CHESTER, England, January 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
- Over 1 in 5 (21 per cent) family holidaymakers argue about destination choice or how much to spend on their annual holiday
- 40 per cent of family men feel they 'give in' to keep everyone happy
- 47 per cent of holidaymakers squabble about what they should do while on holiday
- 58 per cent of family holidaymakers say feel that mum has the final say on deciding the holiday in general
- Almost a quarter (24 per cent) feel like they're stuck in a holiday 'rut'
With Christmas a distant memory, the weather taking a turn for the worse and half term and Easter breaks fast approaching, many families are planning on getting some quality time and much needed 'sun therapy' in the diary. Research released today from TravelSupermarket shows that families may already be feeling the pressure when it comes to planning this year's holiday as one in every five (21 per cent) family holidaymakers bicker about where to go and how much to spend.
Findings from the TravelSupermarket 2013 Travel Trends Tracker show that while it is women who make most of the final holiday decisions, 40 per cent of men often feel a little hard done by, claiming they sacrifice their preferences in order to keep the peace when booking a family break.
The research also reveals that almost half (47 per cent) of holidaymakers disagree about things such as which activities to do during the day (21 per cent), what they should eat (19 per cent) and where to go in the evening (17 per cent), but it's normally the women who have the final say in these decisions (58 per cent*). This isn't surprising as when it comes to choosing the destination and deciding the daily activity on a family holiday, it's normally down to mum to lead the way and keep everyone happy. And with many opinions and preferences to take into account on holiday, it can be a juggling act to balance everyone's expectations.
When it comes to holiday budgets, men are more likely than women to start an argument about the expense of the holiday with 16 per cent citing this as one of the causes of bickering compared with only 10 per cent of women. Despite this, when it comes to holiday finances, it appears women control the purse strings, with 55 per cent of those who argue about holiday spending believing women win the argument over men**.
Supporting the conclusion that men feel like they compromise more on their holiday ideal, the study also illustrates that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of family holidaymakers feel like they are stuck in a holiday 'rut', because they choose the same types of trip each year, with men (28 per cent) feeling more frustrated than women (20 per cent).
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from TravelSupermarket, comments: "Our annual holiday with the family is the one of the biggest events of the year and it's no wonder that many people have to negotiate to find a holiday that will deliver the holiday goods for everyone going on the trip. The keys to deciding on a holiday that appeals to the whole family is to understand what will tick the box for each of the family and to research your options thoroughly to check your holiday will deliver them prior to booking. With holidays, it's not the case that one size fits all, but there are hundreds of destinations that will tick most of the boxes.
"With so many great holiday deals currently on offer, and many resorts keen to give you the best value for your holiday budget, you're bound to find a destination with activities and features that will keep everyone happy. Options include everything from Orlando in USA to Salou in Spain, within walking distance or a short bus journey away from a selection of restaurants, theme parks, pampering retreats and beach locations. So get online, and see where your holiday budget could take you - without the need for hours of negotiation with the family!"
Bob's top tips for avoiding holiday destination dramas:
1. Start off by getting everyone together and understanding the things that you all like and dislike about travelling on holiday. Make a list of must have items such as swimming pools, kids' clubs, location, type of resort, flying times and things to do in the resort such as nightlife and eating out, cultural activities, theme parks or maybe sports.
2. The next step is to filter them down to the three or four killer things that will ensure the trip goes well. These are now the must haves for your holiday check list.
3. Set yourself a clear budget and try to stick to it. It may help to use the comparison services available online as this will give a huge selection of holidays that cater for different budgets. There are always fun but unaccounted activities on a holiday so having the peace of mind you can afford them will help you enjoy your time away.
4. Now that you know what you want from a break start the research for your best destination. Get online and use social media sites as well as blogs and review sites for further ideas and research. Then begin checking the travel sites for inspiration and by using a search engine to read destination guides such as those from TravelSupermarket. Our huge range of concise guides cover off the key holiday resorts and city break locations with all the things to see and do.
5. Once you've found a good deal, get booking! Don't let the deal go. And when booking remember our three Golden Rules:
- Wherever possible book an ATOL or a Flight-Plus covered holiday. If in doubt ask the company you are booking with if they are covered and if you're concerned that the licence is genuine then check it with the CAA.
- Pay by VISA or Mastercard debit card for charge back protection or by credit card you can receive protection under the Consumer Credit Act and the Consumer Credit Directive for transactions between £100 and £62,260 - even if just the deposit is put on the card.
- For all holidays without protection such as DIY trips, you should have an insurance policy to cover End Supplier failure. This protects you against loss due to the collapse of a part of your holiday or the ability to re-book the failed element without incurring the additional costs, dependent on your policy.
Notes to editors:
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,011 British Holidaymakers, defined as having been on holiday at least once during the past three years, from 30th November to 7th December 2012. Of these, 983 were "family holidaymakers"
Further questions were asked in an online survey of 1,604 UK Holidaymakers from 4th to 7th January 2013. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria
* 792 family holidaymakers were asked who tends to make the final decision when it comes to the family holiday destination. Female family members as well as women answering "myself" and men answering "my partner" were counted as female while male family members, men answering "myself" and women answering "my partner" were counted as male. Figures exclude those answering "other" or "don't know"
** 103 respondents who argue about how much they will spend on the family holiday were asked who tends to get their way on this issue. Male and female family members were calculated using the above method.
About TravelSupermarket
TravelSupermarket is an online comparison service where customers can find the best value travel options for their needs and purchase over the internet. The website compares flights, car hire, hotels, cruise, package holidays plus dynamic packaging by searching hundreds of travel websites. The information supplied is unbiased and is designed to save the customer time and money.
The site thrives on offering its users accurate real time availability by taking information directly from suppliers such as Opodo, British Airways, Thomas Cook, First Choice, Radisson, Sol Melia, easyCar, Auto-Europe and many more, ensuring users are presented the best possible price at all times. It searches:
- Over 650 scheduled, low cost and charter airlines from 39 individual suppliers
- Over 200,000 individual hotels from over 42 individual hotel suppliers
- Over 200 individual car hire providers from over 21 suppliers
- 1,000s of individual package holidays from over 34 suppliers
Additionally, TravelSupermarket also compares prices on travel insurance and on airport car parking.
TravelSupermarket is part of the Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC.
http://www.moneysupermarket.com is a website where consumers can compare personal finance products, save money and apply online. The website has several service areas including personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, current accounts, savings accounts, motor insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, health insurance, mobile phones, broadband and shopping.
For more information please contact:
Karla Winch
Brands2Life
+44(0)20-7592-1200
karla.winch@brands2life.com
Emma Morris
PR Manager
+44(0)1244-220-671
Emma.morris@travelsupermarket.com
Share this article