No room at the inn - 90% of holiday accommodation in UK staycation hotspots ALREADY booked

Research by hotel booking platform, Hoo, has found that on average, 90% of holiday accommodation across the UK’s most popular holiday hotspots has already been booked ahead of another summer of staycations. 

Despite travel restrictions being relaxed in recent weeks for holidays abroad, previous research by Hoo found that 86% of holiday makers will still refrain from heading abroad this summer. It’s clear that Covid remains a concern and it’s also caused some holidaymakers to double book, with the intention of cancelling their UK staycation at the last minute should they be able to travel abroad. 

This has left many others struggling to find accommodation and the latest research by Hoo highlights just how hard it already is to secure somewhere to stay for a staycation this summer. 

Hoo analysed holiday accommodation availability for a family of four across 12 popular staycation destinations throughout August and found that on average, 90% of stock had already been booked. The research also found that the average room rate per night was as high as £355 for the accommodation that remained available, but this climbed as high as £466 in the Sandbanks in Poole. 

Devon and Cornwall were predictably the highest in demand, with Hoo’s research finding that there was already no available accommodation in Salcombe for any week in August, while in Padstow, 99% of holiday accommodation had already been booked. 

Aldeburgh in Suffolk also ranked as one of the most popular coastal destinations with 98% of accommodation already taken, while the Isle of Wight (95%) and popular countryside locations such as Portmeirion (94%), Snowdonia (93%), the Lake District (88%) and the Peak District (88%) were also close to selling out for the summer. 

The best chance of finding suitable staycation accommodation this summer is in Brighton, although 79% of accommodation was still unavailable. 

While the Sandbanks ranks as the least affordable, the average room rate per night isn’t much cheaper in the Lake District (£458) or Salcombe (£438). A trip to Padstow, Brighton and Aldeburgh will also cost you more than £400 per night in August. 

There is one location, however, that offers a good level of affordability and a relatively good chance of finding somewhere to stay. At £198 per night, Great Yarmouth is by far the most affordable of the UK’s most popular staycation destinations and currently, 81% of accommodation has been snapped up meaning there’s still hope of finding a place to ‘staycay’. 

Hoo Co-founder, Adrian Murdock, commented:

“It’s been a rough ride for the UK tourism industry and it could be that another summer of uncertainty is looming. On the face of it, the popular UK destinations are experiencing unprecedented demand, especially given the havoc reaped last year by the Covid restrictions. 

However, with the flexible booking terms being so generous right now, there could be a late surge of cancellations in the offing with businesses losing out on vital income. 

Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen. It’s hard to blame those holidaymakers who are lucky enough to be able to hedge their bets, but there will be some likely losers this summer - whether it’s the  tourism providers or those who are unable to find somewhere to stay, missing out on a much needed holiday as a result.”