Rising Petrol Prices Impact UK Summer Travel Plans
As petrol prices continue to climb due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, UK families who are planning summer staycations are facing more costly road trips. Recent data from the RAC indicates that the average price of unleaded petrol has reached 158.52p per litre, marking the highest level since the conflict began. Experts predict that this figure could soon surpass 160p per litre.
With 28% of Brits now more inclined to choose domestic holidays over international trips to save money, several hotels and travel companies have introduced special offers to ease the financial burden on travelers. One such company is Hoseasons, which operates over 750 holiday parks across the UK. The firm has launched a new ‘Fuel Cover’ initiative to assist eligible customers with their fuel expenses.
According to research commissioned by Hoseasons, travelers expect to spend an average of £68 on fuel for their next UK holiday. A significant 26% of those surveyed admitted they plan to cut their holiday budgets this year as a result of rising costs. The ‘Fuel Cover’ offer allows customers to claim back up to £75 towards petrol costs when booking selected UK breaks. This deal is available for bookings made between May 20 and August 30, with holidays needing to be taken before September 30.
To take advantage of the offer, customers must book over the phone using the code ‘FUEL75’. However, the promotion is limited to the first 100 qualifying bookings. Simon Altham, chief operating officer for Hoseasons, stated: “We know rising travel costs are becoming a bigger consideration for many holidaymakers this summer. Fuel, in particular, can quickly add to the overall cost of a trip, especially for families travelling during peak holiday periods. That’s why we wanted to help ease some of that pressure and support people continuing to take the UK breaks they were already planning.”
Earlier this year, the St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa introduced a similar initiative to assist guests traveling to its luxury location in Cornwall. The hotel’s ‘pumped up petrol prices be damned’ discount effectively covers the fuel costs for guests driving to the site. By grouping postcodes, the hotel provides varying discounts based on the region. For instance, guests from Wales and the South West receive a £15 discount using the Tank-Top-Up code, while those from the South East, London, and the Midlands get a £20 discount with the Say-No-To-Surcharges code. Guests traveling from the North and Scotland can use the Fuel-My-Holiday code to receive a £30 discount.
This offer was open to all bookings made to the St Moritz before April 30, with stays needing to be completed before July 1. Hugh Ridgway, the hotel’s owner, explained that the business aimed to help cover the extra fuel costs faced by guests traveling long distances. He told the Daily Mail: “We were very aware of the problems with aviation and that fuel surcharges would be coming down the track. We thought about our own customers, knowing that if they drive to us, we decided to pay for the uplift in fuel. If you live in the Home Counties, it’s going to cost you about an extra £20, because we’re very aware down here on the lovely north coast of Cornwall that, you know, we’re not just a Tube ride away. It takes effort. People have to get into their cars and if we can help them to get down here, we will because we know they’ll have an absolutely fabulous holiday. It’s just about doing something to try and help our customers.”
Another company, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, has also introduced an offer that gives guests £25 towards fuel costs along with a £25 food and drink credit when booking selected stays. This offer does not apply to stays at New Blossoms Hotel, Forest Hills Resort, Lochanhully Resort, Plas Talgarth Resort, Spey Valley Resort, and Aviemore Lodges.
