HOLIDAYMAKERS are turning to car-touring trips to avoid airport hassle despite the high cost of petrol, it has been revealed.
Nearly half of Britons (46 per cent) plan to spend at least one of their holidays in the UK this year, a survey by AA Personal Loans showed.
As many as 75 per cent said they intend to use their car for trips within the UK and Europe in order to cut costs or avoid travel stress.
Based on responses from 1,976 people, the survey also showed:
:: Just five per cent are considering a UK break for environmental reasons, compared with 17 per cent last year;
:: People from the West Country are most likely to opt for a holiday in the UK (57 per cent);
:: Londoners, perhaps looking to escape the hectic city, are most likely to find driving holidays a less stressful way of travel (33 per cent);
:: The Welsh are most likely to choose to go on driving holidays because they find it cheaper than going further afield (32 per cent);
:: Those in southern England are the greenest, with nine per cent likely to go on a driving holiday because they are concerned about the environmental impacts of flying.
Mark Huggins, head of AA Personal Loans, said: "Our survey shows people are being smart with their money when booking holidays this summer.
"People are also thinking carefully about buying smaller cars to save money but it is important to make sure the car you choose is suitable for going on long holiday journeys, with enough room for all your passengers and luggage."
