YouGov finds cost of living ‘biggest factor’ affecting summer holidays plans

The cost of living is the biggest factor affecting summer travel plans, according to a YouGov survey of UK adults, followed by accommodation costs and airfare prices.

 

A total of 42% cited the cost of living or inflation when asked about factors affecting decision-making, with about a third (32%) mentioning accommodation costs and 29% citing airfare prices.

 

Safety or geopolitical issues were cited by 19%, while 18% mentioned work commitments and 15% cited the weather or climate concerns.

 

The survey, conducted online between May 20-21, collected answers from a nationally representative sample of 2,089 adults.

 

The data shows 37% have already booked their summer travel. Another 14% have not booked yet, while 14% said they were unsure if they had booked and 33% said they do not plan to travel this summer.

 

Parents with children are more likely than non-parents to have booked their summer trip (40% compared with 32%), according to the survey results, while non-parents are more likely to say they do not intend to travel at all this year (36% compared with 31%).

 

The most common change to summer holiday plans is the decision to choose a domestic trip instead of international travel, with 19% of those with plans saying they had made the decision.

 

Other changes include reducing spending during the trip (18%), selecting cheaper destinations (17%) and taking shorter trips (16%).

 

Parents are more likely than non-parents to swap overseas holidays for domestic travel (21% compared with 16%), YouGov said, while non-parents are slightly more likely to choose cheaper destinations (18% compared with 15%) or reduce spending during the trip (20% compared with 17%).

 

A total of 41% of UK adults said they have not changed their summer travel plans this year. The answer rose to 43% among parents and fell to 39% among non-parents.

 

When asked about cost-saving measures, the most frequently cited method was choosing to travel during off-peak dates (31%).

 

Around one in five said they book earlier to secure lower prices (21%) or compare travel websites before booking (20%), while 18% said they choose destinations closer to home, 16% opt for an Atol-protected trip and 14% choose a “package deal”.

A total of 19% said they are not taking any specific cost-saving measure.

 

Parents and non-parents show some differences in how they approach saving on travel, YouGov noted.

 

“While 28% of parents say they are travelling off-peak, this rises to 34% among non-parents,” the firm said.

 

“Parents are more likely to choose destinations closer to home (20% vs 16%) and book Atol-protected holidays (20% vs 12%).”

 

The research also found more than a third of UK travellers (36%) expect their summer travel budget to be higher than last year, while 21% expect it to be lower. Nearly three in 10 (30%) say it will stay about the same.

 

Parents are more likely than non-parents to expect higher travel spending this summer (41% compared with 31%). This includes 11% of parents who say their budget will be “much higher”, compared with 9% of non-parents.

 

YouGov said: “The findings suggest that while financial pressures and geopolitical uncertainty are shaping travel behaviour, many households – particularly families with children – still plan to prioritise summer holidays.

 

“For many, that means adapting travel plans through domestic trips, alternative destinations or higher overall spending.”