Summer holiday update as quarter to miss out in 2026

Rising costs have been blamed after a survey suggested more than a quarter of UK families do not have a summer holiday booked. The cost of living and cost of travel were the most common reasons given for being in that situation. ‌ The poll of 2,000 adults with at least one child aged five to 18, commissioned by accommodation rental company Airbnb, indicated that two-in-five (42%) parents feel pressured to provide a summer holiday for their family. Some 71% of those surveyed who do have a summer holiday booked said they are concerned about the cost of their upcoming break. ‌ A third said they dipped into savings to pay for the trip, while 38% admitted relying on financial support from extended family members. Lisa Marcais, Airbnb’s general manager with responsibility for the UK, warned the survey’s results demonstrate there is a “holiday gap”, with many families unable to afford a break. ‌ She said: “Family holidays are about much more than time away; they’re an opportunity to reconnect, improve wellbeing, create invaluable memories and have new experiences together. But for too many families in the UK, rising costs mean that even a short break is out of reach.” The cost of living rose sharply in 2021 and 2022, with the annual rate of inflation reaching a 41-year high of 11.1% in October 2022. This was caused by factors such as soaring energy and fuel prices because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and high global demand for consumer goods following coronavirus lockdowns. ‌ Inflation subsequently eased, standing at 2.8% last month, but the cumulative impact of rising prices means households face a much higher cost of living than in 2021. Airbnb said more than 300 low-income families have been on their first holiday together this year because of its £300,000 donation to Family Holiday Charity. The charity’s chief executive Rob Parkinson said there are “many benefits” to families spending time away together. He described sending families on holiday as “incredibly important and deeply rewarding” but warned it is not a “lasting solution to the systemic problems which prevent people from accessing breaks”. He added: “Collaborating with industry and policymakers is essential if we are to drive the transformative change we believe can alter the life chances of families throughout the UK.”