Feeling 'holiday deprived'? Spare a thought for would-be travellers in Ireland

How do you spend your annual holiday allowance? Ask this question to the average Brit and the answer is likely to include spending a stint or two abroad, with beach holidays, city breaks and more taking up a significant chunk of our 25 days away from the office.

And for those Brits who have bemoaned a lack of days between them and the 9 to 5, it's time to spare a thought for those who are a little more 'holiday deprived'.

According to the 2014 Expedia Vacation Deprivation Study, while Europeans earn an average of 28 days holiday each year, those in Ireland have to get by with an average of just 22.

With a five day gap between average holiday allowances it's no wonder that 46% of Irish people feel holiday deprived. Yet rather than making the most of the holiday allowance they do have, the research revealed that 8% of Irish people left some of their holiday days unused.

Looking at the average number of days taken off across Europe - United Kingdom residents take 25 of 26 days, Italians take 21 of 28 days and Austrians, Norwegians and the Swedish take the total amount of holiday off.

A number of reasons were cited for not utilising full holiday allowances and these included the following:

• "Work schedule does not allow for it" (19%)
• "Bank them/carry over to next year" (18%)
• "Lack of money" (18%)
• "Difficulty coordinating time" (16%)

The news is in - holidays make us happier

Commenting on the impact that holidays has on people across the world, John Morrey, Vice President and General Manager of Expedia.com revealed that the happiness = holiday formula rings true.

"Somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of people worldwide say that vacations make them feel happier, better rested, closer to their family, less stressed, and more relaxed," he said.

Further figures revealed the lengths that holidaymakers across the globe are prepared to go to up their holiday happiness quota. The list below details what travellers across the globe would be willing to give up for an extra day's holiday.

• Junk Food - 54%
• Alcohol - 48%
• Social Media - 42%
• Television - 37%
• Coffee - 35%

Wherever you are holidaying in the world it's important to organise travel insurance in advance.

Date Created: 14/11/2014