New research by a leading online independent travel agency has revealed the extent that some Britons will go to in order to still get their annual summer holiday; with a tenth admitting to having previously put off a break-up with their partner in order to still go on a holiday that they had planned or booked.

It would seem that many reasons for a relationship break-up aren’t quite enough to see a couple part ways, as research by one of the UK’s leading online independent travel agencies has revealed that a tenth of Britons have previously remained in a relationship to go on a holiday that they had booked or planned; leaving the break up until after.

www.sunshine.co.uk carried out the study as part of ongoing research into the holiday habits and preferences of people around the UK; with a particular focus on how important holidays were to them. 1,839 adults took part in the study and answered questions surrounding holidays they had been on in the past.

When asked ‘In the past, have you ever held off breaking up with a partner so that you could still go on a holiday you had booked or planned with them?’ 9% of those taking part said ‘yes’. These respondents were asked if they broken up with their partner, as they had planned, after the holiday, to which 82% said ‘yes’. The respondents were also asked how long it took them to break up with their partner after their holiday, to which the majority, 47%, said ‘2 weeks’.

However, 18% of those taking part who had put off a break-up to still go on a holiday said that they were still with the partner in question. When asked why they hadn’t ended up breaking up as they initially planned, the majority, 47%, said they felt the holiday ‘helped their relationship.’  28% just put it down to a ‘change of heart’, whilst 21% said they stayed together due to ‘habit’.

All respondents were also asked if they had ever split up with someone in order to be deliberately single for a holiday they were about to go on, to which 11% said that they had.

Chris Clarkson, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk, spoke about the research:

“I can’t imagine how awkward it must be to have booked a holiday with your partner, or your partner and their whole family, only to realise just before that you don’t want to be in the relationship anymore. This must be particularly bad if you still want to go on the holiday!

“The thing is, if you’re in that situation and you still go on the holiday anyway, you might end up having a terrible time if you don’t really want to be with your partner anymore. Normally, most travel agencies have policies in place to amend or cancel bookings, with refunds available; so perhaps look into that as an option and re-book a holiday with your friends as a pick-me-up!”