By Laura Sharman

Published: 09:02 EDT, 20 September 2023 | Updated: 11:18 EDT, 20 September 2023

Britons spend more than two days – an average of 53 hours – per year planning their holidays, according to new research.

The findings suggest millions of would-be holidaymakers from Britain are hesitating to press the ‘book’ button due to the sea of choice on offer.

Gen Z (aged 16 to 26) appear to suffer the most from indecision, dedicating three days (72 hours) per year to crafting trips.

Baby boomers (aged 59 to 77) chart their courses in almost half the time but still spend close to two days a year (37 hours) planning trips.

This procrastination, the study says, is due to ‘Travel FOBO’ – ‘fear of better options’.

A close relative of FOMO, ‘fear of missing out’, FOBO is caused by information and choice overload, partly fuelled by inspiration from social media, and it’s crippling Britons when it comes to booking their getaways, the study by First Choice holidays says.

Instead of feeling excited in anticipation of a holiday, Britons are commonly left feeling mentally exhausted by the process, are often hit by ‘reservation remorse’ – and two in five (41 per cent) said they consider holiday planning to be one of ‘life’s most stressful decisions’.  

The new study, of over 3,000 Britons, found 40 per cent feel overwhelmed by travel choice anxiety when it comes to booking, with 50 per cent of Gen Z and 52 per cent of millennials (aged 27 to 42) feeling the heat.   

More than a third (39 per cent) of travellers get overwhelmed by the chaos of keeping track of multiple tabs open on devices and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) consider over 16 destinations before deciding what to book.

Almost half (42 per cent), meanwhile, get tired from an unending cycle of evaluating and re-evaluating alternative options.

And in total, 42 per cent admitted to being beaten by the ‘procrastination paradox’ – delaying booking until the last minute to find better deals, only to find that prices have increased. 

The wide range of choices and information overload has left nearly two in five (37 per cent) with reservation remorse, feeling they had made a mistake after booking, with indecision and apprehension kicking in after just two hours and seven minutes.

Despite the stress of FOBO, more than half of Brits (51 per cent) love taking control of their own travel arrangements and discovering the world on their own terms, the findings reveal. 

More than half (55 per cent) said that reviews and recommendations play an ‘important role’ when it comes to booking a break.

But more than a third (37 per cent) feel their trust in online reviews has dwindled, preferring to consult holiday company websites and apps (34 per cent).

First Choice has released a new holiday booking platform to combat Travel FOBO and ‘help travel lovers pick the trip they really want’.

The newly renovated platform combines options for different tastes, budgets and values, the holiday company explains – there are even options for trips by train.

Travellers can also choose between familiar and far-flung destinations and different activities, from cooking classes in Crete to stand-up paddleboarding in Majorca, it adds.

Bart Quinton Smith, managing director of First Choice, said: ‘Our research shows that many of us get a thrill from piecing our perfect trip together. But, in a world of endless choices, FOBO can take all the fun out of planning a holiday.’

The company has seen a change in holiday behaviours in recent years, driven by ‘a new mindset’ among travellers, the MD said.

‘For those who love to travel, holidays are up there with the most important choices we make and you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best,’ he added.

British tourists are paying up to a quarter more for all-inclusive package holidays to Mediterranean hotspots this summer compared with last year.

The average cost of a week-long family full-board trip to Crete in Greece has gone up by 25 per cent, while Majorca in Spain is up 21 per cent and Tenerife 22 per cent.

Experts also revealed a 12 per cent overall average rise in the cost of holidays to the five most popular countries of Spain, Turkey, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus.

But there is also a wide variation between the destinations – with Spain rising 15 per cent but Portugal only up 5 per cent, according to the TravelSupermarket data.

And the average price across the five countries is now up more than 30 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels – far above the general inflation rate since 2019.

The rising cost of summer holidays signals yet more pain for cash-strapped Britons hit by soaring inflation amid rising energy costs, mortgage rates and food shopping. 

TravelSupermarket boss Richard Singer said those hoping for a last-minute bargain may not have success this year because demand is still outstripping supply.

He also told BBC News: ‘It is unlikely that prices will fall substantially for this summer. Prices for next year are looking on a par with this year.’

The average holiday in Spain for August 2023 is now £926 per person, which is a £118 rise compared with £808 last August; while the figure in Turkey has risen by £89 from £902 to £991.

In Greece, the average cost of a holiday per person is up £124 from £974 to £1,098; while in Portugal it has risen by £51 from £949 to £1,000. In Cyprus, the figure is up £93 from £1,060 to £1,153.

Travelsupermarket also analysed data from five other countries further afield, with holidays to Mexico now up £126 per person from £1,656 to £1,782; and Egypt up £100 from £1,135 to £1,235.

Bulgaria remains the cheapest option out of ten countries analysed, but it has also risen, by £96 from £746 to £842.

Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates has gone up the most in monetary terms on the list of ten, by £260 from £1,426 to £1,686. And Morocco has also seen a sharp rise, of £204 from £755 to £959.

TravelSupermarket calculated the average figures using search results for holidays in each destination, with exact costs varying based on location and booking time.

The price comparison website also found that the average rate per night of airport car parking in Britain rose by nearly 10 per cent this year, from £13 in May 2022 to more than £14 now.

There has also been a 10 per cent average rise in the cost of travel insurance.

Travel expert Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said consumer demand for this summer is at its highest level since 2019, with bookings at some firms up around 40 per cent compared with that pre-pandemic year.

He told MailOnline today: ‘Consumers have been saving hard for their summer trips, so you can guarantee that your flight, ferry or Eurostar will be full in July and August. There will be no empty seats.’

But Mr Charles also said he did not expect demand to continue at the same pace after the summer, with higher mortgage rates and general prices leading to consumers cutting back.

He continued: ‘I’d expect a September to December period which sees lower demand. However, we know that price is key and we will see airlines and travel companies offering really good pricing in the mass market to ensure they continue to tempt passengers.

‘At the higher, luxury end of the market the boom will continue. Despite a slowdown in the tech and banking sectors, there is still plenty of money ready to be funnelled by consumers into travel.

‘The premium cabins on airlines will continue to be full on most routes, even if seat prices reduce a bit to entice people, or airlines open up more airmiles availability.

‘Travel is back in the blood, the mindset of consumers has changed since the pandemic to one of wanting to get away on a regular basis. Consumers won’t be giving up their travel.’

Meanwhile new research from Trivago found 28 per cent of Britons view holidays as an essential as opposed to a luxury, with 56 per cent planning to dip into their savings this year to go on a trip.

The hotel price comparison website added that the top five holiday destinations for UK travellers this year are Dubai, New York, Benidorm, Albufeira and Istanbul. 

Also in the top ten are Antalya, Orlando, Las Vegas, Marrakesh and Costa Adeje in Spain.

Johannes Thomas, chief executive of Trivago, said today: ‘Holidays are very important to UK consumers, and they are unwilling to let the current economic situation get in the way of a much-needed getaway.’

It comes after the Daily Mail urged holidaymakers jetting off abroad this summer to reserve their airport car park space imminently, because booking ahead can save hundreds of pounds.

Airports such as Heathrow charge as much as £83 a day for those just turning up at an official short or long-term airport car park before a flight, meaning a week’s parking in short-stay costs about £580.

But for those booking a month ahead, seven days in an official Heathrow short-stay car park can cost almost a third of this amount, at £198.

Further savings can be found by pre-booking at airport’s official long-stay car park, but even bigger value can be found from a third-party parking service near the airport.

Booking a one-week stay from July 3 at Heathrow, for example, could cost £56 with a Purple Parking park and ride, or either £119 or £106 with Maple Parking and MBW Parking meet-and-greet services respectively.

In Britain, overall inflation is still running at 8.7 per cent, with the Bank of England last week lifting interest rates to 5 per cent to try to tame rising prices. 

But in Spain today, it was revealed that the country’s headline annual inflation rate has dropped to 1.9 per cent – the slowest increase since March 2021 and below the European Central Bank’s 2 per cent target for the first time in more than two years. 

The smell hits you first. Before even passing through one of the 21 decorative entrance gates at Istanbul’s 15th-century Grand Bazaar, I’m met by a heady fug of saffron, rose and leather, mingled with the rich scent of strong Turkish coffee.

‘The first ten minutes inside will be amazing,’ my tour guide Koray Yalkut advises, as we weave between crowds heading in the same direction. ‘Then the second ten minutes are overwhelming. And after half an hour you’ll want to leave.’

Clearly, he underestimates my commitment to a bargain.

One of the world’s largest covered markets spanning 62 streets, the bazaar attracts up to half a million visitors each day to more than 2,000 shops, some of which are still run by the 15th generation of the same family.

Within minutes, I’m lost in the ornate alleyways, entranced by rows of Turkish delight, rainbow-coloured pashminas and pomegranates. Inside a shop named Aladdin, staff present bowls of pistachios and baklava while I choose between vials of flower oil perfumes and giant packs of dried fruit. They send me on my way with effusive goodbyes and a free bag of fragrant spices.

It’s the same all over Istanbul. I’m offered artisan chocolate in high-end jewellery store Begum Khan, and apple tea in a hole-in-the-wall shop in Besiktas selling ceramics and crystals. Everyone is welcoming.

Yet last November, a terrorist bomb killed six people on a major street in the city, highlighting Turkey’s hostile political regime, particularly towards the Kurdish population.

Many locals believe the country’s divisive — and increasingly autocratic — President Erdogan (who is facing an election today) will eventually make Turkey a super-power, but everyone I meet rolls their eyes at his name. None will say much about him directly, but all are keen to keep Istanbul as a secular, progressive and safe city. After all, it was an open-minded meeting point of cultures and continents long before Erdogan. Straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, it’s been the capital of three empires, survived many attacks and earthquakes, and was a major hub on the Silk Road trade route from East to West.

It’s now the most populated city in Europe with nearly 16 million inhabitants — yet this chaotic, charismatic metropolis is often overlooked as tourists hurry south to the country’s beach resorts. They’re missing a city every bit as captivating as Rome or Athens, with as many historical wonders — as well as lively bars and gourmet restaurants.

For the best access to both, I stay in the Shangri-La Bosphorus, a beautifully converted 1920s tobacco warehouse near the Maritime Museum and the extravagant Dolmabahce Palace. There’s a ferry right outside to cross continents in minutes, or the hotel can arrange a breakfast cruise to sail past domed mosques, Ottoman castles and, if you’re lucky, dolphins leaping from the water as the sun rises over Asia.

In rush hour, it’s also the fastest way to swerve the near-endless traffic jams and head to the old city of Sultanahmet on Istanbul’s European side.

Here, traces of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires make every street a museum, albeit with dogs snoozing in the sunshine and candy-striped stalls selling simit (Turkish bagels) to breakfasting office workers.

The main sights are clustered around the fountains of Sultanahmet Square, including the Sultanahmet Mosque — nicknamed the Blue Mosque for its colourful tiled interior — and the Hagia Sophia.

The latter is a former 5th-century church built by Roman emperor Justinian I, and turned into a mosque by invading Ottomans in 1453.

It’s been a museum since 1935, although Erdogan controversially declared it a mosque again in 2020. Women must now cover their hair to enter, but it remains an architectural marvel with a 55m-high dome that shimmers with tiny gold mosaics. Next door is the eerie subterranean Basilica Cistern that once supplied water to the Byzantine palaces.

It was discovered in 1545 when locals revealed they could lower buckets under their basements to catch fish. Now, water still drips intermittently from the ceiling into its shallow pools where carp dart between the shadows.

Later, I return to the Grand Bazaar — and not just for a final shopping spree. Yalkut leads me up a rickety staircase at the back of a sari shop to walk across the terracotta rooftops of the Bazaar, an area only accessible with a private guide.

Deserted despite thousands of shoppers below, it’s the best place for sweeping views across the city, and I recognise it as the spot where Daniel Craig zipped across the skyline on a motorbike in the opening scene of Skyfall. Trust James Bond to know the best way to avoid the traffic.

Record players in the bedrooms – and prices that will be music to your ears: Inside the hip 60s-inspired hotel in Athens with rooms from just £73 a night

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 04:52 EDT, 12 May 2023 | Updated: 05:08 EDT, 12 May 2023