With people barely having time to clear away their Christmas decorations, AllClear Travel Insurance reveals that nine in ten (91%) British people have started 2025 with firm resolutions to book up holidays abroad for 2025.
AllClear asked a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Brits about their holiday plans for 2025. Six in ten survey respondents going abroad in 2025 (60%) say they are planning a relaxing beach holiday, the wet cold weather of January perhaps making them yearn for long days of sunshine and clear blue sea.
City breaks are also set to enjoy a significant peak in 2025. Whilst the Covid era saw the popularity of city breaks plummet to 13%, they bounced back last spring (23%) and this year is set to see a new peak, with 48% opting for a city break as part of their holiday mix for 2025.
Relaxation and wellbeing are important for holidaymakers in 2025 – with 27% looking forward to the simple pleasures of a holiday lounging by the hotel pool. Cruises are also popular for one in five adults (22%) –peaking with people aged over 55 (29%).
For some, activity holidays are on the agenda for 2025. Nationally, 18% of UK adults are planning a hiking holiday, whilst 14% fancy a campaign or caravan break with the family. For those who love to spend their holidays getting fit, 4% are taking a sports holiday, and 3% of thrill-seekers are drawn to an extreme activity break abroad.
Top ten holiday preferences for 2025
|
Type of holiday |
National average |
|
Beach holiday |
60% |
|
City break |
48% |
|
Hotel/pool holiday |
27% |
|
Villa/private house |
23% |
|
Romantic break |
22% |
|
Cruise |
22% |
|
Walking/hiking holiday |
18% |
|
Camping/caravan |
14% |
|
Music festivals/outdoor concerts |
10% |
|
Winter sports |
5% |
With the search for heat at the forefront of many holidaymakers’ minds, 49% of those going on holiday abroad are planning to visit hotspots in the Mediterranean. This was popular across the board for age groups, but mostly for the over 55s – with more than half of respondents (52%) in this age bracket seeking the shores of Southern Europe.
Given the popularity of beach holidays, 32% of people say they would like to visit the relaxing shores of the Caribbean this year. However, not everyone is flocking towards hot weather. With heatwaves and floods affecting much of the globe over the last few years, the cooler climates of Northern Europe and Scandinavia are attracting 22% of those going abroad in 2025.
The top ten holiday destinations for Brits in 2025
|
Holiday destination |
National average |
|
Southern Europe (Mediterranean) |
49% |
|
The Caribbean |
32% |
|
Northern Europe/Scandinavia |
22% |
|
Australia & New Zealand |
20% |
|
North America |
17% |
|
China / Japan, East Asia & the Pacific |
15% |
|
Africa |
10% |
|
Middle East |
10% |
|
Eastern Europe / Russia |
9% |
|
South America |
8% |
Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance comments: “From our new research conducted over the festive break, it’s clear that many people have started 2025 with holiday plans firmly in their minds. Not only is the percentage of people planning to travel overseas this year a new peak but it is apparent that people are planning multiple trips aboard. For many, a summer beach or resort holiday in the sun is coupled with interest in taking city breaks, having activity holidays, a romantic break or a cruise.
“At a time of year when many people are browsing and booking holidays for 2025, we also encourage people to review their travel cover, especially for those planning multiple trips for the year ahead. For older travellers and those with medical conditions, we encourage people to shop around for the best possible medical cover to ensure they can travel with confidence when heading off abroad.”
Discover more about AllClear at: www.allcleartravel.co.uk