Record year for UK holiday let staycation bookings

It has been a record year for UK holiday let owners, with more people than ever planning to staycation this summer, says Sykes Holiday Cottages.

The UK holiday let agency’s annual Staycation Index reports 77% of Brits will holiday in the UK in 2022, following cancelled flights and airport chaos.

It has seen summer bookings increase by 26% over the past four weeks, compared with the same period last year. Bookings made to date this year in 2022 are up by 30% year-on-year.

The report shows nearly half 44% of people prefer to book multiple staycations instead of one summer holiday abroad. On average, Brits are planning to go on three UK breaks this year.

Polzeath and Rock in Cornwall and Hurst Green in Lancashire are the fastest-growing destinations for bookings this summer. When it comes to the most popular regions overall, North Wales has remained in the top spot for the second year in a row, with Cornwall and the Lake District in second and third respectively.

The report also includes evidence of changing holiday habits due to the cost-of-living crisis. After uncertainty around foreign travel, ‘budget pressures’ was the reason most cited by Brits for choosing a staycation. 35% of the nation said they will holiday at home this year because of squeezed family finances.

Staycation trends in 2022

Sykes’ report shows:

• Demand for glamping accommodation, including shepherds’ huts and yurts, is up by 46% on 2021 and 94% versus 2019
• 35% of 2022 bookings to date include dogs, compared to 33% of bookings in 2021
• 38% of Brits are more likely to work from home while on holiday compared to before the pandemic
• The top three influencing factors for choice of staycation accommodation are whether properties have gardens or outside space, the quality of the WIFI, and proximity to the beach

Graham Donoghue, CEO of Sykes Holiday Cottages, comments: “The shift towards staycations had already begun pre-Covid, but our latest research proves that it is still showing no signs of slowing in this post-pandemic world.

“Uncertainty around Covid restrictions has seemingly been replaced with another worry – overseas travel disruption – which has encouraged some to reconsider their plans and our last-minute bookings for this summer have increased as a result.

“We thought 2021 would be a hard year to surpass, but we’re expecting more Brits than ever to stay closer to home this year. As well as uncertainty, increased pressure on household budgets is leading to many turning to staycations as the better value option, with tourism economies across the UK expected to receive a boost.”