We want our holidays to be as relaxing as possible and not worry about spending while we are there. With many of us using our cards rather than carrying cash, you might even look for a debit card with no foreign transaction fees! But what is the average person planning to spend on holidays abroad this year?
Average holiday spending: Highlights
The average planned spend on holidays abroad per person in 2024 was £1,690, down 20% from a planned spend of £2,115 in 2023.
In 2023, the average cost of a holiday abroad was £894, up from £877 in 2022.
Brits spent a total of £72.4 billion on trips abroad in 2023, including £49.8 billion on holidays abroad.
Brits spend the most abroad in Spain, with a total spend of £12.6 billion in 2023.
Switzerland has the highest average daily spend for Brits abroad, at £155 in 2023.
Meanwhile, Brits visiting Russia will spend just £24 a day on average.
What is the average spend on holidays abroad per year?
In 2024, the average UK resident planned to spend £1,690 each on holidays abroad, including accommodation, flights and spending money. This is down 20% from 2023 when the planned spend per person on holidays abroad was £1,425.
Our survey found over half of adults (55%) are planning to spend some money on holidays abroad in 2024.
What is the average cost of a holiday abroad?
The average cost of a holiday abroad was £894 in 2023, up from a cost of £877 in 2022. Compared to 4 years ago, the cost of a holiday abroad has increased by 21%, going from £739 in 2019 to £894 in 2023.
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UK residents spent £49.8 billion on holidays abroad in 2023, up 24% from £40.1 billion in 2022. The total spent by Brits abroad in 2023 was £72.4 billion. Other categories for spending abroad include visiting family and friends, where Brits spent £13.8 billion, and business travel, where Brits spent £6.5 billion.
Spain was the most popular country for spending abroad in 2023, with UK residents spending a whopping total of £12.6 billion here. France came second with £6.3 billion in spending, followed by the USA (£6.1 billion), Greece (£3.9 billion) and Italy (£3.7 billion).
What is the average holiday spend per day in each country?
The 5 countries with highest daily spend
1. Switzerland £155 2. Finland £148 3. USA £129 4. United Arab Emirates £124 5. Austria £120
The 5 countries with lowest daily spend
1. Russia £24 2. China £27 3. Pakistan £29 4. Nigeria £34 5. India £37
Country
Spending
per day
2023
1
Switzerland
£155
2
Finland
£148
3
USA
£129
4
United Arab Emirates
£124
5
Austria
£120
6
Barbados
£118
7
Netherlands
£117
8
Norway
£112
9
Mexico
£106
10
Greece
£101
11
Italy
£100
12
Belgium
£99
13
Israel
£99
14
Japan
£98
15
France
£96
16
Malta
£96
17
Denmark
£94
18
Republic of Ireland
£91
19
Canada
£89
20
Spain
£87
21
Germany
£84
22
Portugal
£80
23
Sweden
£80
24
Czech Republic
£79
25
Turkey
£78
26
Jamaica
£78
27
Luxembourg
£77
28
Cyprus
£73
29
Hungary
£72
30
South Africa
£72
31
Thailand
£70
32
Australia
£65
33
Morocco
£62
34
Brazil
£59
35
Egypt
£57
36
New Zealand
£56
37
Lithuania
£53
38
Tunisia
£52
39
Slovakia
£51
40
Bulgaria
£50
41
Romania
£48
42
Poland
£47
43
Sri Lanka
£44
44
Hong Kong
£42
45
India
£37
46
Nigeria
£34
47
Pakistan
£29
48
China
£27
49
Russia
£24
Which generation spends the most on travel abroad?
The planned spend on holidays abroad is, unsurprisingly, higher for the older generations – with the silent generation planning to spend an average of £2,082 in 2024 and baby boomers planning to spend £2,029 each.
Meanwhile, generation X is planning to spend £1,605 each, millennials are planning to spend £1,530 each and generation Z is planning to spend just £1,307 each.
The older generations tend to have more savings and more disposable income than the younger generations, which gives them the freedom to spend.
However, more of the younger generations are planning to spend on holidays abroad at all, with around three-quarters of generation Z (76%) and a similar proportion of millennials (74%) saying that they will spend at least some money on travelling internationally.
This is lower in the older age groups from 43 upwards, with around half of generation X (49%), two-fifths of baby boomers (43%) and a fifth of the silent generation (19%). Responsibilities such as children and pets and having less energy for travelling abroad as you get older may be some of the reasons for this!
Our survey found that people in the South West of England are going to be the biggest spenders on holidays abroad in 2024, with an average planned spend of £2,175 per person. Those in the West Midlands are looking to be more frugal with their international holidays in 2024, with a planned average spend of £1,293 per person.
Region
Average spend
South West
£2,175
East Midlands
£1,968
Scotland
£1,836
Greater London
£1,793
Wales
£1,670
North West
£1,651
Yorkshire and the Humber
£1,635
South East
£1,614
East of England
£1,532
North East
£1,404
Northern Ireland
£1,347
West Midlands
£1,293
Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact –
Matt Mckenna
UK Head of Communications T: +44 20 8191 8806
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Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions. See full bio
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Kate Steere is an editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, banking and cryptocurrency. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run. See full bio
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