Safety is holidaymakers' most important factor, research suggests

The study found that four out of five (80%) UK adults give careful consideration to safety and security before booking a trip.

Concerns about terror attacks have been heightened following the killing of 30 Britons by a gunman on a beach in Sousse, Tunisia in June last year.

The Post Office Travel Money survey of 2,099 adults found that 79% say transport costs are a significant influence on where they go, followed by 74% who cited health issues at the destination as a key consideration.

Resort costs for meals, drinks and other popular items are important for 72% of consumers, while 65% pay close attention to weather forecasts before booking.

The poll also found that 78% of holidaymakers set a budget for their last trip, but only a third stuck to it.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “With the pound giving UK tourists less bang for their buck, it is surprising to see that overspending is continuing at the levels seen in previous years.

“What’s more, since the average budget set virtually matches the amount of foreign currency that holidaymakers took with them in cash, this means they incurred charges by changing money at an ATM or paying on plastic to cover their overspending.

“We urge them to consider their budget carefully this year to avoid paying through the nose.”

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