04 February 2009

Survey shows extent of haggling

Over three quarters of Brits are now haggling to cut the cost of their holidays, according to Hotels.com.

As Brits tighten their belts, they are brokering average savings of Ã&#pound;32.20 per holiday.

According to the calculations of the hotel website, this amounts Ã&#pound;1.7 billion savings each year.

It says haggling is no longer restricted to souvenir shopping in the markets of Morocco or Tunisia.

Almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed have even haggled over prices at home in the UK.

What Brits have haggled for
- Clothes and souvenirs from markets - 82%
- Clothes and souvenirs from shops - 45%
- Taxis, trains or car hire - 42%
- Activities (diving trips, camel treks etc) - 37%
- Hotel room upgrades - 34%
- Sun loungers - 13%
- Restaurants and bar bills - 10%
- Meals at hotel restaurants - 7%

Ã¢â¬ÅâœHaggling is fast becoming a buzz word for 2009," said Hotels.com director of communications Alison Couper.

"Whilst Brits have long been used to bartering for the occasional holiday souvenir, we are now seeing more people successfully wrangling over prices that previously would have seemed immovable - from hotel extras to designer dresses.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThose who are willing to practise the art of haggling on their holiday are likely to find that their money will go even further.Ã¢â¬~

By Bev Fearis