Drink Less, Holiday More: A study carried out for
foreign exchange company Caxton found that the amount of cash saved by
not drinking alcohol could be spent on luxury holidays. According to their
calculations:
—Even people who gave up for just one month, for Dry January, could
afford a short break.
—After just five weeks without a drink, a couple could use the saved cash to go
on a two-night stay in Amsterdam, a study for
—Ten weeks of alcohol-free living could save the equivalent of five nights in
the Algarve.
—Giving up booze for a whole year could save enough money for a week-long
all-inclusive stay in Montego Bay, Jamaica, over the winter break.
How They Calculated It: Researchers from moneycomms.co.uk, on behalf of
Caxton’s, worked out the savings, based on the average couple drinking eight
pints of beer and one bottle of wine per week at a pub or bar. They worked out
that by giving up alcohol a couple would save up to £44 ($58) a week on
average. The research involved searching various travel websites earlier in
December to see how far a couple’s weekly savings could take them. More
equations follow:
A couple, giving up alcohol for:
—Five weeks could bag a two-night stay in Amsterdam including flights, costing £218 ($285)
—Seven weeks could result in a three-night stay in Prague at £305 ($399)
—10 weeks could pay for a five-night stay in the Algarve (Praia da Rocha) at £435 ($569)
—17 weeks could fund a £740 trip to Naples for seven nights ($966)
—23 weeks could save enough for a £1,001 ($1,309) all-inclusive seven-night holiday at Egypt’s Red Sea
—33 weeks would be enough for a seven-night room-only stay in Barbados at £1,436 ($1,878)
—A full year (52 weeks) could buy a seven-night all-inclusive stay in Jamaica’s Montego Bay at £2,263 ($2,959)- flying out in January 2021
Note: Pound-to-dollar figures calculated by INBOUND, using xe.com.
Brits Would Give up Comp Items for Cheaper Airline Seats
UK holidaymakers who travel by air say that they would give up in-flight items such as food and drink, magazines and in-flight entertainment in return for cheaper flights. This is the essence of the responses received during a survey of more than 1,000 travelers conducted by Kenwood Travel. Here are some findings from the survey.
—More than half (56 percent) of those surveyed said that they would be pleased if airlines did away with in-flight magazine if it meant less costly flights.
—In the same spirit, 12 percent said that it would be all right with them if
on-board complimentary treats, like free food and drinks available on most
mid-to long-haul flights were eliminated, provided that this meant cheaper
flights.
—However, when it involves seating and carry-on or hand luggage, the majority
of British holidaymakers would not give these up, even if it meant cheaper
flights. Being able to carry hand luggage free of charge is most important to
travelers, with only 2 percent saying they would happily pay extra for this
service, even if it meant the flight was cheaper.
—Just 8 percent said they would be happy to trade reclining seats for cheap
seats, and only 5 percent would forgo the free seat choice option, in return
for cheaper flights.
—Being able to carry hand luggage free of charge is most important to
travelers, with only 2 percent saying they would happily pay extra for this
service, even if it meant the flight was cheaper.
