Four in Ten Irish Holidaymakers Yet to Book Their 2026 Holiday as Cost Pressures Continue to Shape Travel Decisions
Click&Go Holidays’ latest Travel Sentiment Survey reveals strong demand for overseas holidays despite ongoing economic and geopolitical concerns
Almost four in ten Irish consumers (41%) have yet to book their 2026 holiday, according to the latest Travel Sentiment Survey from Click&Go Holidays, with rising costs remaining the single biggest factor influencing travel decisions.
The nationwide survey of 1,068 respondents found that while 31% have already secured their 2026 getaway, the majority of those still planning to travel intend to book over the coming months, with September emerging as the most popular booking month (26%), followed by October to December (20%). A further 7% plan to book in July, while 12% expect to book in August.
Among those who have yet to book, almost seven in ten (68%) say increased costs are influencing when and how they book their holiday.
The survey also highlights that global events continue to impact consumer confidence, with 38% of respondents saying geopolitical conflicts and global instability are highly influencing their travel decisions. However, this represents an improvement from Click&Go Holidays’ previous Travel Sentiment Survey at the end of last March, when 48% cited geopolitical concerns as a major influence.
Cost pressures remain a significant consideration, with 37% of respondents saying the increased cost of living in Ireland is having a major impact on their holiday planning, unchanged from March. Meanwhile, concern around higher travel costs has eased slightly, with 34% citing flights, accommodation and fuel costs as a key factor, down from 41% earlier this year.
Despite these concerns, overseas travel continues to dominate Irish holiday plans. More than half (56%) of respondents intend to take a traditional sun holiday in 2026, while cruises continue to grow in popularity, accounting for 19% of planned holidays. City breaks account for 14%, while just 2% of respondents intend to holiday within Ireland, a significant drop from 11% recorded in the previous survey.
Click&Go Holidays also reports that average sun holiday prices have increased by approximately 5% compared with last year. Accommodation costs have risen by an average of 9%, while average airfares have fallen by 2%, helping to offset some of the overall increase.
Families also continue to look for ways to reduce holiday costs. The survey found that 57% of parents travelling with children would consider taking their children out of school to benefit from lower prices, although this has fallen from 64% in March.
Commenting on the findings, Paul Hackett, CEO of Click&Go Holidays, said, “Irish people continue to place enormous value on their annual holiday, but they’re becoming increasingly strategic about when they book and how they manage their travel budget. While cost remains the biggest consideration, we’re seeing encouraging signs that confidence is improving, with concerns around travel costs and geopolitical uncertainty easing compared to earlier this year.”
“Whilst the recent spell of good weather has seen a slowdown in late booking for travel in the next few weeks, the focus on booking from September onwards speaks to the fact that Irish consumers know the good weather is unlikely to last indefinitely. September is shaping up to be a particularly busy booking period, as many consumers continue to monitor prices and look for the best value before committing. Despite higher accommodation costs, demand for overseas holidays remains remarkably resilient, with sun holidays and cruises continuing to perform strongly. The appetite to travel is very much alive, and consumers are simply becoming more informed and value-conscious in their booking decisions.”
Click&Go Holidays’ quarterly Travel Sentiment Survey tracks the attitudes and booking intentions of Irish consumers, providing insight into the trends shaping outbound travel from Ireland.
