Women do more work on organising family holidays

Women spend so much time preparing for their holiday including shopping, packing and arranging holiday insurance that they are exhausted by the time they reach their holiday destination, according to new research by UK holiday rentals specialists Owners Direct. www.ownersdirect.co.uk

It seems when it comes to planning and booking a family or couples holiday, women take on the lion’s share Whilst men like to ensure they are involved in the initial decision on where to go including accommodation choices, they are happy to take a back seat from thereon in.

Once the destination has been jointly chosen, 82 per cent of women admit to taking sole responsibility for booking flights, accommodation and car hire. They then go on to arrange insurance, (64%) order currency (55%) buy holiday items like clothes and sun cream (80%) arrange for plants to be watered (69%) and do the packing (64%).

“I do the research, consult my family, but after two minutes my husband does not care anymore and I do the rest,” admitted one woman.

Some women admitted the reasons they take on all responsibility for organising a holiday is that they don’t trust their other half to get things right.

“Last time I let hubby pack he took my underwear out to put something else in the case and I had to go and buy new when we got there,” said one female respondent.

“I gave my husband responsibility for passports one year and he informed me on the way to the airport that mine ran out whilst we were away! No flight for me, just a trip to Glasgow passport office, then the travel agents. £450 later, I was able to join them in Portugal,” recalled another.

The fact that women take on the main responsibility for booking a holiday is backed up by holiday home owners too.

Owners Direct holiday home owner Gillian Chappell who owns a villa in Murcia, southern Spain with her husband Philip says most of their enquiries from the site come from women.

But once women have arrived on holiday, their partners usually take control again with 69 per cent of men saying they do the driving on holiday.

Almost 93 per cent of those questioned in the Owners Direct survey travel with a partner or with their family with 78 per cent opting for European destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. Only 16 per cent went further afield in summer 2012 with the remaining 38 per cent deciding on a UK staycation.

Angela Southall, Marketing Manager for Owners Direct said: “As women seem to do all the preparation before they go on holiday, they really need a good rest and a chance to unwind as soon as they arrive. Fortunately, many of our owners work hard to ensure those little extras are there to help them do this like luxurious bedding, pampering toiletries and imaginative welcome hampers – so it’s worthwhile in the end!”