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?
The average cost of a holiday abroad was £961 in 2024, up 7% from a cost of £894 in 2023. Compared to 5 years ago, the cost of a holiday abroad has increased by 30%, going from £739 in 2019 to £961 in 2024.
UK residents spent £53.6 billion on holidays abroad in 2024, up 8% from £49.8 billion in 2023. The total spent by Brits abroad in 2024 (including non-holiday trips) was £78.6 billion. Other categories for spending abroad include visiting family and friends, where Brits spent £13.2 billion, and business travel, where Brits spent £8 billion.
| Year | Holiday spending |
|---|---|
| 2019 | £43.36 billion |
| 2020 | n/a |
| 2021 | £7.93 billion |
| 2022 | £40.16 billion |
| 2023 | £49.8 billion |
| 2024 | £53.6 billion |
Brits spent the most money on holidays in Spain in 2024, with UK residents shelling out a total of £12.1 billion here. France came second with £5.3 billion in holiday spending, followed by the USA (£3.5 billion), Greece (£3.4 billion) and Italy (£3 billion).
| Country | Holiday spend by UK residents |
|---|---|
| Spain | £12.14 billion |
| France | £5.34 billion |
| USA | £3.48 billion |
| Greece | £3.37 billion |
| Italy | £2.97 billion |
| Turkey | £2.63 billion |
| Portugal | £2.21 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | £1.29 billion |
| Cyprus | £995 million |
| Netherlands | £870 million |
1. United Arab Emirates £196
2. Barbados £195
3. Finland £179
4. Jamaica £164
5. USA £159
1. Romania £44
2. Nigeria £57
3. Pakistan £58
4. India £58
5. China £69
| Country | Spending per day 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | £196 |
| 2 | Barbados | £196 |
| 3 | Finland | £179 |
| 4 | Jamaica | £164 |
| 5 | United States | £159 |
| 6 | Austria | £155 |
| 7 | Switzerland | £149 |
| 8 | Belgium | £149 |
| 9 | Mexico | £144 |
| 10 | Netherlands | £141 |
| 11 | Israel | £141 |
| 12 | Italy | £138 |
| 13 | Denmark | £137 |
| 14 | Germany | £130 |
| 15 | South Africa | £130 |
| 16 | Japan | £126 |
| 17 | Greece | £125 |
| 18 | Hungary | £125 |
| 19 | Norway | £125 |
| 20 | Czechia | £125 |
| 21 | France | £124 |
| 22 | Malta | £119 |
| 23 | Ireland | £119 |
| 24 | Luxembourg | £119 |
| 25 | Egypt | £116 |
| 26 | Canada | £116 |
| 27 | Sweden | £109 |
| 28 | Portugal | £107 |
| 29 | Cyprus | £103 |
| 30 | New Zealand | £102 |
| 31 | Spain | £99 |
| 32 | Slovakia | £98 |
| 33 | Morocco | £96 |
| 34 | Turkey | £95 |
| 35 | Brazil | £94 |
| 36 | Bulgaria | £93 |
| 37 | Sri Lanka | £91 |
| 38 | Thailand | £90 |
| 39 | Australia | £82 |
| 40 | Lithuania | £80 |
| 41 | Poland | £77 |
| 42 | Tunisia | £70 |
| 43 | China | £69 |
| 44 | India | £58 |
| 45 | Pakistan | £58 |
| 46 | Nigeria | £57 |
| 47 | Romania | £44 |
Sophie Barber
Communications Manager
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