| Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by grahame at 07:47, 8th August 2025 |     |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939gx4gqwpo
UK holidaymakers are leaving it later to book shorter stays closer to home, travel firms are reporting.
The trend is down to people trying to save money while making the most of hot weather, some of the UK's biggest holiday companies have told the BBC.
Booking.com says the number of people searching their site in July for a UK trip in the next six weeks was up 28% on last year, while AirBnB says more Brits are "embracing spontaneous getaways close to home".
Pitchup.com, which advertises around 3,000 UK campsites, says a quarter of this year's bookings were made with just two days notice.
Sykes Holiday Cottages, with 23,000 properties across the UK, say their the gap between booking and travel has fallen by 8% this year.
Airbnb added "all signs point to a summer where guests are again choosing quieter, affordable places".
The trend is down to people trying to save money while making the most of hot weather, some of the UK's biggest holiday companies have told the BBC.
Booking.com says the number of people searching their site in July for a UK trip in the next six weeks was up 28% on last year, while AirBnB says more Brits are "embracing spontaneous getaways close to home".
Pitchup.com, which advertises around 3,000 UK campsites, says a quarter of this year's bookings were made with just two days notice.
Sykes Holiday Cottages, with 23,000 properties across the UK, say their the gap between booking and travel has fallen by 8% this year.
Airbnb added "all signs point to a summer where guests are again choosing quieter, affordable places".
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by Surrey 455 at 20:16, 8th August 2025 | |
I voted No, no different. All my breaks are outside of the UK. My summer holiday is normally booked about 3 or 4 days before departure whilst my city breaks are normally booked about 7 - 8 weeks before.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by grahame at 21:59, 8th August 2025 | |
My own poll - so perhaps I should stay quiet a little longer so as not to influence any voters ... but I voted "yes" - lots of quite short term bookings because I'm retired, and can without having to book breaks in course schedules any longer. BUT some are booked way ahead / the occasional cruise for example - Summer 2026 already planned and cabin reserved.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by johnneyw at 23:21, 8th August 2025 | |
At present I'm looking to be booking a few trips at fairly short notice for myself but that's due to uncertainty of the timing of various commitments and events for the time being.....not least building work. Trouble is, the longer that I've been retired, the more things seem to get in the way of more advanced planning ....and I've still not quite fathomed out why.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by LiskeardRich at 23:53, 8th August 2025 | |
I can work out my availability up to a year in advance for trips. I play around on websites like sky scanner with the destination set to explore everywhere and if I spot a bargain for when I’m available to anywhere of interest I’ll book it.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by Bob_Blakey at 09:09, 9th August 2025 | |
Me being retired, and SWTSMBO forced by her employer to book leave at least 12 months in advance, our major trips are always booked a long time before the actual event.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by Mark A at 10:44, 9th August 2025 | |
... and that condition of employment caused me to raise an eyebrow...
Mark
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by eXPassenger at 18:12, 10th August 2025 | |
Ticked 'Yes' because I have hospital appointments and wait until after a visit in case I need further treatment.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by LiskeardRich at 09:38, 11th August 2025 | |
... and that condition of employment caused me to raise an eyebrow...
Mark
Mark
Where I am we were asked to put in requests by November 2024 for the April 25 - March 26. If we don’t put in our dates it is auto allocated, although we can swap dates later if availability exists. Experience shows reaching February and more staff than viable still have leave to take and unbooked, this way means everything is allocated and removes the previous issues of the February / March rush to use everything up
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by JayMac at 14:26, 11th August 2025 | |
I've not yet booked my Autumn break.
| Re: Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks Posted by LiskeardRich at 17:46, 12th August 2025 | |
I've not yet booked my Autumn break.
I’m going to Marrakech in October. March 2026 East Germany, Warsaw, krakow and anywhere in between, a miniature version of Grahame’s recent travels. I’ll come home for 2 days then I’m going to Lanzarote for a few days with my wife. Mainland Europe is no interest to her so she’s sent me off on my own to tick a few to dos off my list.
