Revenge Travel in Summer 2022: Booking Windows, LOS and ADR

The world first started talking about revenge travel – or the post-pandemic eagerness for travel characterised by family reunions, extravagant vacations and revisits to favourite destinations – in 2021. But this phenomenon is really making its mark in 2022.

Based on Rentals United’s internal booking data, we can see a sharp increase in vacation rental bookings for the summer and beyond.

To give you insight into current market trends and demand behaviour, in this article, we’ve analysed data from bookings created and processed through Rentals United during the week of May 26 – June 2, 2022. We collected all data insights using Rentals United Data Studio.

Check out how booking windows, ADRs and LOS trends are shaping up in your country compared to last year, as well as the top-performing channels. If you see a channel you aren’t currently distributing on and would like to get listed, get in touch here.

Main takeaways:

• Italy had the biggest increase in nights booked compared to the same period last year.
• ADRs were higher this year for most bookings windows in almost every country.
• Longer lead times were more common this year in most countries than last year.
• The US had the biggest share of nights booked last-minute (less than 8 days out).
• France had the longest LOS for bookings made 61-90 days in advance.

Jump to: USA | Spain | Italy | United Kingdom | France | Greece | Portugal | Australia

Spain

Spain is an extremely popular destination for revenge travellers this summer. During the week of May 26 – June 2, there was a 44% increase in nights booked compared to the same period last year. 

The vast majority of nights were booked for the summer months, less than 91 days out. However, 14% of the total nights were booked 91-180 days in advance, demonstrating that travellers are already thinking about trips beyond the summer, in the shoulder and late autumn season.

For some of these booking windows, ADRs were significantly higher than last year. For example, last year, nights booked 46-60 days in advance were sold at an ADR of €177, while this year, the ADR was €253.

There were also some changes in the length of stay. This year, last-minute bookings were made for an average of 2.8 nights as opposed to 3.4 last year. On the other hand, bookings made 61-90 days out were made for an average of 6.5 nights this year, as opposed to 5.5 last year.

United Kingdom

The UK is also seeing a surge in bookings this year, with 76% more nights booked during this time period than last year.

There was a slight decrease in the percentage of nights booked 15-30 days out (13% vs 18% last year) and a slight increase in the percentage of nights booked 61-90 days out (16% vs 13% last year).

ADRs were significantly higher this year for almost every booking window (except for early-bird bookings made 181-270 days in advance). For example, last year, nights booked 31-45 days out were sold at an average of €178, while this year, the ADR was €266.

There was no significant difference in average LOS, although reservations made during the 61-90-day booking window were for an average of 5.1 days as opposed to only 4.2 days last year.

France

Another popular European destination, France is sure to be a hit among revenge travellers this summer. Guests booked 64% more vacation rental nights during the week of May 26 – June 2 than last year. 

The 61-90-day booking window remains the most common one among people travelling to France, with 22% of nights booked 2-3 months in advance. While last year, travellers were still hesitant to book more than 90 days out (only 10% of nights were booked by early birds), this year, guests are more confident to think ahead: 18% of nights were booked for the autumn season and beyond.

ADRs were higher across the board, with travellers cashing out an average of €212 per night for bookings made 31-45 days out as opposed to only €153 last year.

LOS has not changed drastically since last year. However, it’s important to note that France had the longest LOS for bookings made 61-90 days in advance out of all the countries in our analysis.

Greece

Another bucket list summer destination, Greece is also experiencing growth this summer, with 22% more nights booked during the week of May 26 – June 2.

While last year, 19% of nights were booked last-minute (less than 8 days out), this year, that number was down by 5%, with travellers planning more in advance.

Similarly, while last year, there were only a handful of nights (2%) booked more than 91 days out, this year, almost 18% of nights were early-bird bookings. This could mean that travellers are not only thinking ahead but they’re also considering Greece as more than just a summer destination, and booking stays for the autumn months instead of the crowded high season.

ADRs were through the roof this year, especially for last-minute bookings (€142, €171 and €111 for booking windows of 0-2 days, 3-4 days and 5-7 days out respectively, as opposed to €48, €61 and €53 last year).

Interestingly, the LOS is also somewhat higher than last year, with an average of 6.2 nights for reservations made 61-90 days out as opposed to 5.5 last year.

Italy

Italy wins the race when it comes to an increase in nights booked. This year, travellers booked 243% more vacation rental nights for the summer and beyond than last year. 

Bookings windows were quite similar to last year, with only slight differences such as a decrease in the percentage of nights booked 61-90 days out (21% vs 25% last year) and an increase in the percentage of nights booked more than 90 days in advance (13% vs 6% last year).

Interestingly, unlike in other countries, ADRs in Italy did not soar compared to last year. In fact, the ADR for reservations made 61-90 days in advance was lower this year than last year, with €207 and €257 respectively.

The changes in LOS also ran contrary to what we’d come to expect based on data from other countries. This year, the average length of stay for bookings made 15-30 days out was 3.8 nights as opposed to 4.8 in 2021. LOS was also lower for bookings made 61-90 days out (5.4 nights vs 7.0 nights in 2021).

Portugal

Portugal is rising through the ranks as one of Europe’s most popular destinations. This year, there was a 67% increase in vacation rental nights booked for the summer and beyond during the week of May 26 – June 2 .

Last year, Portugal had the highest percentage of nights booked at the very last minute (more than 12% of nights were booked 0-2 days out). But this year, ultra-last-minute bookings were down to 8%, which is closer to the European average.

In 2021, the most common booking windows were 8-14 days and 15-30 days (13% and 15% of nights booked respectively). While this year, the trend shifted in favour of bookings made more in advance, with the 61-90-day booking window being the most popular (23% of nights booked).

ADRs shifted too, showing an inverse correlation with the shift in booking windows. There was an increase in the average daily rate for nights booked 15-30 days out (€121 vs €92 last year), which was the less popular booking window this year. However, there was a decrease in ADR for nights booked 61-90 days out (€183 vs €205 last year), which was the more popular booking window this year.

In addition, there was a significant drop in LOS for both the 15-30-day booking window (3.5 nights vs 5.0 last year) and the 61-90-day booking window (4.3 nights vs 6.7 last year).

USA

The US hasn’t lost one bit of its draw in 2022, with 33% more nights booked during the week of May 26 – June 2 than the same period last year. 

Bookings windows show a fairly similar pattern to last year, with the only notable difference being an increase in nights booked 91-180 days out (19% vs 14% last year).

This year, the US saw the highest percentage of ultra-last-minute bookings, with 11% of nights booked 0-2 days prior to check-in.

ADRs were higher for shorter booking windows but lower for longer ones, with guests paying an average of €294 and €272 per night for nights booked 61-90 days and 91-180 days in advance respectively, as opposed to €384 and €383 last year.

LOS was unchanged from 2021 for most booking windows.

Australia

While Australia saw a drop in the number of nights booked this week compared to the same week in 2021, it made up for it with higher ADRs.

There was a slight shift in booking windows, with the percentage of nights booked 15-30 days dropping (11% vs 17% last year) and the percentage of nights booked 31-45 days out increasing (16% vs 13% last year).

The average LOS was slightly down for last-minute bookings (3.3 nights vs 4.0 in 2021) and reservations made 61-90 days in advance (4.0 nights vs 4.6 in 2021).

If your country isn’t featured, feel free to get in touch here – we have all the data you need to optimise your distribution for the summer.