Many travellers are also spending more time comparing prices before booking. Photo credit: Studio Romantic/Shutterstock
If you’re planning a holiday this summer, you may be one of the lucky ones. For millions of people living in Spain, rising food prices, higher household bills and the growing cost of everyday life are forcing them to think twice about getting away this year. Instead of booking flights or searching for hotels, many are cutting back, choosing cheaper breaks or cancelling their plans altogether. According to a new survey, one in two people living in Spain expect to either spend less on their summer holiday or not travel at all.
Summer holidays are becoming harder to afford
For many people, a summer holiday is something they look forward to all year. It is a chance to switch off, spend time with family and friends and enjoy a well-earned break from everyday life. But for a growing number of households, the cost of getting away is becoming harder to justify.
The latest Financial Health Observatory in Spain found that 20 per cent of people surveyed do not expect to take a holiday this summer because they simply cannot afford it. Another 30 per cent still plan to travel but say they will spend less than they usually would.
For some, that means booking a cheaper hotel or apartment. Others are cutting the length of their stay, eating out less often or swapping an overseas holiday for somewhere closer to home. The desire to get away is still there, but many people are having to rethink what they can realistically afford.
Everyday bills are leaving less for holidays
The survey paints a picture that will feel familiar to many households. Food shopping, housing costs, fuel and utility bills are taking a bigger share of monthly budgets than they once did, leaving less money for leisure and travel. Even families with steady incomes are becoming more cautious about larger expenses, with holidays often one of the first things to be scaled back.
The findings also show that 78 per cent of people living in Spain are worried about rising prices for everyday essentials, underlining why so many are taking a more careful approach to spending. When everyday life costs more, a summer holiday quickly changes from something people simply book to something they have to budget for months in advance.
Families are finding new ways to save
Not everyone is giving up on a summer break completely. Instead, many people are looking for ways to make their money go further. Self-catering apartments are becoming a more attractive option for those hoping to cut restaurant bills. Others are choosing destinations they can reach by car rather than paying for flights, while some are shortening their holiday by a few days to reduce accommodation costs.
Many travellers are also spending more time comparing prices before booking, keeping an eye out for discounts or waiting to see if last-minute deals appear. For plenty of households, it is no longer about finding the perfect holiday. It is about finding one that fits the family budget.
Businesses could notice the difference
While Spain continues to attract millions of international visitors every year, people living in Spain also play an important role in supporting hotels, restaurants, campsites and attractions during the summer months. If more residents spend less while they are away, businesses that rely on domestic tourism could begin to notice the change.
Families may still travel, but they could be more selective about where they spend their money. That might mean less days, fewer meals out, fewer paid attractions or fewer impulse purchases during their trip. Holiday destinations may still be busy, but visitors are likely to be watching every euro much more carefully than in previous years.
Value for money is becoming more important
Affordability is now shaping many holiday decisions. Camping holidays, rural escapes and shorter breaks are becoming increasingly appealing for families looking to enjoy time away without stretching their finances too far. Others are choosing to explore parts of Spain they have never visited before instead of travelling abroad.
Making packed lunches instead of eating out every day, choosing free attractions or travelling outside the busiest weeks of summer are all ways people are trying to keep costs under control. For many households, enjoying a holiday is no longer about spending more. It is about spending smarter.
Every euro counts this summer
The survey suggests that the rising cost of everyday life is changing the way people living in Spain think about their holidays. Instead of asking where they would most like to go, many are first deciding how much they can realistically afford to spend. For some, that means making a few small compromises. For others, it means putting travel plans on hold until their finances improve.
Summer holidays remain an important part of family life, but this year many will look very different from those of just a few years ago. Whether it is a shorter break, a cheaper destination or staying at home altogether, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. For a growing number of people living in Spain, the biggest challenge is no longer choosing where to go. It is finding a holiday they can actually afford.
