How the suitcase costs twice as much as the holiday

According to research conducted by Holiday Inn, the average Brit crams their summer holiday suitcase full of goods worth £1,571.98 – almost twice the cost of the actual break.

Sunseekers frequently pack digital cameras, mp3 players, mobile phones and electric shavers. But despite taking more than £600 worth of clothes, at least £142.80 sits in the suitcase unworn. The total cost of the suitcase is £654 MORE than the £916.76 price of the average two week holiday.

The poll of 5,000 people, conducted by Holiday Inn, also revealed that even on a short UK break, folk travel with a suitcase worth at least £1,108.71 despite the actual break costing an average of £349.11.

Chris Hale, spokesman for Holiday Inn, said: "The findings of this poll are incredible, particularly considering Brits take nearly as much away for a long weekend as they do for a full 14 day holiday. We’ve seen a huge boom in the number of long weekends Brits enjoy in the UK, especially city breaks – the average family now takes about four a year.

“And, because people love their weekend escapes, they want to make sure they’ve got absolutely everything they need – and maybe quite a few things they don’t! It’s also a very British thing to be prepared for anything – maybe its our unpredictable weather, or something to do with growing up with the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides!”

Holidaymakers pack clothes worth a whopping £618.41 for a holiday abroad, and £402.37 for a long weekend in this country. A long haul holiday means each individual will carry a selection of shoes to the value of £129.65, and £60.90 for a UK trip. Regardless of destination though, 90 per cent of folk carry toiletries - including make up, perfume and a wash kit - worth £56.30.

And 76 per cent will pack a mobile phone worth £100.00. A further 78 per cent won't leave home without their digital camera worth £149. Other gadgets to be included on a trip away from home include an mp3 player worth £159, an electric shaver worth £79.95 and hair dryers, straighteners or curling tongs worth £29.99.

More than half of folk then take at least £50 of accessories such as jewellery, scarves, sarongs, hats and evening bags, and 28 per cent of people even pack their favourite snacks. Even the suitcase itself is worth a whopping £79.68.

Chris Hale continued: “A lot of planning goes into even short breaks – it takes an average of 29 days for Brits to book a holiday from when they first start browsing on the internet. Packing our bags seems to involve the same level of meticulous – and very British – planning. Mind you, all those extra pairs of shoes, the hair tongs and dryers, jewellery and accessories must weigh a ton – ah, but of course, it’s the chap who carries the bag – another great British tradition.”

Further facts revealed by the Holiday Inn survey include:

• 76 per cent of people say they never use every item they carry on holiday with them
• 46 per cent always end up taking more home with them than they can fit in the suitcase
• A third of folk have been forced to buy another suitcase or bag when on holiday to accommodate their new purchases
• 28 per cent of people say they always argue with their partner about packing, regardless of whether they are travelling in the UK or abroad.

CONTENTS OF A SUITCASE

Clothes £618.41 (Abroad) £402.37 (UK)
Shoes £129.65 (Abroad) £60.90 (UK)
Jewellery and Accessories £50.00
Sunglasses £100.00
Toiletries £56.30
Hair dryer / straighteners £29.99
Digital camera £149.00
Mp3 player £159.00
Mobile phone £100.00
Electric shaver £79.95
Snacks £20.00
Suitcase £79.68