Euro 2024 warning as third of summer holidaymakers ‘booked trips by accident’

One third of travellers will be scrambling to find a place to watch the Euros while on holiday – after accidentally booking trips during the football tournament.

In a poll of 1,700 people who plan to travelling abroad this year with their partner, 38 per cent of those who will be away during Euro 2024 made the booking well in advance of when the match dates were announced. Despite 57 per cent planning on doing everything they can to avoid watching the games, 52 per cent are thrilled about this coincidence.

What’s more, 33 per cent deliberately chose to book their getaway during the tournament, with 36 per cent saying their team’s success will make their holiday even better.

A spokesperson for package holiday company Jet2holidays, which commissioned the research, said: “It seems the Euros are a huge driver for travel this summer. Some people may have even sneakily booked their trips knowing full well it would coincide with some of the bigger games, while others may simply want to switch off from it.

“Whether you want to escape or embrace the football, we are giving holidaymakers lots of choice and flexibility this summer and are offering something for everyone.”

As a result of the summer sporting showcase, 22 per cent of Euros fans admit they’ll be spending less time with their partner than they normally would on a holiday. One in five also believe the tournament will cause more arguments with their other half than usual, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Of those hoping to escape the football fever, 32 per cent will be choosing to book solo boat trips, 39 per cent using it as an opportunity to explore the local town, and 29 per cent making use of the time to take a siesta by the pool.

More than a fifth (21 per cent) considered changing their travel times when they realised there was going to be a Euros crossover – with 13 per cent even contemplating booking another holiday for later in the year. Despite this, 50 per cent reckon tourists from all over Europe will be happier if their team is doing well – and 43 per cent expect to see a boost to local economies.

The Jet2holidays spokesperson added: “Going on holiday during Euro 2024 allows travellers to immerse themselves in the excitement and energy of one of the biggest sporting events in Europe. The tournament’s spirit enhances the travel experience, making it more enjoyable and memorable.

“Of course, not everyone wants to embrace the football and instead they would like to get away from it all. Luckily, there are plenty of options for those wanting to avoid the Euro festivities.”

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