Staycations up by a quarter this summer, research suggests

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The number of British people opting to take domestic holidays this summer is up by as much as quarter over last year, research reveals.

The unfavorable exchange rate and unpredictable political landscape have attributed to the rise in staycations, it is suggested. To that we should also add that there are still many who literally cannot afford to go abroad as they have not had a pay rise for many years.

A 23.8% rise in British holidaymakers planning UK stays for summer 2017 was identified based on searches and bookings made between October 2016 and January 2017 to depart from June to August this year.

UK trips are getting shorter too, as the data indicated that more than half of domestic holidaymakers are planning a break of three days or less – up 8.8% from last year.

A notable decline of 5.2% was found in the number of UK travelers planning a staycation of 12 days or more, however this group still accounts for 16.6% of the total. The top five UK destination cities this summer are London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester.

While staycation bookings are up, Spain remains the top summer destination for UK holidaymakers, followed by with Italy, Greece and Portugal, though France has dropped out of the top five this year despite being the third most popular destination for Britons in 2016.

With Sterling plummeting 13% against the US dollar and dropping 9% against the euro since the EU referendum vote last June, we are seeing a notable uplift in UK tourists opting to holiday at locations at home. Others will be vacationing at home at home, so to speak, in that they are not going to any resort or anything of that nature.

We have seen that stay-at-home staycations have become very popular over the last couple of years ever since the Great Recession and austerity in Britain and this could be seen in the local Parks with a serious increase of visitors.

We have seen an almost a 25% year-over-year increase in people opting for staycations in the UK this summer rather than going abroad and over half the people are planning shorter trips for less than three days. That trend has seen an increase of almost 10% over the previous year.

For some, as mentioned, opting for a staycation at UK destinations (and even altogether at home) is closely tied to the unfavorable exchange rate between Sterling and Euro since the Brexit vote but, in my opinion, it has also a great deal to do with lack of cash flow, so to speak, as many workers who would have traveled to destinations on the European mainland just cannot really afford to do so.

Other concerns, no doubt, are those of security and the ever increasing restrictions of what you can and cannot take with you on an aircraft nowadays, with regards to terrorism concerns. Check-in rimes are getting longer and also the check-out, so to speak, on the other end. And on the way back you have a repeat performance creating hassle and stress which almost requires another holiday to get over it.

Personally I cannot think of any better kind of holiday, vacation, than staying at home and spending it there.

© 2017

And granny came too - families unite on holiday front

Many families will be packing more than suitcases into their cars for this year's summer holidays - they will also be making room for grandma and granddad.

That's the finding of a major holiday parks group, Best of British, which reports a growing trend for couples with kids to join up with grandparents for holidays.

Although the move helps spread holiday costs, says the group, many families are also motivated by wanting to spend quality time together outside their busy working lives.

The growth of three-generation holidays has been pinpointed by Best of British among the 50-plus independent holiday parks in its membership.

Many parks say their 2012 bookings show that a record number of holidays this year will be taken by extended family groups going away together.

Best of British chairman Claire Jeavons says that although pressure on household budgets is a likely factor behind the trend, there were other good reasons to team-up with gran and grandpa:

"Multi-generation holidays were once more common in Britain, but became less practical - and with fewer savings benefits - as overseas holidays gained popularity," said Ms Jeavons.

"Now, though, British stay-cations are gaining ground, and families are using the opportunity to come together and enjoy each other's company in neutral territory away from home.

"As well as sharing the expenses, it also means mum and dad have a built-in child care service so that they can make an occasional escape and be just a couple again," she added.

Parks belonging to the group, said Ms Jeavons, are mainly family-owned businesses at the top end of the holiday parks market, and were often quick to spot changing dynamics.

"Our experience is that a wide range of ages creates the most relaxed atmosphere for everyone," said Ms Jeavons who helps manage her family business of Beverley Holidays in Paignton, South Devon.

Members of Best of British can be found throughout the UK, and variously provide caravan holiday homes and lodges, plus pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

More information can be found on-line at www.Bob.org.uk

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Staycations & Fakeaways

by Michael Smith

In this current economic downturn, or maybe we should really truthfully call the baby by its proper name even though the eggheads try too still deny it, namely recession come depression, in Britain and in other developing nations, “stay at home vacations”, that are even beginning to be called “staycations” and also “fakeaways” - in the USA one would probably call them “fakeouts” - the make at home version of the “takeout”, the “takeaway”, as it is called in Britain, are becoming somewhat the norm now, it would appear.

It started this summer where the beginnings of the credit crunch were becoming obvious and people realized that they needed to keep an eye, a very close one, on their finances and there were also some that did it in order to aid the environment, to do the “green” thing. It was then when at first the new trend of “staycations” was beginning,, for one reason or the other. We then saw it continue into the holiday season in the USA with Thanksgiving being very quiet at airports and on the roads. People stayed home, to a great degree, for the holidays rather than to travel hundreds of miles. An additional factor in that case was the high cost at that time of gasoline as well.

Home appears to be now a great new holiday destination and in the UK also vacations in the country were up by over 60% for the summer 2008 compared with previous years. Good for the holiday resorts in Britain, I am sure. It is also no bad thing at all. A lower environmental footprint for starters and no huge amounts of air miles accumulated.

It certainly will do the environment and our planet a world of good – pardon the pun – if people indeed spend their vacations at destinations within the country, or in the USA State or neighboring State and not further afield, or even right at home in their own home and in their own town and area.

Why fly down to Spain to Costa del England – as the Costa del Sol is often jokingly referred to – when one has not even seen the sights in one's own country, often not even in one's own county?

How many British families have been in the Tower of London and seen the Crown Jewels and such? How many have seen Stonehenge properly? No, but they have been to the Louvre in Paris, or the Pyramids in Egypt even.

While the working class that tend to travel on package holidays to the places in Spain and such that are nothing but an extension of England with their nightclubs, cheap booze, etc., etc., and may not have all that nice homes staying at home still would benefit them more than anything. They often take out loans to be able to do those vacations. Doh? Or the save all year for it. Why?

Why not stay home, especially if one has a nice enough home and parks and open spaces and woods and seaside one can go and visit as and when the weather permits? That is a much better choice, and it does the environment good as well.

The towns and cities of this country and also the countryside are full of history but people seem to rather want to experience foreign places at rip off rates. Mind you, then again, a visit to the Tower of London certainly is not cheap at £17 per adult and £10 per child. I assume that families could get a slightly reduced rate on a family ticket but still it will make a visit to London and the Tower a rather expensive trip. Something must be done to make such visits more affordable, especially for those of the lower income bracket.

Fakeaways

With the costs rising left, right and center, whether utility bills, or fuel costs, people's habits are a-changing and the take out meals are replaced by the DIY Indian, Chinese or whatever meals at home.

While this may not be all that good for the restaurant industry it must be good for people's wallets and maybe even health. Do you really know how clean those kitchens of those places are? Do you really know what ingredients go into that curry? When you do your fakeaway Indian at home, however, you know where the ingredients have come from, who touched them – at least at your place that is – and how they were prepared and how clean the kitchen is.

Also, when you make your own exotic dishes, your takeout equivalent, at home the ingredients will be fresh and guaranteed cooked – probably – just that once and therefore any leftovers can be kept and used again the next day in one way or the other. Something that I would advise against if it is a take out meal proper, so to speak, as that food, more than likely was cooked and then reheated. In the case of rise, for instance, this can cause fatal botulism to develop. DIY and be safe and also green, though not as in color from food poisoning, but green as in environmentally friendly.

BYO Lunches

Another thing that the credit crunch has brought about, but also some of the “green” concerns, are the BYO Lunches. For many in offices both reasons, that of costs and that of being “green”, have lead to the renaissance in the bring-you-own lunch habit. For many manual workers it has always been the case that you made and brought along your own sandwiches and whatever and it used to also be the case for many office workers and even managers. Then came the sandwich bars and such and people began to buy their lunches out.

However, it would appear that we are headed back to the bringing your own lunch to work and elsewhere. The packed lunch is also there again for visits to parks and elsewhere where still a while ago people would have flocked for sandwiches and cakes and coffees or teas to the cafés. The only thing that people now, when visiting parks seem to purchase from the cafés seem to just be ice creams for the children.

Again, while this, unfortunately, may be impacting adversely on the catering industry, I would think that the environment, people's wallets and people's health will benefit here.

Firstly because sandwiches and other lunches that can be bought from those small and large places are certainly not cheap – far from it. Who, in their right mind, is going to pay £2 for a cheese sandwich? Well, some people seem to do in London's financial districts. Therefore it makes more than financial sense – strange the financial gurus don't seem to see that – to bring one's own lunch to the office or the workplace in general.

Secondly, as to health the story is the same as regards the take out places. You do not know how clean or not the food preparation areas are in those places and even if the lunches are bought pre-packed – and then comes the thing about the packaging too – from food factories and are just retailed by the stores one does not know as to how safe they are as regards to food poisoning bacteria and such like.

Make your own and take your own lunches to work and you save money and you also may just protect your body and your health as well.

Staycations and fakeaways are certainly the way to go, and that for both the environment and the wallet. In some instances also health. Both staycation and fakeaways also are a great idea and way to simplifying life.

© M Smith (Veshengro), December 2008
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'British Riviera' is the new trend for holidaying in 2009

SAGA nation replaced by younger generation

by Michael Smith

Forget the notion of old aged pensioners dominating UK holiday break hotspots. Over half of young family aged Brits are planning to embrace the best of British in the year ahead by planning to spend their breaks on home turf, sparking a younger vibe across the UK holiday spots.

With recent research showing that the UK’s top holiday destinations will emerge as the winners from the current credit crunch, insurance specialists Towergate Bakers reveals that 51% of 30 something’s will be caravanning in England for their holidays in the year ahead compared to a much smaller 31% of over 55 year olds.

The research has shown that Brits think of drive holidays as fun (14%) and less stressful than flying (10%), moving away from the recent trend to fly off and out of the country.

As part of a new study into UK and drive holidays, Towergate Bakers asked a GB representative sample of more than 2,000 people on the sort of holidays they were planning for the year ahead.

Key Findings:
· As 79% of Brits will opt for a short haul or drive holiday in 2009, the new research suggests a change in trend to the fashion of going abroad for our holidays.
· Dispelling the association of road congestion and stress when it comes to holidaying on the road, 14% of Brits find driving holidays fun and 10% say they are less stressful than flying.
· Holidays on your doorstep – people in East Anglia and the South West are most likely to enjoy UK drive holidays.

Paul Havenhand, Marketing Director at Towergate Bakers Insurance commented:
“At a time when we are set for a revival of traditional UK holiday as Brits save their pennies, our research shows that with young Brits planning to spend their holidays in the UK in the wake of economic turmoil, they will be revamping the image of British holiday destinations.
As the leading caravan insurance provider, we recommend that young Brits heading for British shores next year, check their insurance arrangements before they go on holiday.”

Towergate Bakers is the leading specialist insurance based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. As the leader in its field Towergate Bakers can provide static caravan insurance and touring caravan insurance, as well as insurance for park homes, leisure homes and motor homes. It currently looks after the caravan insurance needs for more than 50,000 policyholders across the UK.

Vacationing at home, in more the style of days gone by by the British seaside and holidaying in the National Parks, and other beautiful places of the British Isles can but be commended from the point of the reduction of environmental footprint, even though it may be done because of the economy and the credit crunch.

However, we can all live in the hope that those that are taking British holidays, whether in hotels, guest houses, self-catering, caravans, narrow boats on the canals, or however and wherever, are going to get the taste of if and will continue to vacation in this country rather than abroad.

Aside from the fact that it will benefit the environment, it will benefit the local tourism industry and the rural economy, if such holidays are taken in the countryside. So many people have in recent years gone abroad on holidays, to the, what I would call, silly places, and have never ever seen the sights of this, their own country.

There is so much to see in one's own country most of the time and I would encourage people to vacation at home – or resorts and such in their own countries – rather than here or there in the sun (which is not all that good for them anyways). Even staying at home, as in staying put at one's own home and creating a great time for oneself and one's children is a great way of going. Local parks are there available, woods and forests as well, and there there are the sights in the local and not so local areas.

I know that some of such places are not necessarily within the financial reach of some, such as a visit to the Tower of London costing a family of four the best part of £100 before one has gotten even started properly and the same is true for some other such, though interesting places.

Nevertheless, vacationing at home or in one's own country is, as far as the environmental footprint is concerned, one of the best options and also the better options, in general, for one's nerves.

Spending hours in an airport for checking in with all the security stuff and all that certainly is not my idea of starting a holiday. And that is just the start. Followed by some ours of being couped up in an aircraft and then the same rigmarole getting to the other end. Erm, sorry, but I pass on that. In fact, the way I am seeing things it seems that there are many others that are also beginning to pass on that.

© M Smith (Veshengro), December 2008
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Staying home for the holidays

by Michael Smith

Apparently due to the credit crunch and such like phenomena, that is to say the economy being on a downward trend, people largely stayed at home for this year's Thanksgiving holidays.

Travelers breezed through airport terminals and drivers cruised on open roads. The effects of a sour economy seem to keep people staying closer to home at the start of the annual winter holiday season. One can but wonder whether this is a signs of the times to come.

Staycations already started this summer in the same way as people were making fake aways (as we would call it over int he UK while the US might call it fake outs... the fake versions of take aways and take outs).

Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. First of all we are reducing our environmental footprint for one and secondly it also cuts down on stress.

With the economy having taken an further downturn since summer when the staycations and such started slowly to make inroads it would appear that it might just be possible that there will be more of then to come over the 2008 holiday period of Hanukkah and Christmas. As said, not a bad thing. The planet will breathe a sigh of relief as well to this and so will the pocketbooks of those that stay home.

As to the year 2009 and the vacation period in summer and other times; if the current trend is anything to go buy with people turning the pennies over more than once we may actually see more staycations. It certainly will not be a bad thing. Too many people take who go one vacations far afield do so, often, on the, what we call in the UK the “never never”, that is to say on credit, and in addition to that they seem to need a vacation when they come back from their vacation.

While I must say that I am happiest at home, regardless where home may be, coming from Romani-Gypsy stock – but it has to me my home – I have never been able to understand why anyone would want to go abroad for a vacation – too much like hard work to me – especially those people that have lovely homes and lovely gardens. With prospects like that I'd vacation at home any day.

“Oh”, they say, “we go for the sea and the sun.” So they flock to the Costa del Sol and other such places and do what? They spend all day by the pool, the majority of them at least – not even the sea – under a sun umbrella. If I want to spend my vacation under an umbrella I stay in Britain. Mind you, that's where I stay anyway.

I rather go and travel the local and not so local countryside and enjoy the forests and the hills and, if the weather is warn and sunny, I might even go to the seaside. But that is for the day and not to stay there in some hotel or such. But then, as said, that is me.

However, the way things look we will be seeing a lot more people doing the same and a good thing this will be too.

While I know that this will have an adverse impact on areas and places that depend on (foreign) tourists the planet certainly will thank all those of us why opt for the staycation rather than the vacation abroad. The environmental footprint of our vacation should concern us as much as the environmental footprint of our computers, our TV and our heating, etc. But many people do not seem to see that problem in regards with vacations and such. Whichever way we travel on vacation, unless it be by bicycle or by horse, has a big environmental footprint, regardless of plain, automobile or train. Unless human or animal powered the impact is rather big and costly, and not just for you who pays the financial bill.

As far as I am concerned I can have a much better time with a vacation at home, a staycation, than with one abroad, and I do save big bucks that way, and have a much lower impact on the planet. Both things that I like to consider.

I just wonder how many other people see it that way as well, or in a similar light.

© M Smith (Veshengro), December 2008
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