Published by Gbaf News
Posted on June 14, 2019
3 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
The average Brit believes couples should be dating for at least seven months before considering a holiday abroad together – and a fifth have broken up immediately following a disastrous trip, according to new research.
The study, by Exclusiveprivatevillas.com, found that a third of Brits had been on a disastrous holiday with a partner. Eight per cent said they broke up while still on the trip, and five per cent even admitted to breaking up on the way to their destination.
Twelve per cent of Brits admit they have had more than one truly disastrous holiday with a loved one.
Almost half of Brits (46 per cent) believe going on holiday too soon with a new love means you risk not knowing each other well enough to cope with spending so much time together.
The top risks of holidaying with a new partner, according to the British public, are:
Keith Potts, Chairman of Exclusiveprivatevillas.com which commissioned the research, said: “Living out of a suitcase in a cramped hotel room and sharing new experiences can test the best of relationships. Smells, habits and attitudes are all laid bare!
“We’ve seen a steep rise in enquiries from people looking for the luxury, privacy and space of private villas instead. Couples travelling with friends and extended families, in particular, are increasingly looking for a home-from-home and want to avoid the intensity that can so often comes with a holiday. After all, who wants to go away as a couple and come back single?”
It wasn’t all bad news for couples heading off on holiday together, however.
The research also found a holiday can ignite rather than extinguish love, as almost half (47 percent) of Brits claim to have fallen for someone while away.
More than a third (36 percent) have even revisited their first holiday destination as a couple in a bid to reignite the passion of their relationship.
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