And finally…third of Scots planning to ‘escape’ cost and commercialisation of Christmas

With an average Scottish household set to fork out just under £800 in preparations for celebrating the big day, data gathered by tailor-made holiday market specialist Travelbag shows that more than half of those who spend the festive season abroad admit to splurging only £600 on festivities.

“The cost of Christmas in the UK is the lowest since 2012, however, it’s interesting to see that those consumers spending Christmas abroad are spending less than those staying in the UK”, Paul Hopkinson of Travelbag said.

The firm’s study shows that 31 per cent of Scots have spent Christmas abroad with over a quarter admitting they did so to escape their families, the whole idea of Christmas or traditions such as cooking.

But, contrarily, 41 per cent said they leave Scotland to visit family who live abroad.

The survey also revealed that 17 per cent say they have a distaste for the commercialisation of the season and would leave the country the second they see shops putting up a Christmas tree on their window displays if they could, while 44 per cent would make sure they leave the country at least a week before Christmas and 13 per cent would leave as soon as the Christmas markets start.

The opinion on festive TV is the same, with those staying at home celebrating Christmas with their families, as they admit that the jolly advertising and programs are one of the least favourite aspects of the season and almost a quarter of those escaping the country as they wish they could leave the country as soon as John Lewis Christmas ad and Coca-Cola Trucks hit the telly.

Paul Hopkinson of Travelbag, added: ”It’s interesting to see how many people are traveling abroad over Christmas to either visit their families, discover new countries or just to make sure they are not spending Christmas in the UK as some feel the festive season is getting too commercial.”

www.travelbag.co.uk/christmas-festive-escape