• Rise of 'culture vulture' travellers soaking up culture without leaving their hotel
• Most popular short-haul destinations for city breaks include Paris and Amsterdam
• Searches for holiday homes in hidden-gem Scottish destinations are up by 65%

As Easter approaches and Brits are looking to make the most of the bank-holiday weekend, Expedia Group brands Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo® took a deep dive into the travel habits of Brits and have revealed the top travel trends. The data shows that travellers are looking to escape on a short-haul European city break, surround themselves with culture without stepping foot outside of their hotel, and that Scotland is a trending domestic destination for Brits.

Culture sleepers
This Easter, Brits are expected to become 'Culture Vultures' more than ever before and are seeking out hotels steeped in culture. Hotels.com has found that year-on-year, there has been an 80%1 increase in positive hotel reviews mentioning hotel art, museums and even live music. For example, the 21C Museum Hotel Collection, which allows guests to sleep in a contemporary art gallery, saw a 140%2 spike in searches since 2019 on Hotels.com, highlighting the desire for hotels that are cultural hubs themselves.  

Below is a list of hotels that offer the perfect cultural somewhere for the Easter break:  

• Perfect museum hotel: 21c Museum Hotel, Chicago – this hotel collection features museums with curated art for guests to admire. Located in Chicago, the hotel houses 100 multimedia artworks by 60 different artists from across the globe. Rooms from £2573 
• Perfect for art lovers: Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Rome – this hotel is bursting with culture. It's home to one of the greatest private art collections in the world, with pieces from the 16th century all the way through to contemporary works. Rooms from £3083 
• Perfect for rooftop DJ sets: Majestic Hotel and Spa, Barcelona – 'La Dolce Vitae' is the stunning terrace located above the hotel. During the summer months, travellers can enjoy views across all of Barcelona while listening to DJ sunset sessions, featuring a host of international DJs. Rooms from £2543 
• Perfect for jazz and show tunes: The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York – if it's a slice of Broadway you are looking for, look no further. The Pierre has every type of live sound, from musical covers to jazz to concerts and holiday events. Rooms from £6033 
• Perfect for an exhibition: The Exhibitionist Hotel, London – this hotel is quite literally brimming with art. From the hallways to the bedrooms to the lobby, everywhere you turn, there is an exhibition to peruse. Rooms from £1783

Short-haul city explorers
With only four days to play with, Easter is a great time to hop on a European short-haul flight – and that's exactly what those looking to enjoy the break are doing. The Top 10 short-haul destinations4 that are on Brits' list for the long weekend are:

1. Paris
2. Amsterdam
3. Rome
4. Barcelona
5. Milan
6. Dublin
7. Venice
8. Madrid
9. Brussels
10. Lisbon

Surprising Scotland
Vrbo data shows that Scotland is the trending domestic destination among UK travellers for a trip with friends and family this Easter holiday. Compared to all other UK destinations, Scotland has seen the highest increase in interest in the last year (65%)7. Easily accessible by plane, rail and car, and famous for its unspoilt natural landscape, Scotland is also perfect for a stay to bring people together. While tourist hotspots such as Edinburgh and the Highlands continue to be top of the list, other underrated destinations are popular for Easter, too, like Fife, Moray, and Argyll and Bute.

The top Scottish regions for an Easter escape for UK travellers are5:

• Highlands
• Argyll and Bute
• Fife
• Edinburgh
• Perth and Kinross
• Aberdeenshire
• Stirling
• Moray

Ariane Gorin, a spokesperson for Expedia Brands said: “Our data shows that Easter remains a popular time for travellers to get away for a break with friends or family. Expedia has found that short-haul city breaks are a top choice for those seeking a change of scenery for a long weekend, whilst Hotels.com data shows that there's appetite to experience art, music and history in unique hotels. Vrbo highlights that UK travellers seeking the comfort of holiday homes are keen to visit Scotland, with the majority of Scottish destinations being lovely hidden gems that offer an easy escape for a four-day holiday. Download the Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo apps and get ready to travel this Easter.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1Positive EMEA reviews data on Hotels.com mentioning 'art, art collection, concert, live music or museum', comparing 01.03.21 – 01.03.22 vs 01.03. 22 – 01.03.23 

2Seaches for all 21C Museum hotels on the Hotels.com site. Searches from 19.01.22 – 18.04.22 for check ins from 15.04.22 – 18.04.22 vs searches from 23.01.19 – 22.04.19 for check ins from 19.04.19 – 22.04.19  

3Based on a standard double room, price per night. Rates may vary. Data pulled on 3 March 2023   

4Based on demand on Expedia.co.uk for stays between 7-10 April 2023. Data pulled on 3 March 2023
5Based on Vrbo's data for domestic destinations with the highest % increase on interest for Brits for Easter holiday stays 2023 (between 01.04.23 and 16.03.2023) vs. same period 2022 (as 16.02.2023)

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