Staycations on the rise

Planning to stay in the UK this year for your summer holiday? You’re in good company – more than half of people have decided to do the same.

A new poll by M&S Money found that 54% of people surveyed say they’ll be taking a ‘staycation’ this year and staying within British shores. A quarter of these say this is because they think it will cheaper, but as head of travel money at M&S Money Jane Lawson said, this isn’t always the case.

‘Staycations are clearly popular this year, particularly as people look forward to celebrating the Jubilee and Olympics, in what will be a British summer to remember,’ she said. ‘However, with the cost of activities and eating out in the UK relatively high and favourable foreign exchange rates helping to make your money go further abroad, a holiday at home is not always the most affordable option.’

The estimated cost of a week’s holiday in London, for example, is around £1631, mainly because of relatively high accommodation and spending money costs. This is more expensive than a week in Alicante (£927) or even a week at Hua Hin in Thailand (£1422).

But holidaying on the cheap in the UK is easily done if you know the ropes. Camping is one of the least expensive holidays around, even if you fancy glamping or going as a large family – check out our regularly updated offers page to make it cheaper, or try the tips in our Camping on a Shoestring blog.