Image via Shutterstock
Almost a third of people return to the same holiday destination every single year, with a large proportion making unprotected ‘DIY’ holiday arrangements, new research shows.
The average person has been to the same holiday resort four times and more than a tenth of UK holidaymakers (11%) have returned to the same holiday spot ten or more times.
This familiarity means that holidaymakers are cutting out the middle man and putting their own holidays together, according to the study of 2,000 adults by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Atol department.
Two fifths (40%) are booking their flights, hotel and transfers independently, rather than booking them together through a travel company.
But consumers booking different travel components separately are at risk if one of the businesses they book with goes bust.
Head of Atol, Andy Cohen, said: “Our research shows that many of us in the UK are creatures of habit who love the comfort of taking our well-earned summer breaks in familiar surroundings that we know inside out.
“But with so many UK tourists returning to the same holiday destination year after year, they may be tempted to book their own arrangements rather than use a travel company.
“If you book a ‘DIY’ holiday in this way you will not be Atol protected – losing out on that important protection for your holiday and money if something happens to the companies you book with.
“So even when people know their destination really well, it’s important to remember to pack peace of mind when booking, by checking for Atol protection.
“Booking flights and accommodations together with a UK travel company means you will be Atol protected, your money will be safe and you can concentrate on looking forward to that well-earned holiday.”
The most popular country for tourists to return to is Spain, with the Canary islands, Balearics, Costa del Sol and Benidorm all featuring in the list of top holiday resorts most commonly returned to.
Spain has now topped the holiday destination charts for the past 25 years with more then 30 million people travelling to and from Spain each year.
Paris is the top destination to return to, while Orlando and California also feature in the top ten alongside the Algarve, Corfu and Crete.
Nearly a third of people (31%) admitted to booking the same hotel and a tenth (9%) will even try to book the same room.
A third (34%) will dine at the same restaurant and over a quarter (26%) will go to the same pub or bar on every trip.
Top 10 holiday destinations to return to:
- Paris, France
- Canary Islands, Spain
- Balearic Islands, Spain
- Orlando, USA
- Algarve, Portugal
- Costa del Sol, Spain
- Corfu, Greece
- Benidorm, Spain
- California, USA
- Crete, Greece