UK holidaymakers have often voted in favour of staycations over stints abroad; using the logic that staying on British shores for their annual breaks will make them significant savings.
New research from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has turned this assumption on its head though, by revealing that the average a domestic holiday is more expensive than a foreign holiday.
A survey of 1,100 people found that a ten-day holiday in the UK would cost £710, while a foreign holiday for the same duration was just £680.
While two-thirds of those who holidayed at home this year argued that they have done so to cut their expenditure, more than half of all people on a staycation found it was “more expensive” than their last overseas trip. A fifth of families also admitted that they spent the same amount of money.
Less than a quarter of those surveyed found that they ended up spending less on their domestic holiday compared to their family holiday abroad last year.
Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “It is easy to think that staying in the UK is the cheaper option but the costs soon add up, particularly if you’re throwing money at a rainy day to keep everyone entertained.
“It was interesting to see that so many opted for a holiday within the UK to save money, particularly as so many failed to do so.”
Recent research has revealed an upward trend in the number of staycations taken by UK travellers, as many attempt to offset the negative impacts of the recession and rises in the cost of living. In 2008, 5 per cent more people took a holiday in UK compared to 2007, with this trend continuing into 2010.
In contrast, figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last month showed that the number of Brits holidaying on mainland Europe has increased for the first time in five years. This rise was attributed to factors such as the continued strength of pound against the Euro.
Seven out of ten survey participants also argued that they would be opting for a holiday abroad in 2013, with just under half already setting money aside in preparation for the holiday.
(Images: elspethbriscoe)
