It’s not just flight costs that could get more expensive in summer 2026, Brits may find increased costs whether they stay in the UK or go overseas, and here are some price increases you may notice
Holidaymakers booking a staycation or heading overseas this year could find they spend more on their break. From the initial booking through to spending money, if you want to get away, it could mean more careful budgeting than before.
Rising costs, some linked to the Middle East and others due to local changes, could make your 2026 holiday more expensive than ever, and here are some price increases that could affect tourists.
1. Booking flights or package holidays
If you’ve not already booked your break and are looking at prices for 2026, you may notice costs have risen compared to last year. Travel and money blogger Jane Hawkes recently told the Mirror; “The conflict in the Middle East will likely affect holiday prices even if you’re travelling somewhere completely different.
“One of the biggest knock-on effects is fuel as when oil prices rise, airlines face higher operating costs and that filters in turn into the price of flights. At the same time, if passengers start avoiding certain regions because of safety concerns, demand could shift towards destinations seen as more stable.”
2. Accommodation costs
The rising cost of energy won’t just hit flights, it could also have a knock-on effect when it comes to accommodation. Hotels and holiday rentals who need to pay more to keep their lights on and run air conditioning or heating will likely need to increase the cost for their customers. Energy bills are expected to rise in the UK as of July 2026, and while consumers may not notice the price increases as much in the summer, it’s likely to impact the cost of a staycation in the long-term.
3. Restaurants and grocery prices
Whether you eat out nightly on holiday, or prefer to peruse the local supermarkets, it’s likely you’ll spend more on food this summer. Euroweekly reported that Spain faced food price rises of 1.53% in a single month, linked to the Middle East situation, while in the UK the rising costs and increasingly difficult logistics are set to affect farmers, which could have a knock-on effect on grocery prices. Higher food costs usually mean menu prices are increased accordingly, while booking an all-inclusive holiday could also get more expensive in the coming months as travel firms struggle with rising costs.
4. Fuel costs and getting around
Brits are already seeing fuel cost increases at the pumps, and those planning a staycation or road trip will find that their travels become more expensive as a result. This can have a knock-on effect on prices for taxis and other transport, as providers may need to adjust their costs accordingly.
However, if you’re renting a car in Europe, then you may be pleasantly surprised when you go to fill up your car. Greece has imposed a three-month cap on fuel profit margins, and Hungary has also capped petrol prices. In Germany, petrol stations can only carry out one price-rise a day at set times with huge fines for those not following the rules.
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5. Tourist taxes
Many popular destinations are now either introducing tourist taxes or increasing existing amounts. It’s expected that English councils will soon be given the power to implement their own tourist taxes, and London is planning a 3% levy on accommodation in a bid to raise £350 million a year for the capital.
Barcelona will bump up its regional and city taxes, meaning visitors could pay as much as €15 a night (about £13) if staying in luxury accommodation, while other notable rises include Portugal, where destinations such as Lisbon and Porto have raised taxes to €2-€4 per night. Amsterdam has one of the highest tourist taxes in Europe at 12.5% on the net price of accommodation.
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