Ho-ho-holiday: 6 million Britons plan to go abroad for Christmas this year

• Christmas time, mistletoe and plane rides: Last year saw a 48% YoY rise in Brits going abroad for Christmas, with even more predicted to travel overseas this year.
• Calling home for Christmas: 51% of Brits will still ring or video call loved ones from abroad.
• Baby its 25 degrees outside: Warmer weather is the main reason Brits go abroad for festive fun.
• All I want for Christmas is to be far away from you: 19% Brits would go away to avoid family over the festive season.

Data by O2 reveals over 2 million customers spent Christmas outside of the UK in December 2023 – up 48% from December 2022’s previous record of 1.4 million. O2 predicts this upward trend is set to stay, as an estimated 6 million Brits state they will be heading abroad this coming Christmas.

In 2023, 1.43 million O2 customers travelled abroad for the festive season, opting for popular European destinations including Spain (20%), Ireland (13%), France (12%) and Italy (4%), while 650,000 jetsetters ventured further afield to destinations around the world; the most popular being the USA (6%), Australia (3%) and UAE (2%).

New research predicts that like last year, France will be the most popular destination for Brits to visit this Christmas, however popular festive traditions won’t be left behind. O2 customers could save £138.32 in roaming fees during a two-week holiday in Europe* in comparison to EE’s £2.47 per day fee, helping them to enjoy those magical holiday moments a little bit more.

Despite fleeing the UK for the festive season, Brits won’t be letting go of their favourite traditions, with 60% still planning to open presents around the tree and 1 in 4 (25%) feasting on a traditional Christmas meal.

Keeping in contact with loved ones proves particularly important over the holidays, with 51% confirming they’d ring or video call friends and family from abroad, while 41% are travelling overseas specifically to visit family and friends.

Other traditions jet-setting Brits plan to keep while away this year include watching the King’s speech (20%), attending a religious Christmas service (12%) and leaving out treats for Santa Claus (11%).

Top reasons Brits are escaping the UK over the most wonderful time of the year:

To help British holidaymakers avoid the naughty list by racking up a huge roaming bill this festive season, O2 is offering some top tips for those travelling:

1. Check in for Christmas holidays: Ahead of going abroad this Christmas, holidaymakers should check if they’ve got roaming included in their mobile plan, so they’re aware of potential roaming costs before touching down. Having inclusive roaming will help to avoid unwanted bills, especially for those wanting to stay in touch with their loved ones while they’re away. O2 is the only major network to provide EU roaming in 43 destinations at no extra cost (up to 25GB), meaning O2 customers can use their phone as they would at home without the fear of racking up huge roaming bills. And for those who might want a little extra data over the festive season, O2 plans can be flexed up and down to suit the customer’s needs, so they can boost their data for those important Christmas video calls.
2. Spending caps are coming to town: Spending caps are a great way to manage mobile usage and ensure you’re keeping within your limits while abroad, so there’s less risk of racking up an unwanted roaming bill. O2 customers can easily check their spending cap via the My O2 app, and can amend it to suit their needs and budget.
3. Don’t forget to download: Before heading off on your travels, download the content you want for your flight so you’re all set with festive films and entertainment before you take to the skies and have no access to data.
4. Baby please just roam: Keeping your devices protected from viruses is essential, especially when you’re away from your home network. Avoid connecting to unknown WiFi networks while at the airport or out and about as they can potentially compromise your tech. To help add a layer of protection, add security software such as Advanced Security, available from Virgin Media app for just £3 per month (or £30 per year).
5. Feliz Navi-gate: If you’re planning a festive walk along the beach or to explore your holiday surroundings, download your route ahead of leaving your accommodation to avoid using mobile data should you need a helping hand in navigating your way around.

Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2 said: “The festive period can be an expensive time, so no one needs the additional burden of unwanted roaming costs. Unlike other mobile providers, O2 offers inclusive EU roaming as standard across all tariffs, so our customers can roam freely this Christmas and beyond without the fear of getting hit by an unexpected roaming bill. Whether you’re staying in the UK this festive season, or plan to stay in touch with loved ones while abroad, we’ve got you covered.”

For those looking to upgrade their gadgets before their travels, O2 offers a wide range of smartphones and accessories to help stay connected at home and on the go. And for those who have Virgin Media broadband and an O2 Sim, they can link them together via My O2 to unlock a host of additional Volt benefits at no extra cost including:

• Increased Virgin Media broadbands speeds (boosted to the next tier up e.g. 100mbps to 200mbps)
• Virgin Media’s market leading WiFi guarantee which offers minimum download speeds of 30mbps in every room or £100 back
• Double the mobile data on all eligible O2 plans (e.g. 10GB to 20GB)
• O2 Travel Inclusive Zone including USA, Australia and Dubai at no extra cost* – on top of inclusive EU roaming in 43 destinations

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• *Data insights from O2 Motion never allow identification or mapping of individuals and operate within strict privacy guidelines. O2 Motion does not capture international visitors in the UK or children.
• *Based on a family of four roaming in Europe for two weeks.
• *4 million in December 2022.
• An online survey of 1,020 people in the UK representative by age, gender, and region. Fieldwork dates 05.12.24 – 06.12.24.