More people planning to book holidays

As many as 35 per cent intend to book a break over the next nine weeks, a survey by Sainsbury's Travel Insurance found.

But the amount people are planning to spend on trips has fallen, the poll of 1,036 people showed.

Those intending to have a break plan to spend an average of 826 – a one per cent fall on last year and six per cent down on two years ago.

Around 45 per cent of the early bookers intend to travel to Europe, with 29 per cent booking UK breaks and 6 per cent planning trips to the USA.

The poll also found that 18 per cent of those planning to book over the next few weeks do not intend to buy travel insurance.

Londoners are the keenest to book a holiday in the new year, with 41 per cent planning trips, while 39 per cent of those living in East Anglia and south-east England are also intending to make a booking.

Sainsbury's Travel Insurance manager Scott Gorman said: "A lot of people will be fed up with the winter snow and travel delays or cancellations they have had to endure in 2010."