The British stay closer to home and fly budget this Christmas season
Barcelona (PRWEB UK) 19 December 2013 -- Purse strings have become tighter this year as Brits opt for European destinations this Christmas season, while also flying budget. According to flight data from eDreams, one of Europe's leading travel agencies, Brits splashed out more on flights last year, with the majority opting for a warm Christmas break in Bangkok and, coming in as a close second, a trip across the pond to New York. Even when they did decide to stay on European soil, it was Bulgaria's capital, Sophia, one of Europe's most easterly points, that came in as the third most popular Christmas destination for British travellers.
Large metropolitan cities step up their activities and cultural events on offer during the Christmas holidays, which is tempting much of the British population away this year. Christmas markets, foreign cuisine and new scenery all make for an experience to remember when spending time with the family. However, new results published suggest that the British have decided to travel less distance for their Christmas holiday this year.
According to the eDreams’ recent study results of destinations booked over the 2013 Christmas season, not one international destination features on the list. This is a stark contrast to last year's results where, in total, the top 3 cities, Bangkok, New York and Sophia, equated to 10,933 miles travelled, while this year's top 3, Amsterdam, Geneva and Paris, come out at only 1,225 miles. This budget cutting is not only seen in the shorter distances travelled, but also in the chosen airlines used to reach the destinations. Last year, the majority of flights booked were with British Airways, closely followed by other 'traditional' carriers such as KLM, Lufthansa and Air France. This year, British Airways and KLM are the only two of last year’s carriers to make it back into the top 5, with Easyjet being a clear first, followed by other low-cost options.
Although the eDreams list clearly shows that the British are cutting costs when it comes to their travelling plans, it also shows that the penny-pinching stops there. Some of the most expensive cities in Europe appear in the list, Amsterdam, Geneva and Paris, being no exception. These statistics may show a trend of an ever-increasing acceptance of travelling budget, while demonstrating that the Brits prefer to splash out once having arrived to their destination.
Last year’s list also made it clear that not many of the Brits booking Christmas flights chose to fly to UK destinations, as not one of the top 10 cities were on UK soil. This year, however, both London and Belfast have made it into the top 10, meaning Britain has become a serious contender when deciding where to spend Christmas and New Year.
It’s yet to be seen if these changing trends can be attributed to just an ever increasing need to spend less, or if European destinations are truly becoming strong competitors compared to other international options. However, these results may well be welcome news for the European economy, with more British choosing to spend their money closer to home this year.
About eDreams:
eDreams is one of the leading online travel agencies in Europe. The company offers its services in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Chile, India, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, Thailand, Greece, the Netherlands and the global English speaking market. eDreams has recorded one of the highest growth rates in the European market for online travel. The company offers a wide range of services including flights, hotels, flight + hotel, and other products, which are available for their clients through booking engines that integrate the latest technologies and price searches.
Paula Malingre, eDreams, http://www.edreams.com, +34 620915756, [email protected]
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