All I want for Christmas is a Staycation!
Wales collectively spending £400M on the great UK festive escape this Christmas
It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year, as 31% of people from Wales marking the end of an extraordinary 2021 with a joyous festive Staycation over the 12 days of Christmas.
According to new research from Travelodge, the average ‘Crimbocation’ for people from Wales is going to be for four nights and will cost on average £433.11. Collectively, these festive holidaymakers and travellers will boost the UK economy by more than £400 million*.
These findings have been revealed in Travelodge’s latest Travel Index. The hotel chain, which operates 582 hotels across the length and breadth of the UK including 26 properties in Wales, has surveyed 2,000 British adults to seek their festive season travel plans.
Key findings from the study revealed that 48% of Welsh people reported that 2021 has been an extremely stressful year and they need a festive short break in order to reconnect with their families this Christmas.
While 30% of Welsh parents reported that taking a Christmas themed short break is cheaper than keeping the children entertained at home during the 12 days of Christmas, 39% stated that they are taking their children away on a Staycation as their Christmas gift.
Interestingly, 30% of people from the area reported that their Christmas getaway is their first holiday this year.
Detailed below are the top ten types of short breaks people from Wales are taking this festive season
| Rank | Festive break | % |
| 1 | Visiting friends | 33% |
| 2 | Catching up with a friend in a central location | 30% |
| 3 | Visiting a Christmas market | 30% |
| 4 | Visiting family | 27% |
| 5 | Visiting a Christmas attraction | 27% |
| 6 | Christmas shopping | 24% |
| 7 | Coastal break | 24% |
| 8 | Rural break | 24% |
| 9 | Catching up with a family member in a central location | 18% |
| 10 | City break | 18% |
The report also revealed that 45% of those surveyed in Wales are taking a multi-location break and visiting two different locations as part of their festive break. This could include combining a UK city break with visiting friends and family.
Top festive 2021 Crimbocation destinations for the Welsh feature the UK’s historic cities steeped in history, culture and renowned for their Christmas decorations and festive markets.
Detailed below are top 10 destinations the Welsh are visiting this festive season.
1. Manchester
2. Devon
3. Glasgow
4. Bath
5. Cornwall
6. Bristol
7. London
8. Birmingham
9. Edinburgh
10.York
The report also revealed that the Welsh will be travelling on average 91 miles for their festive break this Christmas. In general, travelling by car is the nation’s preferred form of transport, with 69% of Britons driving to their festive Staycation destination.
With people from Wales spending so much time travelling across the UK during the festive season, respondents were also asked which Christmas songs are on their car drive playlist.
Topping the poll was the 1987 classic ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, followed by ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ by Maria Carey in second place. ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’ by Chris De Burgh from 1976 came third in the poll, with 1984 Wham smash, ‘Last Christmas’, in fourth. 1973’s ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ by Wizzard took fifth place.
The table below details Wales’s top ten Christmas driving playlist songs
| Rank | Song | Singer |
| 1 | Fairytale of New York | The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl |
| 2 | All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey |
| 3 | A Spaceman Came Travelling | Chris De Burgh |
| 4 | Last Christmas | Wham |
| 5 | I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday | Wizzard |
| 6 | Driving Home for Christmas | Chris Rea |
| 7 | It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year | Andy Williams |
| 8 | Lonely This Christmas | Mud |
| 9 | Do They Know It’s Christmas? | Band Aid |
| 10 | Merry Christmas Everyone | Shakin’ Stevens |
Further research findings revealed that visiting family and friends over Christmas is the most popular reason to travel this festive season, and that 40% of Welsh people are expecting to eat three Christmas dinners in order to keep loved ones happy!
Interestingly, 33% of people from the region reported that they have booked a hotel room when visiting family and friends this festive season. The main reasons given were that it supports social distancing, eliminates the stress of getting under the host’s feet and that you have the freedom to come and go as you wish.
Craig Bonnar, Travelodge Chief Executive said: “We are seeing a strong level of leisure bookings across our 582 UK hotels this festive season, including our 26 hotels in Wales. Britons are trying to make the most of this wonderful time of the year and are getting outdoors to experience what makes Britain so great at Christmas time. Key destinations are historic UK cities dressed for the festive season that feature a Christmas market and are renowned as top shopping and entertainment destinations such as Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Wales, Bath and London.
“As the nation’s spare room provider, we are also seeing more Britons booking a room at one of our 582 Travelodge hotels when visiting friends and family this festive season. Nowadays, not many households have a spare room and Britons have outgrown sleeping on the sofa or on the floor, comfort is key and our Travelodge Dreamer beds don’t disappoint when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.”
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