For one in six (16%)1 UK holidaymakers, choosing a destination has become a game of ‘holiday roulette’ with travellers booking wherever they can find the cheapest flights or hotels, according to new research1 by Opinium for travel insurance provider Multitrip.com.
The findings reveal that almost nine in ten (88%) holidaymakers say they actively take steps to cut the cost of their trips, with many adopting increasingly creative ways to stretch their holiday budget.
The most popular ways to save money are booking early (43%) and travelling outside peak periods (41%). Others opt for a ‘wonky weekend’ (29%) i.e., Thursday to Sunday or Saturday to Tuesday, or are willing to fly at anti-social times (29%) to reduce the cost of their trip.
To avoid airport costs, one in three (33%) pack snacks from home rather than paying airport prices, while one in five (21%) take the carry-on challenge by travelling with hand luggage only to avoid baggage charges. 6% have even spent the night at the airport to avoid paying for a hotel.
One in four (25%) also leave booking until the last minute in the hope of securing a bargain, while the same proportion choose self-catering accommodation to save money. Meanwhile, 15% are swapping an overseas trip altogether for a UK staycation.
Other money-saving tactics include comparing package holidays with booking independently (29%) and using loyalty schemes (27%). Once they’re away, almost one in five (19%) even put together a packed lunch from the hotel breakfast buffet.
The nation's top 10 holiday money-saving hacks
1. Booking early - 43%
2. Travelling off-peak - 41%
3. Packing snacks from home to avoid airport prices - 33%
4. Taking a 'wonky weekend' (e.g. Thursday - Sunday or Saturday to Tuesday) - 29%
5. Flying at anti-social times - 29%
6. Comparing package holidays with booking independently - 29%
7. Using loyalty schemes - 27%
8. Booking last minute in the hope of a bargain - 25%
9. Choosing self-catering accommodation - 25%
10. Travelling with hand luggage only - 21%
Christian Bennett of Multitrip.com said: "For some people, finding a bargain has become part of the adventure. Whether it's booking the cheapest destination available, flying at anti-sociable hours or travelling with nothing more than a backpack, holidaymakers are finding increasingly inventive ways to make their money go further."
"One thing that's always worth factoring into the budget is travel insurance. It can provide valuable financial protection if something goes wrong, from medical emergencies and cancellations to lost baggage. A GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) is also worth taking if you're travelling in Europe, but it doesn't replace travel insurance as it won't cover things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, or getting you home if you become seriously ill or injured abroad.”
Multitrip.com offers a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. To get an instant quote, visit www.multitrip.com.
Take a look at more of our recent articles which include our guide to claiming on your travel insurance, the results of our survey of holidaymakers about travel insurance and travel inspiration like our Spain city break guide.
We also recently undertook a survey about how holidaymakers are taking steps to reduce their holiday costs.
Sources
1 Opinium online survey conducted with 2,000 nationally representative UK adults from 24-27 Feb 2026, of which 1,016 holiday abroad at least once a year.
