Staycation prices a third higher in holiday hotspots this year
The cost of staycations could be a third higher this year as British tourists look to have their first post-pandemic holidays.
A snapshot investigation by consumer group Which? showed that the cost of holiday lets in some of the UK’s most popular seaside locations had risen by a third on average, while some had soared even higher.
There have been warnings that, with foreign holidays off the table for many, there will be unprecedented demand for UK trips this summer, pushing prices up.
The Which? research tracked prices of 15 holiday lets listed on Airbnb and Vrbo for last summer when booked in May and June and compared them to the amount charged in February for this summer.
It found the price of one let in Brighton had soared by 140 per cent, from £53 a night to £127, with the average increase being 35 per cent.
Airbnb said the research was “misleading” and featured “isolated examples” which were not representative of prices on its platform.
Rory Boland, travel editor at Which?, said: “Many holidaymakers are looking forward to finally going to the seaside this summer, so it’s perhaps not a surprise that high demand has seen prices for some destinations shoot up too.
“If people are prepared to pay more for their summer holidays this year, it’s essential that they know their money will be protected or returned to them without hassle in the event they cannot travel as planned.
“Make sure you choose a provider that offers fair and flexible booking terms, so you won’t be left chasing a refund if something goes wrong.”
A spokesman for Airbnb said: “A survey shows that more than half of UK guests choose Airbnb because it is more affordable than a hotel or other options.
“With the Great British staycation back on the horizon, hosts are ready to provide clean and private accommodation to help families and loved ones safely reconnect, and around half say they rely on the additional income from hosting."
Vrbo said that it is a marketplace connecting hosts and holidaymakers and that it was up to the former to set the rental price for their property, as well as payment terms and cancellation policies.
