00:00After several turbulent years for travel, 2025 delivered a more uneven picture for UK holiday
00:06makers. Bookings fell early in the year as higher prices, economic uncertainty and fragile
00:12consumer confidence took their toll. But demand didn't disappear, it shifted. Instead of planning
00:18months in advance, many travellers began booking much closer to departure, sometimes only weeks
00:23before they were due to leave. That led to a stop-start year for the industry, with some
00:28advisors reporting quieter periods, while others saw sudden spikes in demand. Cost pressures
00:33continue to shape choices for most households, even as higher-end travellers appear largely
00:38unaffected. All of that is influencing how people are approaching holidays in 2026.
00:44It's about making sure that every penny that you're spending of your holiday pounds is being
00:48spent in the right way. So people have got the money, they're willing to spend it, but they want
00:54to make sure they're getting the absolute most for their buck. And I think at the top of that,
00:58there's a little element of keeping up with the Joneses, a little element of trying to find that
01:02place that you can go that people perhaps haven't discovered yet, and you're going to be the one to
01:06come back from your holidays. Oh, found this amazing bar, I found this incredible beach. And that's still
01:12quite important for us. But it's about making sure that every penny counts, that we're making sure that
01:17we're doing exactly all the research we can. And that can sometimes feel a little bit overwhelming,
01:22which is why I think lists like the one that Holiday Extras has just done with these,
01:26you know, these are the budget destinations that are really trying to welcome travellers
01:30looking for value for money is ever more important. For many travellers, the focus now goes beyond the
01:36destination itself. Flexibility, reassurance and value for money are playing a much bigger role
01:41as people try to protect themselves against uncertainty. Whether it's booking earlier for
01:46peace of mind or holding back in case prices drop, holiday planning has become more deliberate.
01:51I think do your research, number one, it's got to be important, you've got to do your research.
01:56But then just don't look at the traditional way that you normally would book. So don't look at
02:01seven and 14 nights, don't look at going away weekend, look at doing sort of uneven numbers. So maybe
02:07doing eight, not seven, or six, not seven, perhaps doing 12, not 14. If you look at those, and you
02:14actually do that long enough, you can sometimes get some really good bargains where actually,
02:19it's cheaper to go away for eight days than it is to go away for seven. So looking around those sort
02:24of slightly different timings, and making sure that you're not just looking for travelling every
02:29weekend. So perhaps a midweek departure, you're still going to take the same amount of time off work,
02:35but it does mean that you're going to have a slightly lower price, because prices tend to be
02:40lower on a Tuesday and a Wednesday.
02:41With budgets still under pressure, value has become just as important as price. Travel experts say being
02:48flexible on dates, destinations or even airports can open up better deals. Extras, cancellation
02:54policies and what's included in the final cost are also under closer scrutiny than ever before.
02:59Even those working in the travel industry are adapting how they plan their own trips. Their
03:04choices often reflect the same trends seen across the market. A focus on timing, flexibility and
03:11getting the most out of every journey.
03:13I've got a couple of great trips coming up. I'm going to go to Mar-a-Salam in Egypt. Again, another one of those
03:19ones where Red Sea Resort really looking to attract Brits. But I'm also going to be going up to Luxor and doing
03:25Valley of the Kings as well. So really excited about that. And then Seoul with Virgin Atlantic later on in the
03:30year. Can't wait for that. The whole K-pop thing is just such a huge thing. And it'll be my first visit there as well.
03:36So I'm really looking forward to that.
03:37The picture for UK holidaymakers is one of cautious optimism. The desire to travel hasn't
03:44disappeared, but the way people plan and book has changed. Flexibility, timing and value are now front
03:50of mind shaped by rising costs and an unpredictable economic backdrop. For those willing to stay informed,
03:56keep an open mind and adapt their plans, there are still plenty of opportunities to travel well,
04:01whether that means choosing different destinations, travelling at quieter times or simply booking with
04:06greater confidence. In a market that's still adjusting, holidays remain a priority,
04:11just one that's being approached more carefully than before.
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