Average European city break costs nearly £1,000 per person, research finds

14 June 2023 , 12:21

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Half of Brits feel European city breaks are not good value for money (Image: SWNS)

Brits are turning their backs on the European city break – as half of holidaymakers feel they are not good value for money.

With accommodation alone for a weekend away costing an average of £382, and a further £229 splashed out on food during the break, the average short trip to Europe adds up to nearly £1,000 per person.

And as research shows a family of three would pay the same for a week-long Spanish seaside holiday, 46% of holidaymakers are thinking of changing their approach to getaways – and replacing several short breaks during the year, with one longer holiday.

A survey of 1,500 adults, who have taken a European weekend trip during the past three years, found that three in ten feel it is important to them to get the best value out of their travels.

As a result, half of Brits would think twice about taking another European city break anytime soon, due to the costs involved – including £182 spent on visiting all the must-see sites while there.

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And six in ten have cut back on costs associated with city breaks, such as activities or eating out (SWNS)

Gary Anslow, director of sales in the UK and Ireland for Norwegian Cruise Line, which commissioned the research, said: “Brits have a real hunger for exploring the world, but the rising cost of travel is an ongoing challenge.

“Our research found that half of holidaymakers like to visit a new place every time they go on a trip, and one in three want the best of both worlds – a pool-side holiday and city break wrapped up into one.

“With inter-sailing where you visit multiple cities on a cruise holiday, you can do it all.”

It emerged accommodation, food and drink, and getting to the destination are the leading items which travellers think cost too much on a city break.

And the biggest concerns when it comes to booking a city break include awkward flight times eating into the trip (34%), increasing costs for short-haul flights (32%), and not being able to fit in everything you want to see in a short space of time (30%).

Despite this, holidaymakers have been on four city-based getaways in the last five years.

The research also found it is Italy which holidaymakers have in their sights for their next trip – with Florence and Venice leading the way.

And Barcelona, Reykjavik, and Lisbon are also popular hotspots for holiday planners.

However, 61% of those polled, via OnePoll, did admit with the price of holidays increasing, they would consider cutting down on eating out, activities, and excursions whilst on holiday, to keep costs low.

Martin Winter