Devon is one of the top staycation holiday destinations this October Half Term

Devon Is One Of The Top Travel Destinations For October Half Term Holiday

British parents are planning to spend £1.3 billion on a staycation break to keep their children entertained over October half term break and Devon is one of their top holiday destinations  

Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons for a cheeky getaway and this year British households are taking full advantage of the October half term break with 54% of parents planning a family holiday. Three quarters (75%) of these holidaymakers are planning to holiday at home and treat the children to a four day Autumncation short break – with Devon being their second top holiday destination. 

On average these British families will be spending £350.90 on their staycation break - which collectively is a £1.3 billion pound boost into the UK economy.  

These findings have been revealed in the autumn segment of the 2022 Travelodge Travel Index. The hotel chain which operates 581 hotels across the UK surveyed 2000 British families to discover their October half term travel plans. 

Coming in second place in the 2022 autumn staycation charts is Devon - famous for being the home of the Devonshire cream tea and the oldest bakery in the world, Jacka's, dating back to the 17th century. Its spectacular Hartland heritage coastline and beautiful beaches such as Babbacombe and Broadsands make it one of the leading holiday destinations for British adults.

Key findings from the study revealed that 41% of parents reported that taking the children away on a Minication is actually better value in regards to money, wellbeing and quality time spent as a family than taking several days out whilst keeping the children entertained at home.  On average parents reported that they will spend on average £69.16 on taking their children out during the school holidays and for three days (average number of days out during half term break) - this equates to £207.48.    

Interestingly over a fifth (21%) of parents reported that taking the children away during the October half term holidays will be cheaper than paying for the energy bills if they stayed at home - in the current climate.

A quarter (25%) of parents also reported that their October half term break is the last holiday they will be having for some time due to the uncertainly of the cost of living crisis.      

Nearly three out of ten (29%) of respondents reported that October is the most beautiful time to enjoy a holiday in Britain - when the country showcases its natural beauty in its best autumnal kaleidoscopic array of colours.  

Cornwall takes the crown as the top coastal destination for a holiday this October half-term.  The famously home of the cream tea, Devon takes second spot in the 2022 autumn coastal location charts and in third place is Blackpool.

City breaks are going to be the second most visited destination this October half-term with a third of families visiting cities steeped in history that will be offering an array of Halloween themed activities. London tops the city break charts, with Liverpool in second place and York in third.

Interestingly in third place 30% of families reported that they are planning a staycation break designed around visiting their family and friends.

Taking a rural break and visiting locations key to educating the nations’ children is in joint fourth position. The top three rural locations are: The Lake District, The Cotswolds, and the Scottish Highlands and the educational hot-spots are London, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bath.

The table below details the top ten locations where British families are holidaying this October half term.

Rank	Coastal	City	Rural	Educational locations
1	Cornwall	London	Lake District	London
2	Devon	Liverpool	The Cotswolds	Stratford-upon-Avon
3	Blackpool	York	The Highlands	Bath
4	Bournemouth	Manchester	North Wales	Chester
5	Whitby	Edinburgh	Peak District	Canterbury
6	Southport	Birmingham	Isle of Man	Winchester
7	Great Yarmouth	Newcastle	Norfolk Broads	Hastings
8	Brighton	Cardiff	South Wales	Windsor
9	Eastbourne	Leeds	Snowdonia	Ely
10	Northumberland	Glasgow	Exmoor	Warwick

 

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “Against the current gloom and doom, it’s encouraging news for the UK hospitality industry that we could have a staycation boom this October half term break, with families exploring what makes Britain so Great in its autumnal beauty. Our 581 Travelodge’s across the length and breadth of the UK, including our ten properties in Devon, are all getting geared up for a busy October half term break. Our Bar Cafe hotels in Paignton Seafront and Torquay have even ordered ample extra supplies as families will be kick-starting their adventure days with a hearty Full English breakfast, especially as children eat for free*.”      

The study also revealed that over a third (34%) of parents have been doing their homework and spent the last four weeks searching for coupons and details of free attractions to visit during their half term break to help their pennies go further.  Detailed below are the top things that families are planning to do during their October half term break.

1.     Eating fish and chips at the seaside

2.     Visiting a spooky (Halloween attraction)

3.     Going to a museum

4.     Visiting a historical site

5.     Having a picnic in the countryside

6.     Visiting a farm

7.     Taking a bike ride in the countryside

8.     Going on a long walk in the countryside     

The study also revealed that Glaswegian, Coventrian and Oxonians parents are planning to spend well above the average spend for their October half term break with each spending consequently £532, £530 and £492. 

The table below details a regional breakdown of parents that are splashing more than the average spend for their October half term break and what they plan to do.

Rank	Regional High Spender Parents	Average Spend	Top type of break	Holiday destination
1	Glaswegians	£532.40	City	Newcastle
2	Coventrians	£530.60	City	Liverpool
3	Oxonians	£492.40	City	Edinburgh
4	Cardiffians	£445.10	Coast	South Wales
5	Londoners	£420.60	City	York
6	Leicesterians	£403.80	Coast	Cornwall
7	Norwichers	£395.70	Coast	Great Yarmouth
8	Liverpudlians	£390.30	City	Oxford
9	Yorkies	£381.80	City	Manchester
10	Geordies	£378.20	Rural	Lake District