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No frills holidays order of the day

date-icon 13 Jun 2012  author-icon Posted by Miriam O'Neill


Affordability is key when it comes to our annual holiday this year according to our new Travel Insurancev  research. We surveyed almost 8,000 people on their planned holiday expenditure shows that huge numbers are planning to opt for low cost airlines and the cheapest available package deals to help keep costs down.  Demonstrating this mindset further, 61% of poll participants said they’re likely to map out a host of free activities while away in order to spend less.

Tellingly, 25% of those polled by our AA Travel Insurance division said they simply don’t have the funds at all to take a holiday this year.  44% also said they were likely to choose a domestic break over a foreign holiday this year again for financial reasons.  Travel insurance would also appear to be one of the sacrifices some holidaymakers are willing to make when weighing up their costs.  Overall one in five people said there’s likely to forgo it this year to reduce costs.

“No doubt about it, holidays are a luxury and lots of people are having to cut back in certain areas, but travel insurance really shouldn’t be one of them if you can help it.” Advises Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs, AA Ireland.  “Travel Insurance is generally low cost but invaluable if something major goes wrong such as a medical emergency.”

Our AA Travel Insurance Poll also identifies some very clear trends amongst genders and age group when it comes to the ways and means they’re trimming costs.  Women for example emerged more frugal on most counts explored by our AA Travel Insurance division.  As a collective they emerged as more likely to prepare their own meals, bring pack lunches on excursions and generally shop around to get a good deal on their holiday.  44% of women also indicated that luxuries such as pedicures and other beauty treatments in advance of their holiday were likely to get the axe this year.  A high percentage of women, 43%, also said they’ll have to avoid or at least cut down on shopping during their trip.  

Men however appeared to have more patience in one or two other areas such as scouring the internet to ensure they get the best deal going on car rental.

In terms of age categories our AA Travel Insurance Poll throws up few surprises.  An above average percentage of 17-24 year olds, 30%, indicated that they will skip travel insurance to save money.  They were also identified as most likely to opt for low cost airlines, budget accommodation and rock bottom price package deals.  Alternatively 35 to 45 year olds came out as most likely to prepare their own meals, bring pack lunches on excursions, look for free activities and consider a house exchange.  12% within this age category said they would consider a house exchange as viable option for an affordable holiday.

Fig. 1 How likely poll respondents indicated they are to do the following regarding their main holiday this year/next year to help keep costs down.  (Based on 7856 responses gathered between 10/05/12 and 20/05/12):

  Very likely  Somewhat likely  Neutral  Not very likely  Not at all likely
Forgo travel insurance 12.3% 9.1% 6.3% 19.7% 52.8%
Opt for low cost airlines 52.2% 25.3% 10.9% 6.4% 5.7%
Look for the cheapest package deals 45.9% 24.3% 13.3% 8.6% 8.1%
Opt for budget accommodation 24.4% 26.2% 18.4% 20.6% 10.8%
Pay closer attention to currency exchange rates 30.3% 23.2% 21.9% 13.4% 11.7%
Search for the cheapest car hire options online before you go 45.2% 19.5% 14.3% 7.3% 14.1%
Cut back on beauty treatments before you travel 25.4% 10.4% 33.1% 9.5% 22.1%
Prepare your own meals rather than eat out while there 16.6% 26.7% 14.4% 22.5% 20.2%
Bring packed lunches when on excursions 17.7% 27.3% 14.0% 21.2% 20.1%
Forgo purchase of gifts 22.9% 28.0% 21.1% 17.2% 11.3%
Look for free activities 28.6% 32.8% 21.9% 9.2% 7.8%
Avoid shopping while on holiday 13.4% 22.3% 20.2% 26.7% 17.9%
Consider a house exchange 4.1% 6.6% 15.5% 19.9% 54.2%
Stay in Ireland 20.6% 23.4% 22.9% 14.7% 18.9%
Don’t take a holiday at all 12.9% 12.6% 17.4% 17.4% 40.2%

Fig. 2 How likely FEMALE poll respondents indicated they are to do the following regarding their main holiday this year/next year to help keep costs down.  (Based on 3,103 responses gathered between 10/05/12 and 20/05/12):

  Very likely Somewhat likely Neutral Not very likely Not at all likely
Forgo travel insurance 11.7% 9.3% 5.3% 18.6% 55.3%
Opt for low cost airlines 56.3% 25.8% 7.3% 5.8% 5.3%
Look for the cheapest package deals 51.4% 22.7% 10.6% 7.9% 7.7%
Opt for budget accommodation 29.0% 27.4% 15.0% 19.3% 9.7%
Pay closer attention to currency exchange rates 31.4% 23.8% 20.2% 14.3% 11.1%
Search for the cheapest car hire options online before you go 44.1% 17.6% 15.8% 7.6% 15.4%
Cut back on beauty treatments before you travel 31.1% 17.5% 25.5% 13.8% 12.4%
Prepare your own meals rather than eat out while there 20.3% 28.6% 11.7% 22.1% 17.8%
Bring packed lunches when on excursions 22.9% 28.8% 11.4% 21.0% 16.1%
Forgo purchase of gifts 28.4% 30.2% 16.8% 15.1% 10.0%
Look for free activities 36.2% 33.8% 16.3% 7.9% 6.2%
Avoid shopping while on holiday 17.1% 25.7% 16.5% 24.0% 17.3%
Consider a house exchange 4.3% 7.6% 14.6% 21.4% 52.6%
Stay in Ireland 24.4% 25.1% 19.8% 14.2% 17.0%
Don’t take a holiday at all 16.1% 13.9% 15.9% 16.9% 37.8%

Fig. 3 How likely MALE poll respondents indicated they are to do the following regarding their main holiday this year/next year to help keep costs down.  (Based on 4635  responses gathered between 10/05/12 and 20/05/12):

  Very likely Somewhat likely Neutral Not very likely Not at all likely
Forgo travel insurance 12.9% 9.0% 7.0% 20.5% 50.9%
Opt for low cost airlines 49.5% 24.9% 13.2% 6.9% 5.9%
Look for the cheapest package deals 42.3% 25.3% 15.3% 9.1% 8.4%
Opt for budget accommodation 21.4% 25.4% 20.7% 21.5% 11.4%
Pay closer attention to currency exchange rates 29.5% 22.7% 23.2% 12.9% 12.2%
Search for the cheapest car hire options online before you go 45.9% 20.8% 13.5% 7.1% 13.0%
Cut back on beauty treatments before you travel 21.1% 5.0% 38.7% 6.4% 29.5%
Prepare your own meals rather than eat out while there 14.1% 25.5% 16.2% 22.8% 21.8%
Bring packed lunches when on excursions 14.2% 26.4% 15.8% 21.3% 22.7%
Forgo purchase of gifts 19.2% 26.7% 23.9% 18.7% 11.9%
Look for free activities 23.5% 32.4% 25.5% 10.1% 9.0%
Avoid shopping while on holiday 10.9% 20.0% 22.7% 28.7% 18.2%
Consider a house exchange 3.9% 6.1% 16.0% 18.8% 55.4%
Stay in Ireland 18.2% 22.2% 25.0% 15.0% 20.0%
Don’t take a holiday at all 10.8% 11.7% 18.3% 17.8% 41.7%

Written by Miriam O'Neill


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