New research has revealed that more than 420,000 Scots are set to book their holiday this week, as December’s snowy and chilly weather accelerates the holiday booking period.
The survey by ATOL, the holiday protection scheme, discovered that other key drivers for consumers booking a holiday before December ends include grabbing a bargain early (14 per cent) and staying organised (13 per cent).
Research also shows that Edinburgh is the savviest Scottish city when it comes to booking early to secure a bargain (15 per cent) compared to Glasgow (13 per cent) and Aberdeen (9 per cent).
Mallorca is a popular Spanish destination.
Top 10 holiday destinations for Scots in 2018
1 Spain
2 USA
3 Italy
4 Greece
5 Mexico
6 Portugal
7 Canada
8 Caribbean
9 France
10 Australia
Many people want beach nearby on holiday.
More ATOL survey findings
Despite the weakness of the pound driving up costs, the latest data has found that the popularity of the USA is stronger than ever with a million more people looking to travel across the Atlantic in 2018 compared to 2017.
After enjoying adventurous gap years, the study shows millennials are now keen to holiday a little closer to home with European destinations very much in vogue for the younger generation.
Spain, Italy and Greece are all top destinations of choice and Portugal is rapidly closing the gap thanks to its buzzing food scene, photogenic cityscapes and Port making a comeback.
This is in contrast to the older generation who are increasingly using retirement to travel to farflung destinations such as New Zealand and Australia.
The research found that when it comes to booking holidays, top priorities for consumers include guaranteed sunshine, a nearby beach and even access to British TV channels.
For the younger generation, the top three priorities for a holiday include “good wi-fi” (35 per cent), “free data roaming” (15 per cent) and “instagrammable locations’”(10 per cent).
This is in stark contrast to those who are over 55. These sensible spenders are three times more concerned about having ATOL protection when booking a break (60 per cent).
Richard Moriarty, Consumers & Markets Director at the Civil Aviation Authority said: “With more consumers than ever using the period between Christmas and New Year to book trips abroad, we want to make sure as many people as possible understand the benefits of the ATOL scheme.”
What is the ATOL scheme?
Almost half (43 per cent) of holidaymakers see ATOL protection as a “holiday essential”.
Richard said: “It’s the most comprehensive form of protection for package holidaymakers in the UK, ensuring more than 26 million British travellers every year can travel with peace of mind.
“Whether you’re travelling to popular hot spots such as Spain or exploring destinations even further afield, don’t forget to ask about ATOL before you book.
“Having an ATOL certificate means that your holiday is financially protected, so if the worst happens and your travel company goes bust, you will still be able to get home and will not lose your hard-earned cash.”
See Peace of Mind for more information about ATOL protection.
