The over-50s are taking more holidays, with destinations such as New Zealand and Australia topping the list.
According to research the by YouGov for the Post Office, ’empty nesters’ are becoming more adventurous in their travels, with 44% of the 2,000 respondents polled naming New Zealand as the place they wanted to visit.
This was followed by Australia (35%), New York (26%) and the South Pacific (22%).
Their higher disposable income is apparently the reason over-50s are travelling more and spending more – 32% of empty nesters said they had taken an extra holiday a year since their children left home, while a further 22% admitted to taking four or more breaks a year.
Holiday tastes also changed once children were out of the picture: 60% chose different types of holidays, with long-haul holidays being the most popular.
More than 60% also took advantage of the opportunity to save money by travelling outside school holidays.
Post Office head of travel services Helen Warburton said: “By avoiding July and August, empty nesters can save between 10% and 33% on long-haul travel – as well as being able to holiday at times when the weather is significantly better in many of the most sought-after destinations.”