Christmas market themed staycation break tops Brummie’s 2022 Christmas list

Despite the Christmas travel chaos, 43% of Brummies are taking a festive break this year and 85% of these holidaymakers in Birmingham, are taking a staycation over the Christmas holidays. 

On average Brummies are planning to take two festive themed short breaks this year, with each trip costing on average £196.34 – which will contribute to the UK collective spend of £9.6 billion* on festive staycations.

These findings have been revealed in Travelodge’s latest travel index which surveyed 2,000 British adults to seek their holiday plans for this festive season.

The budget hotel chain that operates over 580 Travelodge hotels across the UK, which includes 20 in Birmingham, undertook this study to gain a wider perspective on Brummies festive plans as the group has seen a significant rise in festive themed bookings this year. More Brummies are taking a UK city break this year than ever before to visit a traditional Christmas market with family or friends. 

Key findings from the study revealed that a fifth of adults in Birmingham (20%) stated that taking a festive break gets them into the festive mood. A quarter (25%) reported that taking a festive break has become a key Christmas tradition that they arrange with their family and friends as an annual treat. 

Interestingly 59% of Brummies are taking their festive break before Christmas Day. Forty-three per cent (43%) are taking their Crimbocation on Christmas Day and 50% are going away between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. A fifth (20%) of respondents in Birmingham reported that they were taking a Staycation to celebrate the New Year. 

Taking a staycation city break to visit a UK Christmas market is Birmingham’s favourite festive themed short break this year with 46% of Brummies taking a UK City Christmas market themed break. Top locations include historic cities renowned for their Christmas markets and festive decorations. London, Edinburgh and York top the Christmas market staycation charts for Brummies.

The study also revealed that over a third (34%) of Brummies are taking a festive break to spend Christmas with their family this year. For a fifth (20%) of these respondents, this is the first time in two years that they will be able to spend Christmas with their loved ones due to Covid restrictions.

Twenty eight per cent of Brummies are taking a short break to visit friends this festive season. Interestingly over a quarter (26%) of Brummie parents reported that they are planning to take a staycation to a destination that is important to their children’s education during the 12 days of Christmas.

This includes locations such as Oxford, Windsor, Cambridge and Canterbury. The table below details the top ten types of staycation breaks Brummies are taking this festive season

The table below details the top ten types of staycation breaks Brummies are taking this festive season 

The table below details Brummies top ten locations for festive breaks in 2022

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokesperson said: “Our research shows that Christmas has become the most wonderful time of the year to take a Staycation. Brummies want to make the most of the 12 days of Christmas and to be walking in a winter wonderland. This growing trend is great news for the UK hospitality sector, as all we want for Christmas is for Britons, which includes Brummes, to be exploring what makes Britain so Great during the holly, jolly Christmas season.”

“In line with this research, we have also seen a significant rise in festive Travelodge bookings this year, especially for UK cities, such as Birmingham, and major towns that are hosting a Christmas market. Britons love for a Christmas market is at an all-time high, as it provides the ideal setting to get you in the festive mood and with hundreds of festive markets to choose from, Britons are taking multiple staycation breaks to enjoy them. This is great news for local economies as visitors will collectively spend millions of pounds whilst visiting the Christmas market.”