13 Jun 2012
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% |
