Choosing to extend your vacation by a few extra nights can offer both economic and environmental advantages. Research conducted by consumer champion Which? reveals that longer-duration package holidays can actually result in cost savings. Furthermore, staying longer in one place benefits destinations as tourists have the opportunity to explore lesser-known areas, secondary attractions, and support local businesses. This article will delve into the details of how adding extra nights to your trip can save you money and positively impact the destination you visit.

How adding extra nights to your holiday could save money

Which? conducted a study comparing the prices of 400 package holidays for August from various travel companies, including easyJet holidays, Jet2, Love Holidays, On The Beach, and Tui. Surprisingly, they found that in 26 cases, staying for 11 nights cost less than staying for 10 nights.

The study revealed that extending your trip by just one night often resulted in minimal additional costs. In many instances, the price increase was less than £5 (€5.80) per person. For example, if two people were to book an all-inclusive, four-star package in Fuerteventura with Tui in August, staying for 11 nights instead of 10 would save them £1,188, equivalent to a reduction of 28%. The initial cost for a 10-night stay would have been £4,148 (€4,827), but extending it by one night reduced the price to £2,960 (€3,444).

Similarly, Tui offered another option where a two-person, 11-day booking with breakfast in a twin room with a balcony or terrace in Corfu could save each person £292 (€340). This resulted in a nearly one-third reduction in the trip's price from £1,862 (€2,168) to £1,278 (€1,488).

Even with just a marginal increase of £1 (€1.16) per person, an easyJet package could provide an extra night in Crete. The total cost for two people sharing a room with breakfast for 11 nights would be £2,544 (€2,962), compared to the 10-night price of £2,542 (€2,959). These savings can be attributed to factors such as supply and demand, where a 10-day trip is typically more popular than an 11-day one, and variations in flight days can also affect pricing.

Staying longer benefits your destination

Opting to stay longer in a single destination not only saves you money but also contributes to a more sustainable form of tourism. Researchers from the Journal of Sustainable Tourism explain that when tourists have limited time to explore a locality, they often stay centrally and focus on visiting major attractions. Consequently, these popular sites and zones become overcrowded.

In contrast, extending your stay allows for more opportunities to discover secondary tourist attractions and overlooked areas of the destination. By exploring lesser-known places, you can contribute to the overall economic development of the region by supporting smaller, local businesses. Additionally, staying longer encourages interaction with the resident community, fostering cultural exchange and a deeper understanding of the local way of life.

Conclusion

Extending your trip by a few extra nights can offer both economic and environmental advantages. Research conducted by Which? demonstrates that longer-duration package holidays can result in cost savings, with the price difference often being minimal. Moreover, staying longer in one place promotes sustainable tourism by allowing tourists to explore lesser-known attractions, support local businesses, and engage with the community.

Next time you plan a vacation, consider the benefits of adding a few extra nights to your itinerary. Not only will you have the opportunity to save money, but you'll also have a more immersive and meaningful experience while positively contributing to the destination you visit.