Brits tighten belts when planning this year's holiday

Girl is taking out a banknote of fifty euros from brown leather wallet on the street. Hands, money and wallet close-up
Girl is taking out a banknote of fifty euros from brown leather wallet on the street. Hands, money and wallet close-up

With the prospect of Brexit bumping up the cost of a foreign break this year, Brits are becoming increasingly price-conscious about their holidays.

More people are planning some sort of holiday this year - 22 million, compared with 21.9 million last year - but they're hoping to spend rather less. According to VoucherCodes.co.uk, the average budget for travel, accommodation, food and drink is £1,253 per person, down from £1,315 last year.

Nearly a third hope to cut their costs by holidaying in the UK, especially the over-55s. However, a third of families with children are still planning a beach holiday abroad. More than one in ten are opting for a city break, especially the young.

All in all, though, cost has become the most important factor when booking a holiday, the research shows, ahead of cultural opportunities or the quality of accommodation.

So how do people manage to keep the price down?

According to the survey, nearly a third of people have gone away for an odd length of time - six or 13 days, say - to avoid pricey airfares, while more than one in 10 have booked indirect flights with long stopovers. Meanwhile, nearly one in five have used voucher code apps or websites to get a discount on their travel or accommodation.

But the cost cutting doesn't stop at the booking stage; nearly one third of Brits have made their own packed lunches to avoid paying for meals at the airport.

See also: Six tricks that can cut the cost of booking a holiday

See also: Holiday costs jump as Brexit vote hits travellers' pockets

People are also planning to spend nearly a third less on entertainment this year, cutting back on water sports, theme parks, gigs and sporting events. Spend on spa treatments and massages is also falling fast.

"Whether you are planning a holiday at home this summer or jetting off somewhere further afield, it's interesting to see Brits spending more cautiously this year, with more emphasis being placed on price when booking summer getaways," says Anita Naik, lifestyle editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk.

"However you choose to spend your break, it's always worth shopping around and booking well in advance or at the last minute to get the best deals, or try researching online and planning your own sightseeing tours, to avoid paying for costly excursions and group tours once you reach your destination."

Top five foreign destinations, with average costs per trip
1. Spain: £1,326
2. France: £1,243
3. Italy: £1,585
4. Greece: £1,325
5. United States: £2,367

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