Extravagant Brits smash holiday budgets, says research
Reckless Brits overspend by £300 while on holiday with the irresistible combination of alcohol and good food largely responsible for blowing the budget, research has revealed.
The average holidaymaker budgets for £500 on their trip but rattles through £800, with travellers in the East Midlands and East Anglia the most spendthrift.
The survey, commissioned by Western Union, revealed that collectively, UK tourists overspend by £8.7 billion.
The Welsh are the most conservative, with only 7% overspending, but in the East Midlands and East Anglia, almost one in four throw caution to the wind.
While most overspend on food and drink, 32% in the West Midlands and 40% of Scots are more generous, breaking the bank to buy presents.
Regional differences also emerged when it comes to why we travel. Almost seven out of ten Welsh tourists look for culture with those in the Midlands wanting to flop on the beach.
If money was no object, a world cruise would be the most popular holiday, although 36% in the south west would opt for a desert island and a similar number in Yorkshire and The Humber going for a cultural city break.
Three quarters of those quizzed said spending money on a holiday was more important that splashing out at Christmas.
The research was conducted to promote the launch of Western Union’s travel cash card, a pre-paid and reloadable card available in euros, US dollars and sterling. It can be used at ATMs, shops and restaurants.
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