People in Wales spend £940 on Christmas – but a third would rather have a holiday

SUN-SEEKERS in Wales would rather spend their hard-earned cash on a winter holiday than buying presents for loved ones at Christmas, a study by British Airways has found.

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People in Wales plans to spend £941 each on Christmas this year, including £445 on presents.

But they would spend – £1,395 – on a winter getaway and 35% say they would rather put their Christmas cash towards a winter getaway than splurge out on a Christmas giveaway.

After presents, the biggest drain on Welsh wallets over Christmas was found to be food (£128), travel (£76), drink (£80) and decorations (£40).

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British Airways, who commissioned the survey as part of their Winter Sun campaign, found that 26% of those surveyed said they would rather give holidays as presents rather than objects, believing they create more lasting memories than objects placed under the tree.

A quarter (29%) of people in Wales say they have no idea what they received for Christmas last year – and 47% can only remember some of the gifts they received.

For 57% of people in Wales, the stress of the festive season is such that they say they need a holiday to get over the Christmas break.

Two in five (40%) said they go on holiday if they could get out of the obligatory Christmas visit to families and friends and nearly half (45%) say they need a holiday during the Christmas break itself.

Gifters in Cardiff are the most generous in the country, spending an average of £502 on presents.

But people in Bristol are seemingly the least generous, spending an average of £286 on presents.

For the best Christmas dinner of all, head to London where people in the capital expect to spend an average of £236 – and £161 on drink.

And the most festive houses in the country are to be found in Oxford, where people say they will spend an average of £140 on decorations.

Claire Bentley, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays, said: “While Christmas is traditionally a time of giving and receiving, it is also important to make it as memorable a time as possible.

“While traditionally we like to gift objects, we are increasingly beginning to value the gift of quality time with those who matter most.

“A holiday is the perfect time to share memories with those that are closest to you – and what better time to go away than when Britain is shivering under wintry skies?”