One in five of us will be going on holiday this winter, according to research by travel association Abta, with winter sun and city breaks topping the agenda.
The organisation’s research shows that 19 per cent of us are planning to take a winter holiday with one in five (21 per cent) still undecided. Among those planning a break, winter sun remains the most popular type of holiday but city breaks and ski holidays have both increased in popularity.
Winter holidays to be taken by those planning a break
| 2013 | 2012 | |
| Winter sun | 40% | 39% |
| City break | 39% | 31% |
| Ski holiday | 15% | 10% |
| Don’t know | 2% | 9% |
Winter Sun
Two in five (40 per cent) of those planning a holiday will be heading for some winter sun, this type of break is most popular with older age groups with six in ten (59 per cent) of 55-64 year olds taking a winter sun holiday.
The Canary Islands, including Tenerife and Gran Canaria (above) are this year’s favourite destination for British winter sun seekers who will also be heading to the southern Mediterranean, particularly Greece, Malta and Tunisia. Further afield, the beaches of the Caribbean and Mexico make for excellent long haul escapes and Dubai is popular with families.
City Breaks
Winter city breaks have seen a jump in popularity with four in ten (39 per cent) of those taking a winter holiday planning a city break this year compared to just under a third (31 per cent) in 2012. This increase in winter city breaks is being driven by younger holidaymakers; almost half (48 per cent) of under 35 year olds planning a winter holiday are taking a winter city break this year compared to a third (33 per cent) in 2012.
Popular destinations include Amsterdam, Bruges, Prague, Berlin and New York.
Combining a city break with a Christmas market has also become increasingly popular recently as a way to get into the festive spirit and do a spot of shopping. Favourite European destinations include Frankfurt, Paris and Vienna, whilst the outdoor markets in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh are popular in the UK.
Winter sports
Following excellent snow conditions across Europe last year, winter sports holidays have seen a boost in popularity with 15 per cent of those taking a winter holiday planning to take one, an increase from 10 per cent in 2012. Abta estimates that approximately a million Brits will be hitting the slopes this year. Skiing and snowboarding holidays are most popular amongst the 16 to 24-year-olds, nearly half (44 per cent) of those taking a winter break will be heading for the slopes.
Top 5 ski resorts for Brits
1. Espace Killy (France)
2. Trois Vallées (France)
3. Sauze d’Oulx (Italy)
4. Kitzbuhel (Austria)
5. St Anton (Austria)
(Source: Ski Club of Great Britain)
