Neilson has released the results of a new survey, which found that 60 per cent of young British holidaymakers would consider booking a beach package holiday in the near future.
The survey also found that while 14 per cent of respondents were left unsure as to whether a beach package holiday was the right choice for them, only 25 per cent said that they wouldn’t consider that type of holiday at all.
The survey of more than 2,000 Brits, aged 21-35, showed the surprising news that in an age of boutique getaways and city breaks, the beach package holiday is still as popular as ever. However, the millennials have different expectations to previous generations.
A beach location is ranked as the most important feature with 73 per cent of respondents agreeing it was an appealing aspect. Traditional package holiday elements such as being ‘organised’ by holiday reps and the self-contained resort complex were less appealing with a noticeable shift towards both more active and cultural pursuits. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents stated that local excursions are an important factor in beach package holidays and 27 per cent said that daily activities, such as watersports, cycling and tennis being provided was appealing when deciding who to book with.
Andy Furlong, sales and marketing director at Neilson commented: “Our survey shows that the younger generation are becoming savvier when choosing the holiday that is right for them. They understandably want sunshine in a great location at an affordable price – who doesn’t? But increasingly they also want to be active, try their hand at new things and experience a different culture. They want package holiday providers to update their offering to reflect their lifestyles.
Respondents were also asked to describe a recent beach package holiday experience; a question which revealed some surprising explanations as to why young Brits’ holiday needs are changing.
The daily buffet proved most controversial with quality, variety and access to local cuisine called into question: “The soup changed name and colour every night but somehow tasted the same” and “FOR BREAKFAST THEY SERVED MASH POTATOES EVERY DAY (WHO EATS MASH FOR BREAKFAST?!)”
Other holiday bugbears included the excesses of other holidaymakers (“One guy drank a pint of absinthe”), being bored (“Myself and my younger brother nearly lost the plot because every day was exactly the same and we found it too repetitive”) and enforced fun (“the reps kept trying to get us to dance and do the conga at 10am”).
Neilson has created a series of tongue-in-cheek illustrative guides to people who find themselves having to tackle the most common package holiday perils. Created by comedic illustrator Oli Holmes, the guides tackle issues such as how to escape your resort, avoid excessive alcohol consumption and how to tackle the all-you-can-eat buffet with aplomb.
Readers can find the guides at www.neilson.co.uk/package-holiday-perils
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