Playing it safe or switching it up: How Europe will travel in 2024

It’s that time of the year again. As you pack your suitcases and head out on your summer vacation, we spoke to over 2,400 of your fellow European travelers to find out the latest travel trends. Whether you like following the crowd or heading off the beaten track, we're here to help you prepare for everything that awaits you this summer.

The internet is abuzz with memes about how much Europeans love their summer holidays, and with almost 75% of Europeans planning on going on a summer holiday, our survey confirms this trend. When it comes to the preferred month for travel, our respondents are split evenly over June, July, August and September. It could be that deterred by extremely hot and dry to unnaturally cold and wet experiences in the summer of 2023, vacationers want to try their luck in the quieter month of September.

(Some) Europeans go local

In recent years, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of Europeans wanting to travel ‘locally’ — with almost 43% planning to stay in their own countries, and another 42% planning to venture out, but stay within Europe. In our 2022 summer survey, 58% of respondents had confessed to having a greater appreciation for destinations close to them, and that still seems to ring true. For 63% of people, this is a destination they’ve already visited before.

Many Europeans appreciate destinations close and familiar to them.

Of course, with their great weather and abundance of exciting destinations, 62% of Spaniards plan to travel within their country this summer. At only 18% and 24%, however, their respective Dutch and German counterparts aren’t as keen on traveling within the Netherlands or Germany. We’re not surprised.

In the same vein as wanting to stay close to home, when it comes to their summer holiday, most Europeans reject the hustle and bustle of cities for the serenity of nature. For almost 32% of respondents, forests and nature parks are their ideal holiday destinations, while 26%, 19% and 15% prefer small villages, coastal locations and mountains. At 48%, nearly half of the Dutchies we spoke to prefer the outdoors, and love camping out in the forest or a nature park. It's no wonder then that they’re also the Europeans most likely to choose a caravan or RV as their preferred mode of transport on their holiday at 28%.

Most travelers will hit the road

With 40% choosing their mode of travel based on flexibility, their choices reflect trends we’ve seen in recent years. Nearly 70% Europeans plan to drive a car on their holiday, 14% will drive an RV and 7% will embark on a motorbike adventure. Just like in our 2023 summer survey, only 8% will choose to fly.

41% of drivers like enjoying the scenery while on their road trips and 23% like stopping their cars and exploring, which isn’t always an option with other forms of transportation. Cars and RVs also win out because they’re more fun and convenient for our respondents. That's probably why only about 2% drivers have made the switch to EVs, while 7% drive hybrids, with a whopping 91% of drivers still sticking to conventional petrol and diesel cars.

Several reasons keep European drivers from driving an EV on their vacation.

On being quizzed about their reasons for not going electric, 19% of drivers cite time spent on charging as their main reason. 18% also say they’re apprehensive about how reliable charging options on the road are, while 16% still blame range anxiety, or the worry that their EV will run out of steam before they make it to their destination. TomTom’s EV research has shown that 20% of charging sessions fail because of issues with charging stations such as incompatible payment options, and these responses are proof that that’s a huge deterrent for potential EV drivers.

Going green

In recent years, many travelers have incorporated more climate conscious practices into their road trips. While 52% of European travelers still cite fuel as the largest expense while traveling, a solid 43% are ready to alter their plans to reduce their carbon footprint. Our respondents have some creative ways to do this up their sleeve.

From switching to a bike or trains for part of their trip to avoiding highways and crowded roads so they can drive at consistent speeds, TomTom drivers are ready to go the extra mile for the planet. Be it choosing the ‘Eco route’ option on their TomTom device or app to drive in the most fuel-efficient manner, or checking traffic conditions beforehand so they don’t find themselves idling midway, several respondents also trust TomTom to help them make a difference.

Who’s tagging along?

When it comes to summer adventures, the destination and how you get there make a huge difference. But in the end, a lot depends on who you embark on the journey with. Unsurprisingly, partners make the most popular travel companions, with 52% choosing them. 30% of Europeans are going to travel with their families this summer, with 9% daring to take on a solo trip. The remaining 9% will vacation with their friends.

Dogs are the most popular furry travel companions among Europeans

But it’s not just humans that are taking these summer holidays, many are bringing their animal companions too. 13% of respondents said their holiday would be incomplete without their dogs, while only 2% are bringing their cats along. But close to 3% are mixing it up and taking some rather interesting pets with them, so don’t be shocked if the beach chair next to you is taken by a cockroach, a canary, a bunny, some mice or even a horse.