A third of Dutch residents undecided about summer holidays amid rising costs

Despite inflation, Dutch residents want to go on summer vacations this year, but about a third have not yet booked their holidays. According to a survey of 1,000 residents last month, 86% of Dutch people plan to go on vacation this summer. However, 37% are still waiting for arrangements.

A OnePole study commissioned by travel booking firm Skyscanner found several reasons for the delay. About 52% of those waiting said they didn’t know where they were going, and 38% said they didn’t know their vacation dates. Additionally, 36% are still looking for the best deals.

The summer vacation period has already been decided. will hit the residents’ wallets This year has been especially difficult. Vacations this year are on average 13% more expensive than last year, according to Zuber, a booking and comparison site. The increase was mainly due to high energy prices, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

In particular, flight prices are skyrocketing. According to the Dutch Statistics Office, air ticket prices have risen by 45% in one year. This leap is due to the high price of kerosene and high demand. The need for airlines to reroute flights around Russia, rather than over it, is also contributing to increased kerosene consumption. In addition, earlier this year, The cabinet raised the air passenger tax significantly.From €8 to over €26 per ticket.

A Skyscanner data analysis suggested the week starting Aug. 19 was the most affordable for airfare, but children living in central Netherlands school districts whose summer vacation ended Aug. 20 May not be ideal for extended families. July 22nd is expected to be the highest. The company’s data also suggests travelers should consider flying on Wednesdays when airports are less crowded. To save money, you can also fly from airports outside the Netherlands such as Brussels or Düsseldorf.

It’s not just that the price of flights has increased this year. Rental car prices are also higher than before the pandemic. Rental companies sold most of their fleets during the pandemic and have since struggled to replace them. The cause was a slump in new car production due to a global shortage of microchips.

Renting a caravan and going to the campsite is also expensive. Prices at campsites have risen by 5-7% this year, according to the Dutch travel association ANWB.