Internet users 'enjoying holiday savings'
27 January 2016 09:28
Internet users are making significant holiday savings
Four in five internet users are saving money on their holidays by searching for better deals online, new research reveals.
Lloyds Bank found that 82% of tech-savvy people are comparing the cost of accommodation and flights through travel websites before booking trips away.
Its UK Consumer Digital Index explores the links between how digitally capable individuals are saving money and the impact this is having on their finances.
'Greatest savings on holidays'
Some 70% of people use the internet regularly to save money, typically clawing back £62 per month or £744 per year.
Of these, 11% are saving more than £200 a month - adding up to annual savings of more than £2,400.
Most internet users - 82% - are making the greatest online savings on holidays, using comparison and consumer help websites to find the best deals.
Money saved on accommodation and flights could be put towards holiday essentials like travel insurance, covering everything from lost luggage to cancelled flights.
As many as 79% of internet users make the greatest online savings on insurance premium costs, while 73% save on hobbies.
A further 70% save money on clothing, 65% save on utility bills, 64% get cheaper transport costs and 42% save on groceries.
Low digital capability
Lloyds Bank says around 11 million adults in the UK have low levels of digital capability, meaning they may be missing out on the best holiday deals.
It warns the financial divide will deepen between those who are using the internet to compare deals and those who are "digitally excluded", unless individuals take action to bridge the gap.
The report was based on data from one million people from across the UK, as well as a survey of more than 2,700 people.
Lloyds Bank adds that while the best deals are not always on the internet, travellers who compare online prices with those on the high street are in a better position to negotiate cheaper deals in-store.