Longer holidays 'becoming extinct'

More Britons are choosing to go away on shorter holidays, a new survey has revealed.

According to the research by Holiday Inn, 52 per cent of families do not intend to go on a traditional two-week holiday this year.

However, couples are increasingly looking to take frequent breaks lasting three to four days each, the poll found, while the average family takes about four short breaks a year, spending less than £350 on each holiday.

A fifth of respondents said they were unable to get enough time off work to go on a longer holiday, while 24 per cent cited financial cost as their main reason for taking shorter breaks.

"Gone are the bad old days when people would save all year for their annual two-week summer holiday at the busiest and most expensive period - we're much too savvy nowadays," commented Chris Hale, spokesman for Holiday Inn.

Those looking to go on a family holiday might want to consider booking a flight with Virgin Atlantic - a recent poll by Rough Guides found that the airline is considered to be the most child-friendly carrier by parents in the UK.

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