If this enduring British winter is getting you thinking about ditching plans for a staycation and heading abroad instead, you’re not alone.
Research has found that 40 per cent of Brits are shunning the staycation this year as they go in search of some sunshine and warm weather.
With the disastrous summer last year, weather-wise at least, and the chilly winds and snowfall still blighting our shores, it’s little wonder so many of us want to get away.
Last month was the coldest March for more than 50 years, while Easter Sunday was the coldest ever recorded with temperatures dropping to -12.5C in the Scottish Highlands.
Of the 1,000 holidaymakers surveyed by Arena Media recently, four out of ten are planning a holiday overseas this year.
The recession is still raging, leaving many consumers struggling to make their finances last each month. But that doesn’t seem to be stopping most of us from enjoying our annual break.
It seems that many Brits would happily go into the red to hold on to their week or two in the sun, with a quarter saying they’d rather go into debt than miss out on a summer holiday.
While not everyone is prepared to go into the red for the sake of a few days in the sun, lots of people are willing to dip into their savings instead.
It was found that almost half of holidaymakers will need to dip into their savings just to be able to afford a break.
“We expect a rise in demand for overseas holidays; the UK may have fallen back down the pecking order especially now there is no Olympics,” said Martin Greenbank, Head of Intelligence at Arena Media.
“This might also mean an early surge for the overseas holiday, then a late market for the UK as supply is of course limited.”
