New research from Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money has revealed almost nine in ten (87%) British couples are open to exploring new holiday destinations with their partner if it could save them money on their trip.
Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money commissioned the research to explore which holiday destinations are becoming more popular with couples, and found that Eastern European cities like Riga, Belgrade and Sofia are now well-represented amongst couples’ favoured destinations, ousting more traditional romantic options like Venice, Rome, and Paris. These traditionally romantic destinations are often considered more expensive and require longer to plan.
Affordability is no doubt a key factor in this trend, with Eastern European holiday destinations typically offering greater value for money. The data reveals that finding somewhere affordable to visit is a top travel priority for one in six couples (17%).
However, this isn’t the only factor affecting couples’ choice of where to visit. With #HiddenTravelGems garnering over 31.5M views on TikTok alone, it’s no shock that over half (56%) of Brits in a relationship say social media is influencing their desire to travel to new romantic holiday destinations.
Top Ten Romantic Getaways Revealed by Sainsbury’s Bank:
- Victoria, Seychelles
- Riga, Latvia
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Malė, Maldives
- Cancun, Mexico
- Split, Croatia
- The Caribbean
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
It’s worth noting Bulgarian lev (BGN) can be bought from a Sainsbury’s Travel Money before heading off and Latvia’s currency is the Euro. If heading to Serbia, travellers will need Dinars, which can be arranged once they get there, although Euros are accepted in some places.
With rising costs on their mind, one in five (21%) admit to wanting to save more than £1,000 if they went for a holiday with a partner somewhere that’s not traditionally synonymous with romance.
When it comes to who’s the most prepared for their travels, the study found a distinction between men and women. Nearly half of women (46%) say they take travel money out ahead of time which can help with budgeting, with 37% doing so to avoid unnecessary costs like high conversion rates. Whereas men are more likely to take out any cash they need when there (58%). However, both men and women agreed on savings, with over one in five (21%) British couples saying they take out travel money to avoid falling victim to tourist traps.
Jason King, Chief Customer Officer at Sainsbury’s Bank, said: “We’re seeing more couples choosing affordable cities to travel to, whilst not sacrificing romance. There are lots of options out there to give customers the romantic holiday of their dreams, without blowing their budget – unless of course they’re planning to treat themselves to a big holiday. With that in mind, it’s more important than ever that travellers pre-plan their holiday finances and take out money at great exchange rates before heading off on holiday.”
Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money gives customers an easy way to prepare for their upcoming holiday. Data from the bank found that big drivers for taking out travel money include it being widely accepted and protects from fraud and over-spend, with 42% polled saying that using cash protects them from fraud on their debit/credit card.2
Sainsbury’s Bank offers the following tips to help budget for your trip:
- Plan ahead and book your travel money in advance. You won’t get the best deal at airports; consider picking up your currency in store when doing your weekly food shop or ordering your travel money online – including same day collection on Euros and dollars – or free home deliveries on orders over £500.
- European destinations are often cash-centric. Prepare for your trip by bringing small notes. This will make it easier to pay for taxi drivers or to tip at the hotel and restaurants.
- Budget accordingly for your trip. Try not to bring too much, but equally don’t bring too little. Take the Travel Money with you that you can afford, it’s better to bring some back than be caught short abroad.
- Have the best of both worlds and take both cash and card with you on your trip. A healthy mix means taking out cash and pre-loading money onto a Travel Money Card, which allows free cash withdrawals, ensuring you’re covered for the entirety of the trip. With the Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Card, you can load up to 15 currencies via the app, online or in-store.
