A holiday that promised Britons would save more than $200 on their exhausted bills in 24 hours A holiday that promised to save Britons over $200 on their exhausted bills in 24 hours

London
CNN Business
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A winter holiday package that claimed it could save Britons more than £200 ($229) on their high rent bills, food and fuel used up within 24 hours this week.

EasyJet (ESYJY), owned by British low-cost airline EasyJet (ESYJY), launched its 28-day “Escape the UK” vacation package to Hurghada, Egypt on Monday, introducing it to consumers who work remotely. The company said on Tuesday it had sold out but did not say how many travelers had booked on the trip.

All-inclusive vacations which start in early January, cost £650 ($736) per person and include return flights, checked baggage, five-star hotel accommodation, all meals, snacks, bottomless drinks, wifi and airport transfers.

According to the company’s calculations, which it said were based on data from the Office for National Statistics and property website Rightmove, the average 28-day outlay for someone renting in the UK is £877. This figure includes payments on rent, utility bills, internet, food, travel and streaming subscriptions.

Average rental costs were factored into the calculation rather than mortgage costs, as they are « more directly comparable to staying in a hotel, » a company spokesperson told CNN Business.

« With no fuel bills, petrol costs or grocery bills to pay, holidays are £227 ($257) cheaper per person than staying in the UK, » said EasyJet Holidays in its press release.

According to the most recent ONS data reviewed per CNN, the average household spent £1,926 ($2,180) per month between April 2020 and March 2021.

When divided by 2.3 – the average number of people per household – monthly costs come to £837 ($947) per person, almost £190 ($215) more expensive than EasyJet Holiday’s package holidays.

The cost of rent, food and energy has only skyrocketed since March 2021, plunging millions of households into the worst cost of living crisis in decades. Last month, consumer price inflation returned to its July level of 10.1%, its highest rate in 40 years.

Rightmove data showed that asking prices for rentals – excluding those in London – jumped 11% in the last quarter from a year earlier.

Brits are also struggling to keep the lights on as their energy bills have soared. The average annual household energy bill is up 96% from last October to £2,500 ($2,830) this month.

EasyJet Holidays said it factored the average cost per person of gas and electricity bills this winter into its calculation, which it said was £68 ($77) over a 28-day period.

But Brits who booked the vacation package won’t necessarily save money, Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, told CNN Business.

« Housing costs are often the biggest expense and unfortunately your mortgage company or landlord won’t let you pay this month just because you decided to go on vacation, » she said. declared.

Coles added that household energy bills include a standing charge, which must be paid even if no energy is used. Nor is it possible to simply avoid paying for internet, some TV services and local taxes for a month, she said.

« The practicalities don’t really work, » she said.