It’s vacation season, and we all know what that means.
You’re going to do something fun and exciting… but also stay at home!
If you’re not familiar with the term “staycation,” it’s when you take a vacation while staying at home. It can be as simple as taking a day off work and doing something fun in your own city, or it can mean traveling within driving distance of where you live.
We’ve compiled a list of the latest statistics about staycations and everything related to them—from how many people choose to spend their vacations at home, to how many people actually realize they’re on a staycation.
So if you feel like you could be doing more with your vacation time (and if you’re not sure what that might be, don’t worry: we’ve got some ideas), then this is the post for you.
General Staycation Statistics
1. 71% of staycationers in Britain don’t buy travel insurance
(GoCompare)
A report issued by GoCompare Insurance on the travel habits of people in Britain during the pandemic found around 71% of staycationers said they don’t bother with travel insurance.
A third of the people surveyed in the report said they don’t get insurance because they don’t think it’s worth it or necessary when staying close to home.
A further 12% of the people in the survey said they don’t believe travel insurance provides any genuine cover for UK holidays.
2. In 2020, 80% of people found places to travel close to home
(VacationRenter)
In 2020, the number of people staying close to home for their vacations increased drastically, mainly as a result of necessity. With airlines shut down and entry into many other countries no longer available, staycations became one of the only ways to travel.
According to a report from VacationRenter in 2020, around 80% of the people surveyed believe there are still vacation opportunities within 50 miles of their home. The respondents in the study also said they felt local vacations were just as enjoyable as being somewhere far away.
3. Southwest England is the most popular staycation destination in the UK
(Parkdean)
Following the release of a “Staycation report” for 2021 in the UK, the Parkdean travel company listed some of the top spots likely to attract the most attention for holiday-goers throughout 2022.
According to the company, the South West of England was considered to be the most popular location for the year. The company named locations like Cornwall, Lancashire, the Lake District, Yorkshire, and Wales as some particularly popular destinations for local travelers.
The same report also found that July is usually the busiest month for staycations in the UK, likely because locals want to take advantage of sunny weather. 23% of searches for local holidays are centered around July.
4. Searches for the term Staycation grew rapidly and peaked in July 2020
Google Trends data for the topic Staycation reveals that searches for the term have been steady since about 2017, with a huge spike in searches around June-July 2020.
Google Trends offers insight into how many people in different countries are searching for “staycation,” and the top countries searching for “staycation” are Hong Kong, Singapore, Guernsey, and Barbados.
The term “staycation” currently gets searched approximately 314,00 times per month.
(Google Trends)
5. Online searches for staycations have been increasing in the UK
(Parkdean)
A report into staycation trends between 2020 and 2022 by Parkdean Resorts found interest in local travel has been increasing.
According to the report, the term “Travel UK” for UK residents increased by 83% between 2020 and 2021. This is a slight decline from the increase in interest in 2019 to 2020 when searches for “travel UK” rose by 103%.
The searches for “UK city breaks” also increased by 311% between June 2020 and June 2021, and searches for “UK family holidays” rose by approximately 235%.
Staycation Trends
6. Glamping pods were the most popular staycation accommodation for Brits in 2021
(Parkdean)
The Parkdean staycation report looking at travel within the UK found that “Glamping pods” were the form of accommodation receiving the most interest in 2021. According to the study, searches for glamping pods increased by 83% between 2020 and 2021.
The second form of accommodation with the most interest was “Shepherds hut”, which saw an increase in searches of around 50% between 2020 and 201. This was followed by “domes”, with a search increase of 49%. This highlights a growing interest in unique forms of accommodation for those traveling in the UK.
7. Northern Irish travelers took 1.5 million domestic holidays in 2019
(Tourism NI)
According to a report from Tourism NI, the staycation trend has already been significant in Northern Ireland for some time. The report found NI residents went on around 1.5 million domestic vacations in 2019, amounting to a spending of around £234 million. This indicates an increase of 15% in domestic travel between 2018 and 2019.
According to NI, the report suggests that internal tourism is likely to continue in the years ahead for many UK and NI travelers.
8. Only 13% of Brits said they were planning on traveling abroad in 2021
(GoCompare)
According to a report by “GoCompare Travel insurance” looking at the travel trends in the UK for 2021, only 13% of people said they were planning on going abroad during the year for their vacation. More than two-thirds said they wanted to take a vacation instead.
23% of people in the study said the reason they wanted to take a staycation was that they were still concerned about the pandemic. While 1 in 10 said they were planning a staycation because they didn’t have the money to travel further.
9. 73% of Brits said they would choose to stay in the UK after the pandemic
(Accumulate Capital)
A report by Accumulate Capital into staycation trends found around 73% of Brits said they would be more likely to stay within the UK for their holidays after the stress of the pandemic.
Only 19% of respondents said they would consider traveling abroad for a holiday after travel restrictions have been eased.
According to the report, around 68% of travelers said they prioritized a British staycation for their vacation due to fears of being “stranded abroad”. Another 55% surveyed said they admit to having concerns about quarantine measures at their destination.
10. Over 60% use their staycation as an opportunity to indulge in their favorite foods
(Boursin)
Over 6 in 10 people say they use them as an excuse to let go of their healthy diets and indulge in the foods they love, according to a new survey.
More and more people are taking a staycation this summer, and it’s easy to see why. After all, who wouldn’t want to take a break from the demands of everyday life?
But one thing that’s often overlooked is that when you’re on vacation and feeling relaxed, it can be tempting—especially if you’ve been eating healthy at home—to just let go completely and eat whatever you like.
And while that might be fun for a day or two, over time it can lead to weight gain and health problems down the road. So if you’re planning a staycation this summer, consider keeping these tips in mind:
- Make an effort not to overeat or eat unhealthy food at every meal. You don’t have to be perfect; just try not to overdo it!
- Take advantage of the time by doing something active every day—even if it’s just going for a walk around town or taking a bike ride through the park.
- Don’t forget about getting enough sleep! Your body needs rest so it can recover from all the physical activity you’ve been doing during your staycation.
11. August is the most popular month to travel in England
(Schofields)
A report issued by Schofields Limited found that August was the busiest time to travel for people in England looking to take part in a staycation”. Around 12% of all trips happened in August during 2021.
The report also found that people who were traveling more often domestically in England weren’t just staying home as a result of the pandemic.
According to this study, around 30% of people in the age group between 25-49 year olds said they would consider swapping a holiday to an international destination for one in the UK to reduce their impact on the environment.
According to Schofields, this interest in traveling more sustainably using staycations has increased 2% over 6 months.
Staycation Popularity Statistics
12. 54% of people believe staycations are just as fun as long-distance travel
(VacationRenter)
A report issued by VacationRenter in 2022 found that people enjoy local vacations a lot more than most international travelers realize. Although 30% of people in the report said that a staycation can sometimes be less fun than a vacation abroad, another 54% said staying close to home is just as fun as traveling overseas.
The report also found around 16% of people consider staycations to be more fun than traveling a long distance. Even after COVID concerns subside, 70% of the respondents in the study said they were planning on continuing to take vacations to somewhere within driving distance.
13. 63% of American Adults had taken a “staycation” in 2020
(Statista)
In the past, the term “staycation” was less common among travelers, who often considered traveling abroad to be one of the major goals of any vacation. However, according to one Statista study, a significantly higher number of people had taken a staycation by 2020 than those who had not.
Around 63% of respondents said they had taken a holiday which had left them staying close to home, compared to around 37% of respondents who had never had a staycation.
14. Cornwall was the most in-demand staycation destination in the UK for 2022
(Parkdean)
According to the Parkdean 2021 staycation report, Cornwall was the most in-demand staycation destination for residents of the UK for both the years 2021 and 2022, chosen for its attractive scenic locations and beaches.
Between 2021 and 2022, Cornwall achieved a 66% increase in searches for holidays on the Parkdean platform. After Cornwall, the most in-demand locations were Lancashire and the Lake District, which achieved a 60% increase in search volume between 2021 and 2022.
15. 44% of Brits said they were keen to take a staycation in 2021
(Accumulate Capital)
A study conducted by Accumulate Capital into the changing trends in the leisure and tourism industry found around 44% of Brits were keen to take a leisure trip somewhere within the UK within the months between 2021 and 2022. Only 1 in 3 people said they planned on going abroad.
Across both groups, Accumulate noted that around 77% of respondents said they would prefer to choose a short city break for their vacation, while 64% wanted to look into relaxation opportunities with sight-seeing activities.
16. Staycations were the most popular form of vacation for Brits in 2021-2022
(Parkdean)
A report from the Parkdean resort company looking at travel trends among their own customers between the years of 2021 and 2022 found that despite restrictions around the pandemic lifting, a significant number of Brits were planning on staying close to home on their vacations.
53% of respondents said they would be taking a UK holiday, while 25% said they were planning on sticking to somewhere in Europe, and only 6% planned on traveling to the US.
According to the report, 39% of UK holidaymakers also said they would be more inclined to holiday in the UK after the experiences they had during the pandemic.
Staycation Demographics (Which Travellers Like Staycations?)
17. Millennials average 3.1 staycations a year, on top of more traditional vacations
(Regency Mgmt)
Millennials are known for being glued to their phones and social media platforms. But a new study shows that millennials are actually taking a lot of mini-vacations, or staycations, at home.
This isn’t surprising considering that millennials are more likely to have debt and lesser savings than previous generations. While they may be able to afford one big trip each year, it’s not always feasible for them to do so, especially if they have student loans or other financial obligations.
That’s why many millennials prefer staying in their hometowns or nearby cities when they take time off from work—it’s easy on their budgets and allows them to feel like they’ve gotten away while still being close enough to get back into the office quickly if needed.
Staycations also provide an opportunity for millennials to try new things or do what they love in their hometowns. Some of the most popular activities for millennial staycations are visiting museums or historic sites; going to music festivals; experiencing local cuisines; and staying in touch with friends and family.
Whatever the reason for millennials’ newfound preference for staycations, it looks like this trend is here to stay!
18. 3 in 10 holidaymakers in the UK planned on taking vacations before the pandemic
(Barclays)
According to the “Destination UK” report published by Barclays in 2019, 31% of domestic holidaymakers in the country were planning to spend more of their vacation time in their home country than they had in previous years.
Interestingly, the study found millennials were the most likely generation to be driving this trend, as they were the biggest generation to choose a staycation as their main form of holiday (52%). Barclays noted this may have been a result of younger generations having less money to spend on travel.
19. Almost half of all British vacationers booked a UK stay in 2022
(TravelDaily)
According to a review by TravelDaily of a staff scheduling platform report by the Planday company, around 45% of UK holidaymakers said they were still planning on booking a staycation, rather than traveling abroad for a holiday in 2022.
20. Convenience is the most common reason to take a Staycation
(Barclays)
A report conducted by Barclays on the staycation trend in 2019 found convenience was the most significant reason why most people chose to stay at home for their vacation.
After convenience, the main reason people said they had decided to stay in the same country for their vacation was that they had already experienced a positive experience in the past they were hoping to repeat.
Around 21% of people in the study said they were planning additional local holiday time after a positive experience in the past.
21. Staycations in the US are least popular among people in their 30s
(VacationRenter)
A study conducted by VacationRenter, asking 1000 people about their travel plans during 2020, found the majority of people preferred the idea of staying close to home, even without the pandemic to worry about.
When assessing responses by age group, they found the lowest number of people (64%) interested in staying within driving distance of their home on their vacation were in their 30s.
The age group most likely to want to stay within driving distance of their home in this study were people in their 50s (78%), followed by those in their 40s (74%), and people in their 20s (72%).
22. 74% of drivers wanted to stick close to home when traveling in 2020
(Farmers)
According to a report by Farmers Insurance in 2020, more than 3 in 5 people were planning on traveling by car or RV during the summer months of 2020. However, roughly 74% of all respondents said they were planning on keeping their travels closer to home than usual.
The majority of respondents in the study said they wanted to avoid going any further than 500 miles away from where they lived. However, a further 36% of people in the study said they wanted to stay within 100 miles of their property.
According to the respondents in this study, just “having a change of scenery” is enough to classify a vacation as being worthwhile.
Conclusion
Staycations are the new vacation!
To sum up, staycations are more popular than ever before, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. That means that now is the perfect time to start planning a staycation.
Whether you’re looking to book a trip or just want some ideas on how to make your own staycation extra relaxing, we hope this article helped!
It’s important to remember that all of this data is just a snapshot in time, but it also speaks volumes about how we all feel about our own lives and the things we want out of them. We want to feel productive and happy, and if you can do that while staying at home, then why not?
Until next time, keep staycationing!
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