More than two thirds of Britons planning overseas holiday this year

More than two thirds of Brits are planning to go on an overseas holiday this year, according to Post Office Travel Money’s 2017 Holiday Spending Report.

The figures – which include the opinions of 2,081 survey respondents – come despite the majority of Britons bursting their budgets last year to the tune of £1.97 billion, the equivalent of £100 each.

Spain was the destination of choice for almost a quarter (24%) of holidaymakers, whilst Dubai was found to represent the worst value.

Just over 90% of those who had visited Spain on holiday declared it as good value, whilst 87% thought the same about the Balearic Islands.

Despite Spain’s continued popularity, 18% of UK holidaymakers have indicated that they will travel to France, whilst 17% plan to head to Italy.

The USA, Canary Islands, Portugal, Greece and the Caribbean are also destinations that UK holidaymakers have set their sights on this year.

One of the key findings from the research was that 87% of respondents saw the cost of a holiday to be their top priority, with travel and flight prices most likely to influence their choice of destination.

However, even with concerns, 70% of holidaymakers revealed that they spent more than their assigned budget on their last trip abroad.

Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: “The latest research findings suggest holidaymakers start with good intentions by setting a budget but then let go of the purse strings once they reach their resort.”

Holidaymakers revealed that a great deal of their money was spent on surprise charges, such as getting money out of an ATM machine or paying with a credit card abroad.

Mr Brown has urged anyone who has yet to book their holiday to do thorough research when looking at accommodation, flights and local dining to ensure they avoid any extra costs.

If you’re thinking of travelling abroad this year, be sure to organise your single trip travel insurance in advance

Date Created: 10/05/2017