As petrol prices continue to rise amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, UK families planning summer staycations are facing more expensive journeys by car.
New figures from the RAC show the average price of unleaded petrol has risen to 158.52p per litre – the highest level since the conflict began – and experts warn prices could soon reach 160p per litre.
With 28 per cent of Brits now more likely to choose UK holidays over trips abroad to save money, some hotels and holiday companies are now offering discounts and fuel support to help ease the pressure on travellers.
Hoseasons, which operates more than 750 holiday parks across the UK, is the latest company to launch a fuel support scheme.
Research commissioned by the company found travellers expect to spend an average of £68 on fuel for their next UK holiday journey – with 26 per cent admitting they plan to reduce their holiday budgets this year as a result.
However, Hoseasons’ new ‘Fuel Cover’ offer allows eligible customers to claim back up to £75 towards petrol costs when booking selected UK breaks.
The deal applies to bookings made between May 20 and August 30, with holidays taken before September 30.
Hoseasons is the latest UK holiday company offering to reimburse guests’ travel costs amid fuel crisis
Customers must book over the phone using the code ‘FUEL75’, although the offer is limited to the first 100 qualifying bookings.
Simon Altham, chief operating officer for Hoseasons, said: ‘We know rising travel costs are becoming a bigger consideration for many holidaymakers this summer.
‘Fuel, in particular, can quickly add to the overall cost of a trip, especially for families travelling during peak holiday periods.
‘That’s why we wanted to help ease some of that pressure and support people continuing to take the UK breaks they were already planning.’
Earlier this year, St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa introduced a similar scheme to help guests travelling to the luxury Cornish site by car.
Its ‘pumped up petrol prices be damned’ discount effectively offsets guests’ drive down to the hotel by reimbursing their fuel costs.
The St Moritz team has grouped postcodes to pay back the petrol surcharges for their guests. For people in Wales and the South West, the Tank-Top-Up code will grant a £15 discount.
For those driving from the South East, London and the Midlands, the Say-No-To-Surcharges code will provide a £20 discount and Fuel-My-Holiday will knock £30 per carload off for those cruising down to Rock from the North and Scotland.
St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa in Cornwall is offering a similar incentive for visitors
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is giving guests £25 towards fuel costs when they stay for one night or more
The offer was open to all bookings to the St Moritz made by 30 April and on stays taken before 1 July.
The hotel’s owner, Hugh Ridgway, said the business wanted to help cover the extra fuel costs guests face when driving long distances.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘We were very aware of the problems with aviation and that fuel surcharges would be coming down the track. We thought about our own customers, knowing that if they drive to us, we decided to pay for the uplift in fuel.
‘If you live in the Home Counties, it’s going to cost you about an extra £20, because we’re very aware down here on the lovely north coast of Cornwall that, you know, we’re not just a Tube ride away
‘It takes effort. People have to get into their cars and if we can help them to get down here, we will because we know they’ll have an absolutely fabulous holiday. It’s just about doing something to try and help our customers.’
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has also introduced an offer giving guests £25 towards fuel costs, along with a £25 food and drink credit when booking selected stays, as highlighted on its website.
The offer does not extend to those staying at New Blossoms Hotel, Forest Hills Resort, Lochanhully Resort, Plas Talgarth Resort, Spey Valley Resort, and Aviemore Lodges.
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