Detours and day trips: ‘Sunshine Saturday’ sees holiday bookings soar - with new trends for 2025
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More than 12 million have already booked trips abroad, with off-the-beaten track locations a popular pick. More than 12 million Britons have already booked flights, transport or accommodation for international trips in 2025, with plans to spend £1,753 on the average holiday abroad, according to research by American Express.
![[The Cathedral of Saint Mary in Girona, Catalonia, Spain]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8a39f8861dee67baaa6b83580a750dec06504f8f/0_0_5739_3826/master/5739.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
This weekend UK travel companies were expecting a surge in bookings, with “Sunshine Saturday” one of the most popular days of the year to book a holiday. And while last year the popular holiday trend was “destination dupes” – swapping well-known idyllic locations for more budget-friendly options – this year, travel companies are predicting holidaymakers will be doing detours – adding locations a little off the beaten track to their itineraries.
![[People walking across Phra Nang Beach in Krabi, Thailand]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/88773a96f3157f8cd7320b53dba62156c3440eac/0_0_5728_3811/master/5728.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The online travel agency Expedia said it had seen an increase in searches for less well-known destinations for 2025, near main tourist hotspots, with 63% of travellers claiming they are likely to visit a “detour destination” on their next trip. Expedia said these destinations included Waikato, from Auckland; Girona, for holidaymakers in Barcelona; and Krabi, Thailand, for those on their travels in Phuket.
![[Independence Square with a statue in the centre in the old town, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/80eb3f3b5bcfb73625f300e04036a25d71c891e9/0_0_5366_3221/master/5366.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
This shift towards more unexplored travel experiences is also being fuelled by a desire to have unique experiences, moving away from the viral social media hotspots. Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, said: “We are a generation that wants to explore, finding new experiences and usually in new destinations.”.
