The upcoming winter holidays in Poland will be a time of both relaxation and financial compromises for many. Despite over half of the population planning a getaway, the majority are seeking to cut costs by choosing less expensive hotels or less popular destinations. This trend is driven by rising prices, making winter breaks more costly than last year, according to a survey “Poles’ Winter Holiday Travel” conducted by Compensa.
Winter holidays will commence on January 20th in the first regions: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubuskie, MaÅ‚opolskie, ÅšwiÄ™tokrzyskie, and Wielkopolskie. To mark the occasion, Compensa has conducted this survey for the third time to examine Poles’ plans for winter vacations. This year, a record 53% of respondents plan to take a holiday, nearly double the figure from last year when only 30% expressed such intentions in a similar survey. Forty-three percent of respondents intend to spend their holidays with family and children, while 42% will travel with a partner. Twenty percent will vacation with friends, and 10% will go alone. Five percent of Poles will send their children to camp. Regarding transportation, nearly two-thirds (65%) plan to travel by car, 21% by train, and 18% by plane.
Primarily Staying in Poland for Winter Holidays
Among those planning trips, 58% intend to organize their holidays independently within Poland, and 12% will travel abroad on their own. Twenty percent will utilize travel agencies, with 11% heading abroad and 9% planning to stay within Poland. This compares to last year, when 67% planned their winter holiday in Poland; 18% traveled abroad independently.
Mountains remain the most popular destination for overseas winter trips, with 40% of respondents planning to spend their holidays there. Warm destinations, like beaches or resorts, are gaining popularity, with 37% of respondents choosing them this year. One in four will opt for a city break, exploring new cities and their attractions.
The most popular activities for Poles during the holidays, regardless of destination, are hiking (48%) and exploring historical sites and tourist attractions (46%). Some holiday-goers plan to simply relax, with 34% stating they will not engage in any specific activities. Skiing will be the choice for one-third of respondents, ice skating for 21%, and another 10% will try snowboarding or cross-country skiing.
Holidays to Become More Expensive Again
This year, Poles are planning to spend more on their winter holidays than in previous years, due to increasing costs of leisure activities. Forty-two percent of respondents expect their holiday expenses to range between 1,500 and 3,000 PLN per person. Last year, 33% fell into this spending bracket, compared to 30% two years ago. There is also a rise in the group spending between 3,000 and 4,500 PLN – now 18% of respondents, compared to 15% last year and 12% the year before. The number of people planning to spend up to 1,500 PLN per person has decreased to 35% from 42% last year and 51% two years ago. Fewer people plan to spend over 4,500 PLN per person, now at 5% compared to 10% in 2023.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) intend to limit their expenditures during this year’s holiday. This most commonly involves choosing lower-standard accommodations, such as hotels (30%), and selecting less popular locations (23%). Twenty-one percent plan to cut back on expenses for clothing, sports equipment, or tourist attractions. Nineteen percent will reduce spending on food, such as by not dining out. The same percentage aims to save on transportation costs. Only 28% of respondents claim they do not plan to make any savings, a drop from 36% last year.
“Comparing responses over the last three years, we observe a clear shift in how Poles approach expenses. While many still plan to limit costs, there is a growing number of people who are prepared to spend more on their trips. Notably, fewer Poles are saving on insurance – this year only 15% of respondents, compared to 17% in 2023. This is positive news, as it indicates growing awareness of financial security and the benefits of having proper travel insurance during trips abroad,” comments Anna BaÅ‚uka, travel insurance expert and product manager at Compensa’s Retail Insurance Office.
Source: Manager Plus