• New benchmark study into travel behaviours offers in-depth snapshot of how Brits holiday
• Solo package bookings becoming more popular with over half of Brits (57%) saying they’d now consider for a holiday
• Research finds the demand for more frequent breaks is increasing, with a third of Brits now taking three or more trips per year
• Gen Z are embracing spontaneity and booking their holidays less than 12 weeks in advance – eight weeks behind their Gen X seniors
• Mental health resets, dopamine-driven spontaneity and budget hacks are the primary motivations for last-minute bookings

New research has lifted the lid on Brits holiday-booking habits, with package holidays surging in popularity across generations and over half of Brits (57%) saying they’d now consider booking a solo package.

Although Millennials and Gen X lead the charge in embracing package holidays, generational data shows that almost two-fifths (38%) of Gen Z are now more likely to book this type of holiday compared to five years ago, citing cost efficiency (60%), ease of booking (56%) and peace of mind (38%) as their top reasons for booking.

The research also reveals a ‘generation gap’ in how far in advance we plan our holidays- with Gen Z preferring to lock in trips less than 12 weeks before departure, in stark contrast to older generations who prefer to book up to five months in advance.

The factors driving younger Gen Z travellers’ demand for last-minute trips are looking for cost-saving budget hacks (36%), wanting a mental health reset (31%) and giving themselves a hit of dopamine-fuelled spontaneity (26%).

Gen X, meanwhile, are locking in trips at least five months ahead, with budgets (52%), availability of their travel partner (33%) and a preference for planning (24%) influencing how far in advance they prefer to book.

Average booking times across generations are revealed as:

• Gen Z – 11.5 weeks in advance 
• Millennials – 3 months in advance 
• Gen X – 5 months in advance 
• Baby Boomers – 4 months in advance 

Across all generations, the desire to take more frequent trips is rising, with a third (32%) of Brits now taking 3 or more trips a year.  Furthermore, almost a quarter (23%) of Gen Z and Millennials share a preference for shorter, more frequent trips, with easyJet Holidays data showing the average vacation lasts 6.7 days.

The research reveals how the rise in holiday bookings also reflects a broader lifestyle shift. Brits are prioritising regular travel as a way to spend quality time with friends and family (48%), relax and unwind (44%) and prioritise personal wellbeing and mental health (38%).

Top 10 motivations for booking a holiday last minute:

1. Budget hacks and last-minute deals (32%)
2. Spontaneity (26%)
3. Work schedules (21%)
4. Mental health reset (20%)
5. Flexible mindset (17%)
6. Decision fatigue (12%)
7. Instant gratification (11%)
8. Celebrating wins (9%)
9. Short lead times (8%)
10. FOMO (4%)

Paul Bixby, Chief Commercial Officer at easyJet Holidays, said:
“At easyJet Holidays, we’re committed to providing package holiday options that suit the needs of all our customers, and this latest research highlights a fascinating shift in how people are choosing to travel.

“More Brits than ever are opting for package holidays because of their convenience and reliability, but we’re seeing generational habits vary more than ever – from early planners to spontaneous adventurers. That’s why we offer a wide range of booking options and holiday types, with brilliant last-minute deals as well as packages departing right up to March 2027.”

Visit www.easyjet.com/en/holidays to book your 2025/2026 package holiday at the best value.

-ENDS-   

For more information, please contact the easyJet Holidays press office on easyjetholidays@taylorherring.com / 020 8206 5151  

About easyJet Holidays:    

easyJet holidays, which launched in 2019, is a leading package holiday provider which operates from the UK, Switzerland, Germany and France. The company took over 2.5 million customers on holiday in 2024. 

Named UK & Ireland Travel Company of the Year 2024, it offers great value beach and city holidays to over 7000 hotels, in more than 100 destinations across Europe and North Africa, directly through its website and through over 7000 travel agent partners. The ATOL-protected holidays can be secured with a deposit of just £60 per person, including flights and accommodation, as well as 23kg luggage and transfers on beach breaks. 

easyJet holidays is a member of ABTA, and all packages are covered by its Ultimate Flexibility, offering freedom to change a booking, a refund guarantee, and best price guarantee. 

Winners of the Sustainable Future Award, easyJet holidays’ sustainability strategy, ‘Holiday Better’, focuses on three key pillars – create better holiday choices by making sustainable travel affordable and accessible to everyone; keep our holidays special by maximising the benefits and minimising the negative impacts of travel and tourism, and transform travel for everyone by embedding sustainability into business decisions and behaviours and driving meaningful change in the industry. The tour operator has partnered with UN Tourism to help develop the first environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework for tourism businesses, co-designing a measurement tool that is meaningful and feasible for better monitoring how tourism businesses impact, and depend on, people, planet and prosperity. 

easyJet holidays was named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2023 and 2024.