August staycation bookings are already up by 46% on 2020, data shows
With overseas travel put on hold until “everybody is vaccinated” according to Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, staycations seem to be our best bet for a summer holiday this year.
Last year, holidaymakers flocked to the seaside as soon as we were given the green light, making available cottages and self-catered homes few and far between.
New data shows that staycationers are already thinking ahead this year, with August bookings of hotels and self-catered options already up by 46% compared to summer 2020.
Read more: Expert explains why you shouldn't cancel your summer holiday abroad just yet
The data, from hotel technology providers, Avvio, also reveals that the average length of stays has increased by 56% and that the value of these bookings has increased by 81%.
“Everyone is desperate for something to look forward to at the moment, so it makes complete sense that many people are splashing out on a UK holiday,” says Avvio’s chief commercial officer Michael De Jongh.
“So long as they ensure they can amend or cancel their booking easily, they won’t be left financially worse off if lockdown continues longer than anticipated.”
De Jongh adds that there has been a surge in demand for bookings in June, July and August and that larger homes are the most popular.
“While families are certainly pushing demand right now we don’t expect there to be the kind of spike we saw last June and July for booking. Instead we expect a longer, gradual build-up to the peak booking period of August, when shorter lead times from couples and millennials will result in a further pick-up in bookings much closer to their stay dates,” De Jongh continues.
Read more: The little things we’re looking forward to post-pandemic
When Boris Johnson gave staycations the green light last summer, lodge specialist Hoseasons said it had a booking every 11 seconds, while cottages.com reported a 455% increase in bookings for that week year-on-year.
With that in mind, it might be a good idea to start thinking about booking your own staycation. To help, we’ve rounded up the best seaside cottages in the UK to head to this summer as well as the under-the-radar destinations we’re loving too.
Read more: Tripadvisor names St Ives as one of its top emerging destinations for 2021
Earlier this week, Grant Shapps all but quashed any hopes of international travel this summer after saying it would depend on “everybody being vaccinated”. Current government planning shows the UK’s adult population isn’t expected to be vaccinated until autumn.
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