M&S BANK SUMMER HOLIDAY BAROMETERJULY 2016

WHAT’S IN THE REPORT

M&S Bank’s Summer Holiday Barometer provides a snapshot of UK holiday trends in 2016. It looks at how holidaymakers’ plans have changed this year, how much families plan to spend, including where and how they plan to purchase their holiday spending money and how they will use their currency once abroad. Importantly, the report also highlights where and how holidaymakers can save money on the family holiday this summer.

The cost of a holiday has risen in all destinations researched by an average of £357 on last year, partly due to the declining value of sterling; a trend that was exacerbated by the outcome of the EU referendum. Other contributing factors include rising flight costs.

With holiday costs on the increase, one in three (31 per cent) are planning on spending less. Of these, 34 per cent plan on offsetting rising holiday costs by choosing a less expensive destination. However, less expensive doesn’t necessarily equate to a lesser holiday; savvy holidaymakers could counteract rising costs and save as much as £1,000, or an average of £537, simply by selecting an alternative holiday destination in the same country.

However, any saving on the cost of a holiday could quickly be lost if holidaymakers don’t have adequate insurance in place. One in six (16 per cent) Brits will not buy travel insurance this year, despite almost one in three admitting that they couldn’t cover the average medical expenses claim of £1,000.

Although most holidaymakers buy their currency in advance of travelling, over one in ten never compare exchange rates or deals before making a purchase, meaning they could be paying more for their travel money than they need to.

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INTRODUCTION

ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS PROVIDE

SUMMER HOLIDAY SAVINGS

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

ONE IN THREE HOLIDAYMAKERS TAKE

ACTION TO REDUCE COSTS

ONE IN SIX WILL NOT TAKE OUT TRAVEL

INSURANCE

ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS PROVIDE SUMMER HOLIDAY SAVINGS

£1,064 SAVINGFRANCE, ARLES

BIGGEST FAMILY SAVINGS

£3,452 IN TOTALPORTUGAL, SINTRA

CHEAPEST FAMILY HOLIDAY

Alternative destinations provide summer holiday savings The M&S Bank Summer Holiday Barometer reveals the cost of a family holiday has risen across the board this summer, with prices up by an average of £357 year-on-year. However, families looking to get more for their money can typically save over £500 simply by choosing alternative destinations instead of more popular resorts in the same country.

Sintra in Portugal is the most affordable destination to visit this summer, costing a family of four £3,452 or £863 each for a week-long break. This beautiful town in the Sintra Mountains is close to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and has a family-friendly flight time of less than three hours (2 hours, 50 minutes). Sintra is £628 cheaper overall than better-known Funchal.

Visiting Arles in Southern France instead of tourist hotspot Saint Tropez can offer the biggest saving of all, with families pocketing more than £1,000 (£1,064). Arles is also the second cheapest destination overall, costing £3,468 for a family of four. With its close proximity to the UK, Arles offers a short flight time of less than two hours (1 hour, 55 minutes).

Holidaying in Vigo instead of Marbella in Spain provides the second biggest saving. This port city on the north-west coast, which is in reaching distance of three natural paradise islands, costs £984 less than the tourist hotspot of Marbella.

The third best value option for holidaymakers looking to cut the cost of their summer holiday, and a great choice for those looking to holiday further afield, is Port Elizabeth instead of Durban in South Africa. Durban is the most expensive of all the destinations researched, costing a family of four £6,396 in total. By opting for Port Elizabeth instead, the same family would save £712 and spend £5,684 for the whole family of four. Port Elizabeth is also the cheapest place to visit outside of Europe.

Despite being more affordable than the star-studded Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre in the Italian Riviera has seen the highest annual increase in holiday costs, with an average week-long break costing 14 per cent more than in 2015. Other destinations that have seen significant annual price rises are Marbella (12.4 per cent) and Sintra (12.2 per cent), with annual price increases of over 12 per cent.

TOP TIPS FOR KEEPING HOLIDAY COSTS LOW

M&SBANK

• Get organised – book flights well in advance to get the best possible deal

• Work to a budget – plan your holiday budget to work out how much your holiday will cost and how much travel money you will need. Even if you’re staying in half-board or all-inclusive accommodation, don’t forget to factor in the cost for taxis, tipping and other extras

• Buy in advance – find out if you can buy tickets for activities you’re planning cheaper in advance

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Top savings from alternative holiday destinationsTOTAL COST FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR

AmalfiCoast £3,752 £4,208

Cinque Terre £3,135 £3,572

ITALY

£636

2015 2016

4

Saint Tropez £4,159 £4,532

Arles £3,164 £3,468

FRANCE

£1,064SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS*

SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS* SAVINGS*

2015 2016

1

Marbella £3,995 £4,492

Vigo £3,161 £3,508

SPAIN

£984

2015 2016

2

Funchal £3,659 £4,080

Sintra £3,076 £3,452

PORTUGAL

£628

2015 2016

5

Durban £6,330 £6,396

Port Elizabeth £5,631 £5,684

S.AFRICA

£712

2015 2016

3

ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS PROVIDE SUMMER HOLIDAY SAVINGS

CONTINUED...

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7

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Crete £3,669 £4,044

Sivota £3,288 £3664

GREECE

£380 £328 £264 £196 £180

2015 2016

6

Dubrovnik £3,916 £4,320

Pula £3,599 £3,992

CROATIA

2015 2016

7

Orlando £5,672 £6,164

Fort Lauderdale £5,448 £5,900

USA(FLORIDA)

2015 2016

8

Stockholm £3,418 £3,792

Uppsala £3,247 £3,596

SWEDEN

2015 2016

9

Sunny Beach £3,382 £3,692

Sozopol £3,226 £3,512

BULGARIA

2015 2016

10

4

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Methodology:

All holiday costs are for a family of four for one week. Costs include seven nights’ accommodation, return flights, dinner, spending money and one activity. All flights and accommodation booked for a family of four from 30th July to 6th August. Accommodation costs are from www.expedia.co.uk and represent the average 3 star hotel family room cost. All restaurants from www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living. Spending money based on results of consumer research (£563 per person). All exchange rates from M&S Bank correct for 30th June 2016 and June 2015

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With the cost of a summer holiday on the rise, more than half (57 per cent) of British holidaymakers intend to spend more on their main getaway this year. The average amount expected to be spent on a holiday this year is £2,021 (excluding spending money): an eight per cent increase on the £1,878 that holidaymakers spent in 2015. Of those who will be spending more this year, over a fifth (22 per cent) think prices are now more expensive.

A third of holidaymakers (31 per cent) are taking action to mitigate an increase in the cost of their holiday by planning to spend less this year, either by visiting a less expensive destination (34 per cent) or going on a shorter holiday (28 per cent).

Despite rising holiday costs, over a third (35 per cent) of those families intending to spend more this year are picking a more expensive destination, while 23 per cent are opting for a longer holiday. An additional 23 per cent are spending more as a treat to themselves.

All-inclusive still top choice for Brits All-inclusive accommodation remains the most popular choice for holidaymakers in 2016, with over a quarter (26 per cent) choosing this. All-inclusive deals remain popular as they can be good value for money, but can come with additional expenses if not all food, drink, tipping or excursions are covered in the package.

Self-catering apartments or villas are the second most popular choice of accommodation (24 per cent), followed closely by half-board hotels (23 per cent).

Despite the growing popularity of home rental sites like Airbnb, this option was favoured by just three per cent of holidaymakers.

ONE IN THREE HOLIDAYMAKERS TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE COSTS

One in three holidaymakers take action to reduce costs

ON THEIR MAIN GETAWAY THIS YEAR

EXPECT TO SPEND MORE

57%

OVER A FIFTH

WILL VISIT A

AGREE PRICES ARE NOW MORE EXPENSIVE

22%

03

SHORTER HOLIDAY

WILL GO ON A

34%

28%

LESS EXPENSIVE DESTINATION

£ £ £ £ £ £

ONE IN THREE HOLIDAYMAKERS TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE COSTS

CONTINUED...

Travel money trendsThe average holiday will last ten days, and families expect to spend £563 each in travel money during their main holiday this year. This is a marginal increase of less than one per cent since 2015 (£560).

When planning their holiday spending, over half (52 per cent) of holidaymakers plan a budget and stick to it; 36 per cent make a budget for the whole holiday while 16 per cent prefer to budget on a weekly or daily basis.

However, surprisingly a third (33 per cent) don’t budget for holidays at all and of those that do, nearly a quarter (22 per cent) fail to keep to their budget. Holidaymakers tend to buy their travel money close to their departure date, with 46 per cent exchanging their sterling in the week before their holiday. However, nine per cent (rising to 10 per cent of men) wait until they are abroad to get their travel money, which is likely to cost a premium.

Holidaymakers typically get most of their holiday money from a bureau de change (40 per cent) or a bank (19 per cent) before they go away. However, over one in ten (13 per cent) get their holiday money online, a trend that is most common among the 55-64 age group (17 per cent).

The majority of holidaymakers are savvy when it comes to getting their foreign currency, with 86 per cent comparing exchange rates and deals before making a purchase, including 52 per cent who always do this. However, over one in ten (13 per cent) never do this and could well be paying more for their spending money than they need to. In addition, if customers research rates online, they may get a different rate when they purchase in-store.

When buying currency, 37 per cent of consumers expect the in-store rate to be the same as the rate they have seen online. However, research by M&S Bank among 12 major travel money providers shows that 90 per cent of providers actually offer different rates in-store. In addition, 67 per cent of providers use regional pricing and change their in-store rates according to location*.

Pre-holiday essentials Over half (54 per cent) of holidaymakers start shopping for their holiday essentials a month or more before departure, although 15 per cent will leave it until less than a week before. Men are more likely than women to leave it until the last minute (19 per cent vs. 12 per cent). The holiday essentials that are top of Britons’ shopping lists are sun cream (75 per cent), new clothes (67 per cent), insect repellent (39 per cent), swimming costumes (28 per cent) and flip flops (25 per cent).

OF CONSUMERS EXPECT THE IN-STORE RATE

TO BE THE SAME AS THE RATE THEY HAVE SEEN ONLINE

BUT

OF PROVIDERS ACTUALLY OFFER

DIFFERENT RATES IN-STORE

90%

37%

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Methodology: * Based on in-branch research carried out by Consumer Intelligence Ltd May 2016, comparing exchange rates of Euros and

US Dollars for 12 branches in 5 different locations across the UK

TOP TRAVEL MONEY TIPS

M&SBANK

• Check rates before you buy - don’t rely on internet rates if buying travel money in-store; many providers have different rates online and some change their rate throughout the day

• Plan ahead! - don’t leave your holiday money until the last minute; airport bureaux often offer less competitive rates and may not have a wide variety of note denominations

• Increase your options - always take both travel money and a credit / debit card to ensure you’ve got multiple methods of payment

Adequate travel insurance is crucial for those holidaying abroad, but the M&S Bank Summer Holiday Barometer has found that one in six (16 per cent) will not purchase cover for their holiday this year, an increase of three per cent on last year. Young adults aged 25-34 are the least likely to purchase travel insurance (23 per cent won’t purchase insurance). This figure declines with age, reducing to 10 per cent of over 65s who will choose not to purchase travel insurance.

The most common reason holidaymakers do not buy travel insurance is because they think they will not need it, either because they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (15 per cent) or they don’t think they’ll need to make a claim (14 per cent). Following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, it is uncertain whether British travellers will continue to have access to the benefits of an EHIC in the future. However, even in the short-term, it is important to note that an EHIC does not provide the same level of cover and is never a suitable alternative for adequate travel insurance. EHIC vs travel insurance – what is covered?

ONE IN SIX WILL NOT TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

One in six will not take out travel insurance

AN INCREASE OF 3% ON LAST YEAR

WILL NOT PURCHASE COVER FOR THEIR HOLIDAY THIS YEAR

16%

TOP TIPS ON TRAVEL INSURANCE

M&SBANK

• Act quickly - travel insurance doesn’t just cover holidaymakers for the time they’re on holiday, it also provides cover in the event that they’re unable to travel, so it’s important for holidaymakers to purchase travel insurance as soon as they’ve booked their holiday

• Be prepared - travellers to Europe should ensure they have a valid EHIC, which provides access to state-provided healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. But this is not an alternative to travel insurance, as it will not cover any private healthcare or associated costs, such as special transport arrangements back to the UK and lost or stolen property

• Pick a policy to suit - holidaymakers who travel abroad a lot during the year might benefit from a multi-trip or annual policy, which could be better value than buying several single trip policies

Covers European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Travel Insurance

State-provided healthcare

Private medical healthcare or costs e.g. rescue or flown home to UK

X

Cancelled or cut-short trips X

Lost or stolen property X

Delayed flights/ departure X

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ONE IN SIX WILL NOT TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

CONTINUED...

MEDICAL EXPENSES

MOST COMMON CLAIM

AVERAGE MEDICAL CLAIM OF £1,000

OF HOLIDAYMAKERS SAY THEY COULD NOT EASILY COVER THE

32%

Methodology: Based on an online survey of 2,001 UK adults who have or will be holidaying abroad this year, carried out by Consumer Intelligence Ltd. 2015 figures are from the M&S Bank Summer Holiday Barometer 2015. i http://blog.abi.org.uk/2015/07/travel-insurance-dont-gamble-with-your-cover-this-summer/

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Of those who do purchase travel insurance, almost two in five (38 per cent) decide which policy to buy based on the cheapest policy available. However, a quarter (24 per cent) will buy a policy if it is provided by a company they trust. An additional 17 per cent are already covered as part of an existing arrangement, such as a packaged current account.

Those who do get travel insurance like to do so in advance. 37 per cent will get their travel insurance as soon as they book their holiday, while 29 per cent do so between one and six months before they depart.

Over a quarter (27 per cent) of holidaymakers have previously made a travel insurance claim, highlighting the importance of having adequate cover in place. The most common claims are medical expenses (35 per cent), theft of personal possessions (16 per cent) and cancelled holidays (13 per cent).

Medical treatment abroad can be very expensive, with the average cost of a claim for medical expenses on a travel insurance policy totalling just over £1,000i. Almost a third (32 per cent) of holidaymakers say they could not easily cover £1,000 in unexpected expenses during their holiday, illustrating the need for adequate travel insurance.

HAVE PREVIOUSLY MADE A TRAVEL

INSURANCE CLAIM

OF HOLIDAY MAKERS

27%

35%