More than a half of Britons do not regard UK breaks as a ‘proper holiday’, according to a travel agent online survey that would appear to undermine the recent ‘staycation’ trend.
The poll of 1,562 holidaymakers by online travel agency Sunshine.co.uk also found that a fifth would never take a domestic trip. Less than tree quarters of respondents had been on a UK holiday, while all had taken overseas breaks.
Twenty one per cent of those who took part in the study said they would ‘never’ go on a holiday in the UK. The majority of those who had taken UK and foreign holidays (95%) said they favoured their overseas trip.
When asked: ‘What are your views on staying in the UK to holiday?’ 56% selected ‘pointless – they aren’t proper holidays’.
When asked to specify why, 55% said they were not as good a value as holidays abroad, while 31% blamed the ‘bad weather’ for their decision to avoid UK breaks.
Of the respondents who had been on a UK holiday, 11% said they didn’t feel ‘rested’ once they returned home and 17% admitted they didn’t enjoy it.
The poll also aimed to discover the cost difference in UK holidays and those abroad, so respondents who had been on both were asked questions on the subject.
When asked, ‘Overall, which cost you more money; your last holiday in the UK or the last holiday abroad?’ 62% of people said it was the UK holiday that was more expensive.
The agency’s co-founder Chris Brown said: “During the recession, it was thought that the ‘staycation’ was immensely popular, but what we’ve found here is that, actually, many find them more expensive than trips abroad.
“It was quite interesting to see that many don’t even view UK breaks as ‘proper holidays.’ I think most people think of a holiday and immediately picture sun, palm trees, and lazy days by the pool, which can’t always be found in the UK unfortunately.
“The weather is unpredictable at the best of times and they are often more expensive that trips abroad. Some people love them, but it looks as though they aren’t for everyone.”