Are you suffering from Vacation Deprivation?

More than half of UK adults report feeling ‘holiday deprived’, according to a study by Expedia, one of the world’s leading full-service travel brands, with concerns over annual leave allowance, work or family commitments and cost among the key barriers to travel.

While most workers say their employer is supportive of them taking time off, a quarter feel they can’t go away because work is too busy or there aren’t enough staff to cover. A third have also used annual leave to cover mental health days or, in the case of working parents, to look after a sick child or loved one.

Cost is also a factor, with nearly four in ten people surveyed saying they like to shop around to get the best value-for-money deals, and more than eight in ten saying they are flexible about where they go on holiday and will choose a destination if it’s on sale or at a discounted price.

Nonetheless, almost three-quarters (74%) of Brits still prioritise spending on travel over other everyday luxuries, and nearly half (44%) say they won’t give up their summer holiday this year. More than a quarter have already booked a holiday abroad for 2023, and a fifth have a UK break on the cards.

The annual Expedia survey, which is now in its 23rd year, polled 14,500 travellers across 16 countries to establish attitudes to travel post-pandemic. It found feelings of ‘holiday deprivation’ in the UK were at their second-highest in a decade, beaten only by the levels recorded in 2021 when travel restrictions were at their height.

“Holiday deprivation is a feeling of not having enough annual leave or when your well-deserved time off is not used to relax or recharge,” says Ariane Gorin, President of Expedia for Business.

“Alarmingly, a quarter of Brits say the worry of not being able to afford a trip away is the main reason for not using all of their annual leave, which is why Expedia is helping travellers get away this year through great hotel rates, price tracking for flights and loyalty member savings.”