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.

Helen Skelton has broadcast her final show for BBC Radio 5 Live after a year in her Sunday morning slot.

The TV and radio star, who has allegedly come under fire from bosses for plugging brands during her time working for the BBC, bid an emotional farewell to listeners on Sunday as she explained she wanted to spend more of her weekend with her children.

Talking to her co-presenter Lloyd Griffith, Helen, with her voice breaking said: ‘I am not alright about it but needs must. The juggle is real.’

The star, who split from the father of her children last year, added that she wanted to be around to see her children at their weekend sports fixtures, telling listeners that ‘there is an eight-year-old with a sideline who needs me’. 

Later, as she ended her show Helen said she has ‘loved every minute of the past year … thank you to all the team and thank you to all of you. Its hard to know what to say without getting emotional!’

Helen is a mum of three, sharing her children – Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and 16-month-old daughter Elsie – with ex husband Richie Myler.

The television presenter, 40, announced her split from England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie, 33, in April last year. 

Helen took over from Laura Whitmore on her BBC Radio Sunday show last August.

It was reported this month that Helen has allegedly come under fire from BBC bosses after plugging brands during her time working on TV show Morning Live.

The television presenter has gone against the strict guidelines of the broadcasting corporation by tagging the brands of clothing, jewellery and cake makers in her Instagram posts.

Guidelines state that ‘no on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use’.

The BBC, which is funded by the license fee, does not allow advertising or product placements on its television or radio outputs, or on its websites.

Helen has since removed the tags and did not receive payment for naming the brands on her social media channel.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Helen pays for the clothes she wears on the show and does not have relationships with the brands tagged.

‘She has now removed brand mentions from social posts linked to the programme.’

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Helen for comment.

Meanwhile, Helen has recently launched herself back into the dating scene.

A source told Closer Magazine: ‘Helen’s family and friends encouraged her to get back out there and she was happy to dip her toe back into the dating scene, but she has had some wobbles and found herself feeling guilty. She’s concerned about who to let into her life and worried about being judged for any decisions she makes.

‘There have also been some people who have made comments about her not trying hard enough to make it work with Richie, and it’s made her think about her marriage and what went wrong. 

‘Ultimately, she knows she tried everything she could, and once the trust was broken there was just no going back. But dating again has brought up some unexpected feelings that she’s been struggling with.’

It comes after source told OK! magazine: ‘After her trust was broken, she’s nowhere near ready for an all-in long-term romance.

‘But she’s not closing herself off to anything anymore. She’s open to new adventures in all respects and is making it her aim to say ‘yes’ to more things that excite her.’

MailOnline has contacted Helen’s representative for comment.

Helen is also moving on from Richie by putting the marital home they once shared on the market.

A source told The Mirror : ‘Helen has moved on with her life and feels it’s time to start with a clean slate.

‘She’s put the house they shared on the market and is looking for a new place she can move to with the kids in the coming months.’

Since his split from Helen, Richie has gone on to have a baby with new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, 32, the daughter of Leeds Rhinos president Andrew.

A British family left destitute by the wildfires ravaging Rhodes have told of their ‘rags to riches’ story thanks to the kindness of the Greek people.

Dean and Charlie Scoffins and their two teenage daughters were forced to sleep on a school playground after they were evacuated from their Jet2 hotel in Pefkos in the south of the island at 3am as the flames grew close.

The family from Grantham, Lincs, could not find any space at the sprawling basketball stadium that was used as an emergency shelter over the weekend and were stranded without shade in the 40-degree heat.

But after suffering ’36 hours of hell’ the Scoffins were treated to a ‘Premiership footballer’s lifestyle’ when they were invited to bunk down on a £3.5 million catamaran by its tycoon owner – one of hundreds of acts of kindness by the people of Rhodes to their under-fire British guests.

Grateful Charlie Scoffins told MailOnline: ‘If it had not been for the Greek people we would still be sitting in the sun in that school playground.

‘As soon as we found ourselves in trouble it has been the people of Rhodes who have saved us.

‘They ferried us out of the danger zone, gave us food and water and found us this amazing place to stay.

‘I cannot thank the Greek people enough. They have done everything for us. I’m just so grateful to them.

‘The boat owners have given us three nights on their wonderful yacht. Jet2 did nothing.’

The family had enjoyed two days on the beach at the Eagle’s Nest Hotel in Pefkos when they received an evacuation alert on their phones at 11pm on Saturday night from the Greek government.

Unable to sleep Dean went for a walk along the road by the hotel to look for transport. There he discovered a Greek coach driver who had stayed up all night to ferry stranded holidaymakers to safety in the north of the island.

Dean, a bricklayer, told MailOnline: ‘There was no plan from the hotel staff about how to get us out, so I went for a walk to look for transport.

‘This coach came to a halt and I told the driver that my family were back at the hotel.

‘The driver reversed back for half a mile and waited while Charlie and the girls stuffed everything in the bags and ran down.

‘There was smoke everywhere and you could see the flames. The girls were getting really upset.

‘That coach driver was our saviour. No one was paying him. He was just driving around looking for people who needed help.’

The Scoffins were taken to Kleisto High School in Kallithea and offered food and water.

But the building was full and they were forced to bed down on the concrete playground.

The following day they were transferred to the island’s basketball stadium in Rhodes Town, which had become the main crisis centre.

Packed with stranded tourists the family had to make camp outside in the blazing heat.

But it was here that they were approached by local businessman Christoforos Charisis who told them owners of luxury yachts in the Rhodes Marina were offering their boats as emergency accommodation.

Dean, 43, explained: ‘It was literally rags for riches for us.

‘We had had 36 hours of hell.

‘We were homeless, having to sleep outside at night and then endure 40 degrees without any shade during the day.

‘And then these kind people offered us to stay on their yacht.

‘We’ve gone from being destitute to enjoying a Premiership footballer’s lifestyle.

‘The crew have cooked for us and cared for us. They have been amazing. We cannot thank them enough.’

The family have now been able to enjoy the last few days of their holiday sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the sea and enjoying traditional restaurants – before flying home tonight.

Daughter Lucy, 18, told MailOnline: ‘My friends back home are so jealous. They don’t want to hear about the fire they want to fly to Rhodes to join me on the yacht!’

Sister Lottie, 15, added: ‘It’s great! We’ve got an ensuite bathroom and everything.’

Mr Charisis, who organised the yacht accommodation for the Scoffins and a dozen other British families, today tried to play down the islanders’ hospitality.

He told MailOnline: ‘Yes, the people of Rhodes helped the tourists who were in trouble. But we only treated them in the way we would like to be treated. This is our nature.

‘The whole island depends on tourism. This is not why everyone here is happy to help. But we want the English people to remember Rhodes in a good way. We want them to come back. We need them.’