Brits Abroad

Brits are “obsessed with getting away from it all, even when times are tough” according to Kayak.co.uk Europe and Asia managing director Faisal Galaria.

The comments were in response to a poll by online travel search site Kayak.co.uk of 1,000 UK users that found 85% of Brits still expect to travel abroad this year despite the deepening recession.

The majority (92%) plan to go online to find the best prices for air fares, hotels and car rental, believing the best deals are found on the web – with fewer than one per cent of respondents turning to high street travel agents for advice.

Almost three-quarters of respondents (73%) plan to take two or less holidays this year with 32% sighting that staying within budget is a bigger concern than having fun or protecting the environment.

Some of the most popular ways people aim to save cash include; choosing a destination in off-season to take advantage of lower prices, staying with friends or relatives and selecting hotels with a lower star rating.

The poll also supports the news that many Brits are swapping traditional European destinations like Spain for cheaper holiday destinations.

In stark contrast to the many cost saving measures people are prepared to take however, more than half (59.7%) would happily pay an additional £50 in order to catch a flight from their closest airport.

Kayak.co.uk Europe and Asia managing director Faisal Galaria said: “As a nation we’ll always be obsessed with getting away from it all, even when times are tough.”

“In fact, our last survey revealed that nine times out of ten, Brits are more likely to cut back on everyday luxuries than deny themselves some well-deserved time off.”

“Kayak.co.uk traffic is not suffering. In fact, we’re bucking the industry trend and finding consumers are coming to the website more often, spending more time on each visit, and using money-saving tools such as Fare Alerts and Flexible Search.”

“We’re seeing Brits will travel once they find the price to fit their budget.”

In another report released this week, Hotels.com has claimed an increase in the number of one-night holidays being booked by travel loving Brits determined not to give up their short breaks – a trend that the industry is calling “Nano Breaks“.

Photo credit: rofanator

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