The British seaside is Scots’ 2021 top holiday destination
We’re all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week, is certainly the song for this summer, as 70% of Scots are planning to take a summer holiday and 78% of these holidaymakers are holidaying on British Shores this year. With the average Staycation for Scots costing around £986 – collectively Scots will be splashing £3 billion on their Staycation this year. These findings have been revealed in the 2021 Travelodge Holiday Index.
The annual holiday index surveyed 2,000 adults to seek their holiday plans for 2021. Key findings revealed that the Staycation is going to be big in 2021 because 89% of Scots are too scared to travel abroad due to the international impact of Covid-19 and that new Government restrictions could be instantly enforced.
In addition 43% of Scots have not had a holiday since the first lockdown started in March 2020 and they want certainty that their money will not be wasted and holidaying at home is a more secure option. Over a third (36%) of Scots reported that the lockdown gave them time to reflect and they now feel more inspired to get out and explore what the UK has to offer.
Interestingly the report also revealed that eager Scottish holidaymakers are repackaging their summer holiday this year as a safety net in case any new restrictions are enforced and to make the most of 2021 after a year of lockdowns. Just over a third (34%) of Scots are taking a week’s long summer holiday whilst a fifth are taking a five day Summercation. Interestingly 16% of them are opting for a long weekend Minication this summer and less than one in ten are taking a traditional two week summer holiday.
Sun, Sea, Sand is what Scottish holidaymakers are craving the most with 46% of them taking a jaunt to the seaside this summer. Blackpool is the top coastal destination for Scots this year, whilst Whitby takes second place and West Sands Beach in St Andrews secures third place in Scotland’s 2021 top ten coastal holiday listing.
Escaping to the great Scottish countryside is the second most popular type of summer holiday with 24% of Scots opting to explore the jewel of our national heritage and enjoy an idyllic country retreat. The Scottish Highlands, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland are the top rural destinations for Scots this year.
A quarter (20%) of Scots are taking a UK city summer break this year with Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh topping the list of city break holiday destinations.
Savvy Scots are also taking full advantage of the accessibility Great Britain offers to holidaymakers with 46% of Scottish adults mapping out their holiday to create a multi-centre holiday. This includes adding either a city break or a countryside retreat to a seaside holiday. Scottish holidaymakers reported creating a multi-centre holiday helps them to see more of the UK and it also maximises their holiday time.
The table below ranks the top 10 Staycation destinations where Scots are holidaying this summer
| Rank | Coastal | Rural | City |
| 1 | Blackpool | Scottish Highlands | Aberdeen |
| 2 | Whitby | Yorkshire Dales | Glasgow |
| 3 | West Sands Beach (St Andrews) | Northumberland | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Scarborough | Shropshire | Birmingham |
| 5 | Weymouth | Derbyshire | Manchester |
| 6 | Great Yarmouth | Yorkshire Dales | York |
| 7 | Torquay | South Wales | Newcastle |
| 8 | Bridlington | Lake District | London |
| 9 | Dundee | Fort William | Liverpool |
| 10 | Devon | Cotswolds | Oxford |
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “The results from our 2021 Holiday Index report is certainly encouraging news for the UK hospitality sector and for Scottish tourism with more Scots holidaying at home. We are delighted to reopen all of our Travelodge hotels today which includes our 47 hotels across Scotland. We are getting geared up for a busy summer season. Our Covid-19 safety programme called TravelodgeProtect+ sits at the heart of our business so customers and teams in Scotland are well protected.”
“To help Scots make the most of 2021 and discover what makes Britain, and particularly Scotland, so Great, we have released over 2 million rooms for £29 across our UK hotels. For a family of four, a £29 Travelodge family room works out at just £7.25 per person which is cheaper than a portion of fish and chips. To book a great value £29 room visit: www.travelodge.co.uk.”
The research also asked Scots what they are most looking forward to doing on their Summercation and topping the top ten list of holiday activities for Scots this year is eating fish & chips at the seaside, going for a walk on the beach at sunset, taking a good hike in the countryside, having a cream tea in a quaint tea shop and indulging in a traditional pub lunch in a pub garden. Detailed below is the top ten list of activities Scots are most looking forward to doing on their Summercation:
- 1. Going for a walk on the beach at sunset
- 2. Taking a walk on the waterfront
- 3. Having a pub lunch
- 4. Going for a hike in the countryside
- 5. Sitting in a pub garden
- 6. Eating fish and chips at the seaside
- 7. Walking barefoot on the beach
- 8. Going paddling in the sea
- 9. Having dinner or lunch al fresco
- 10. Having a seaside or countryside picnic
The report also revealed that nearly a quarter (24%) of Scots are taking a summer holiday combined with visiting their family and friends this year.
The report also revealed where you can find Scotland’s top Staycationers and the table below details how much they are planning to spend.
| Rank | City | Taking a staycation | Average Staycation Spend |
| 1 | Aberdeen | 71% | £1,420 |
| 2 | Glasgow | 83% | £1,026 |
| 3 | St Andrews | 75% | £1,015 |
| 4 | Stirling | 72% | £1,007 |
| 5 | Inverness | 84% | £1,000 |
| 6 | Dundee | 79% | £998 |
| 7 | Fort William | 81% | £890 |
| 8 | Edinburgh | 83% | £878 |
| 9 | Dumfries | 75% | £869 |
| 10 | Perth | 76% | £850 |
