{"id":17885,"date":"2026-04-22T09:45:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/?p=17885"},"modified":"2026-05-05T09:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:54:05","slug":"smart-planning-and-value-take-centre-stage-in-brits-summer-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/smart-planning-and-value-take-centre-stage-in-brits-summer-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart planning and value take centre stage\u00a0in\u00a0Brits\u2019\u00a0summer travel,\u00a0according\u00a0to Expedia\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Destination dupes, flexible timing, and travel packages help travellers\u00a0make the most of their summer budgets<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As travel costs continue to rise, many travellers are taking a more&nbsp;budget\u2011conscious&nbsp;approach to their summer plans. According to Expedia\u2019s Summer Travel Outlook, travellers are increasingly focused on getting more value from every trip by choosing destination dupes, staying flexible with travel dates, and&nbsp;packaging&nbsp;their hotel and flights to make their summer budgets go further.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Airfare prices are up&nbsp;by&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;24% year-on-year,&nbsp;driven by higher fuel&nbsp;costs.<sup>&nbsp;<\/sup><sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;As a result, many travellers are choosing destinations closer to home or swapping iconic hotspots for more affordable alternatives that deliver similar experiences at a lower cost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSummer travel still matters deeply to travellers, but how they travel is changing,\u201d said Melanie Fish, Expedia Group Travel Expert &amp; Spokesperson. \u201cWith airfare under pressure, travellers who stay flexible, stay closer to&nbsp;home&nbsp;and look beyond the obvious destinations can still unlock meaningful savings without compromising the experience. Travellers can also find added value by booking flights and hotels together.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;about doing more with every travel pound.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Destination Dupes Deliver Big Savings Without Sacrificing the Experience<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While perennial favourites like&nbsp;Paris, Mallorca,&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;and Rome&nbsp;remain popular summer destinations, Expedia data shows travellers are increasingly considering&nbsp;<strong>destination dupes<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 locations that deliver comparable culture, food, beaches, and experiences, often&nbsp;at a better value&nbsp;and&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;quieter&nbsp;setting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Domestic Destination Dupes<\/strong><sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>London \u2192 Stirling<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up 45% year-over-year, Stirling delivers historic architecture, walkable\u00a0streets\u00a0and easy access to nature, offering a\u00a0heritage\u2011rich\u00a0city break experience, with hotel prices\u00a015% lower\u00a0than London,\u00a0averaging\u00a0\u00a3185\u00a0per night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Edinburgh \u2192 St Andrews<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up 40% year-over-year, St Andrews blends medieval streets, coastal\u00a0walks\u00a0and cultural history, delivering much of Edinburgh\u2019s charm in a smaller, more relaxed setting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>York \u2192 Harrogate<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up 40% year-over-year, Harrogate offers elegant architecture, green\u00a0spaces\u00a0and a refined food scene, making it an appealing alternative to York during peak summer months, with hotel prices 30% lower than York, averaging \u00a3130\u00a0per night.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cornwall \u2192 Scarborough<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up 35% year-over-year, Scarborough delivers classic seaside appeal, sandy\u00a0beaches\u00a0and\u00a0family\u2011friendly\u00a0attractions, often with more accessible pricing than Cornwall in high season, with hotel prices 25% lower than Cornwall, averaging \u00a3135 per night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>International Destination Dupes<\/strong><sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Paris\u00a0\u2192\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Ljubljana, Slovenia<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up\u00a050% year-over-year,\u00a0Ljubljana is\u00a0emerging\u00a0as a quieter\u00a0dupe for Paris, offering romantic riverfront caf\u00e9s, elegant bridges, green boulevards, and a cultured, walkable city feel, with hotel prices\u00a015% lower than\u00a0Paris, averaging \u00a3160 per night.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Corfu\u00a0\u2192\u00a0Lefkada, Greece<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up\u00a075% year-over-year,\u00a0Lefkada\u00a0offers turquoise waters, traditional\u00a0villages\u00a0and Greek island culture, appealing to travellers seeking scenery and sunshine, a stunning alternative to Greek mainstays, with hotel prices 35% lower than Corfu, averaging \u00a3190\u00a0per night.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Barcelona \u2192 Fuengirola, Spain<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up\u00a060% year-over-year, Fuengirola delivers\u00a0beach\u2011first\u00a0relaxation, lively\u00a0promenades\u00a0and easy access to Andalusian culture, offering a\u00a0lower\u2011key\u00a0alternative to Barcelona in summer, with hotel prices 15% lower than Barcelona, averaging \u00a3160 per night.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>New York \u2192 New Orleans, United States<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Up 160% year-over-year, New Orleans blends historic neighbourhoods, a\u00a0world\u2011class\u00a0food scene and live music culture, offering a\u00a0slower\u2011paced, more\u00a0character\u2011driven\u00a0alternative, with hotel prices 55% lower than\u00a0New York, averaging \u00a3140 per night.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Best Times to Save This Summer<\/strong><sup>3<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cheapest\u00a0Days to Fly\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestically:<\/strong>\u00a0June 16 and August 21\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Internationally:<\/strong>\u00a0June 5 and 19\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cheapest Days to Stay\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestically:\u00a0<\/strong>June\u00a07 and 21<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Internationally:\u00a0<\/strong>June 2 and 7<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Quietest\u00a0Days to Fly\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestically:<\/strong>\u00a029 July and 4 August\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Internationally:<\/strong>\u00a025 and 30 August\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Quietest\u00a0Days to Stay\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestically:\u00a0<\/strong>25 and 31 August\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Internationally:\u00a0<\/strong>30\u00a0and 31 August\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Buy More&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Save with Packages<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As families look for ways to manage rising travel costs,&nbsp;bundling flights and hotels into a single package booking can be an effective way to save, compared with booking separately. Not all travel providers offer the same flexibility, but Expedia allows travellers to add accommodation after booking a flight and still access package pricing, which can be helpful if plans change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sample summer packages<sup>4<\/sup>&nbsp;on Expedia include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mallorca:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a07-night\u00a0stay\u00a0between\u00a08-15 June\u202fat\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/Palma-De-Mallorca-Hotels-Hotel-Costa-Azul.h1133630.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hotel Costa Azul<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0\u00a3616*\u00a0per person, including\u00a0round\u2011trip\u00a0flights\u00a0with Ryanair from London Stansted. (Package savings<sup>5<\/sup>\u00a0of\u00a0\u00a3218)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Greece:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a07-night stay\u00a0between 15-22 June\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/Preveza-Hotels-Dioni-Boutique-Hotel.h4023171.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dioni Boutique Hotel<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0\u00a3353*\u00a0per person,\u00a0including\u00a0round\u2011trip\u00a0flights with Ryanair from London Stansted.\u00a0(Package savings of\u00a0\u00a3259)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lisbon:<\/strong>\u00a0A 4-night stay\u00a0between\u00a013-17\u00a0July\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/Lisbon-District-Hotels-SANA-Malhoa-Hotel.h1106726.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SANA\u00a0Malhoa\u00a0Hotel<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0\u00a3333*\u00a0per person,\u00a0including\u00a0round\u2011trip\u00a0flights with easyJet from London Gatwick.\u00a0(Package savings of\u00a0\u00a3183)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Amsterdam:<\/strong>\u00a0A 3-night stay\u00a0between 28\u201331 August\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/Amsterdam-Hotels-Nhow-Amsterdam-RAI.h37928040.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nhow\u00a0Amsterdam RAI<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0\u00a3369*\u00a0per person,\u00a0including\u00a0round\u2011trip\u00a0flights with\u00a0KLM from London Heathrow on the outbound flight and easyJet\u00a0landing at London Stansted on the inbound flight.\u00a0(Package savings of\u00a0\u00a358)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Smart Summer Travel Tips<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Look Beyond the Obvious Destination:<\/strong>\u00a0Swapping a\u00a0high\u2011profile\u00a0city for a nearby alternative can unlock lower rates and fewer crowds.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Buy More\u00a0&amp;\u00a0Save:<\/strong>\u00a0Booking flights and hotels together can deliver significant savings per person and earn\u00a0OneKeyCash\u2122 for future trips.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be Flexible with Dates:<\/strong>\u00a0Traveling in early June or\u00a0mid\u2011August\u00a0can significantly reduce both hotel and\u00a0flight\u00a0costs.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Price Tracking:<\/strong>\u00a0Find the right time to book a flight and get alerts when the price of a flight changes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consider Alternate Airports:<\/strong>\u00a0Nearby or secondary airports can offer lower fares during peak summer weeks.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Book Early for Peak Travel:<\/strong>\u00a0Lock in pricing before demand spikes around the busiest summer dates.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Notes to Editors<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;Source: Teneo consultancy\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teneo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Aviation-Outlook-2026-Impact-of-the-Iran-Conflict-on-Passenger-Aviation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aviation Outlook 2026:&nbsp;Impact of the Iran Conflict on Passenger Aviation<\/a>&nbsp;(April 2026).&nbsp;<br><sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;Based on lodging searches made on Expedia.co.uk&nbsp;between&nbsp;January 5&nbsp;to&nbsp;April 12,&nbsp;2026&nbsp;for&nbsp;travel between June 1 and August 31,&nbsp;2026&nbsp;compared to same travel period in 2025.&nbsp;<br><sup>3<\/sup>&nbsp;Based on average daily ticket price&nbsp;and average daily rate changes&nbsp;on Expedia.co.uk&nbsp;for travel between June 1 and August 31, 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>4<\/sup>&nbsp;Search made&nbsp;on&nbsp;20 April&nbsp;for summer packages. Flight-inclusive Packages booked on Expedia.co.uk are ATOL-protected.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><sup>5<\/sup>&nbsp;Savings are for Expedia members only.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>* Pricing is inclusive of taxes and fees&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>6<\/sup><sup>&nbsp;<\/sup>Based on searches made on Expedia.co.uk between&nbsp;5 January and 12 April 2026 for travel between 1 June 2026&nbsp;and&nbsp;31 August 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><strong><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Destination dupes, flexible timing, and travel packages help travellers\u00a0make the most of their summer budgets\u00a0 As travel costs continue to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":17874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[],"companies":[94],"locations":[88],"class_list":["post-17885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","companies-expedia","locations-london","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17885"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17886,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17885\/revisions\/17886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17885"},{"taxonomy":"companies","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/companies?post=17885"},{"taxonomy":"locations","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.uk\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/locations?post=17885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}