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Over-55s Buck the Booking Trends
Sep 11, 12 | 12:02 am
Mature holidaymakers tend to take more holidays each year than younger ones, according to research by HomeAway.co.uk.
The holiday home rentals website surveyed people's holiday habits now, and asked how they compared with their childhood trips.
The research found that one holiday a year was the norm in the past, but now 40% of us rack up two to three trips annually, while almost one in ten over-55s get away four to five times a year.
The poll of 500 people confirmed the shift away from high street agents to online booking channels, with a third of people now packaging their own holidays via online travel agencies.
However, the research found that over-55s prefer to book with accommodation suppliers directly.
The type of holiday booked has changed too, shifting from the UK seaside and holiday parks in the past, to more city breaks and long-haul destinations now.
Some 14% of all Brits now include long-haul trips among their main holidays, while 14% of those aged 18-34 typically go on activity or adventure holidays.
Campsites and B&Bs have lost out to hotels, which now represent the most popular type of accommodation for 51% of Brits.
Self-catering holiday homes are the second most popular type of place to stay, with one in five people choosing a holiday rental over a hotel, a slight drop from 30% in times gone by.
Meanwhile, a survey by Resolution-Assistance of 1,246 users of online and traditional travel agents has found 68% would only consider switching from their current agent if they received poor service.
Just 9% cited price as a reason for switching, which Resolution-Assistance said ‘seems to explode the notion that the travelling public are turning into price-driven internet bookers'.
To see the Homeaway infographic, click here.
Source: e-tid
