protected]