It used to be something of an annual tradition.
Packing the car, heading to the airport, settling into your accommodation for two weeks of sunshine before returning home to regale friends and family with tales of your summer holiday.
In the 1980s and 1990s, one trip a year was the norm – and Britons would flock to sunny Spain, France or Italy for a highly coveted summer break, usually coinciding with the long school holiday over the summer.
But inevitably, times change, and it seems we have well and truly entered the era of the 'multibreak'.
In 2026, more travellers are ditching the countdown-to-summer mindset and chasing shorter, more spontaneous getaways throughout the year instead.
Indeed, nearly 66 per cent of us plan to take several shorter trips in 2026, proving that you don't need two weeks off to hit reset, according to KAYAK's What the Future Travel Trends Report.
These mini escapes promise the same sense of rejuvenation in half the time – and require far less planning, too.
One annual summer holiday was once the norm for British families across the country - but it seems our habits have changed over time, as more opt for shorter breaks throughout the year
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Do you prefer a long summer holiday - or lots of weekend breaks?
This tendency towards shorter, more frequent trips falls in line with the modern idea that small indulgences aren't luxuries any more; they're necessities.
The share of flight searches for one- to four-day trips has increased by 8 per cent within a year, while the use of #weekendgetaway increased by 60 per cent on TikTok, KAYAK's research has shown.
Nowadays, instead of frequenting one spot each year, Brits enjoy multiple getaways to different destinations, as well as trips further afield.
A major contributing factor is, of course, the rise of low-cost airlines, from easyJet to Jet2, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Plus, it couldn't be easier to jump on a plane for the weekend. It's not going to break the bank, and there are hundreds of destinations to choose from.
Sophie Dekkers, chief commercial officer for easyJet, told the Daily Mail: 'We know people are always looking for ways to make the most of their summer travel, and our unrivalled choice with multiple daily flights on hundreds of routes across Europe and great value fares gives people flexibility and value.
'This means it's never been easier to swap your usual weekend at home for world-class museums and culinary scenes, and be back in time for the week to start.
'And for last minute bookers, our new "Drop Everything Flights" help people to browse a wide range of flights leaving within 48 hours, making it even easier to book your next weekend away.'
Britons once had one annual summer holiday - but not anymore. New research from KAYAK shows that searches for one- to four-day getaways have increased by 8 per cent over the past year
The introduction of low-cost airlines has made it easier than ever to travel for a weekend
This doesn't mean Britons are avoiding the UK, though. Weekend getaways extend to this country, too.
New research from BWH Hotels GB found that nearly 80 per cent of British holidaymakers are choosing UK staycations over trips abroad this year – with more than 25 million Britons expected to holiday closer to home.
So, where are Britons going on their multiple minibreaks?
Popular destinations include the Cotswolds, the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon – as well as camping trips and even 'micro staycations'.
The travel landscape this year has also been affected by the Iran war, contributing to the destination choice Brits are making.
New research from ABTA, a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry, this week revealed how the conflict in the Middle East has reshaped how and when people book their holidays.
Around 84 per cent of those planning a holiday abroad are opting for a short-haul destination when travelling in the coming months.
The most popular destinations are still those you can fly to in just a few hours.
The travel landscape has seen more and more European weekends away
Most popular destinations of all those considering a holiday abroad this summer
Spain, 38%
Italy, 23%
France, 19%
Greece, 18%
Portugal, 15%
USA, 13%
Germany, 9%
Turkey, 8%
Norway, 6%
Australia, 6%
Japan, 6%
Source: ABTA
Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal top ABTA's list of the most popular destinations for those considering a holiday abroad this summer.
This has been exacerbated since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, with many travellers fearing longer haul trips.
Alessandro Petazzi, chief executive of travel package holiday and hotel provider Lastminute.com, spoke to the Daily Mail about the impact of the Iran war: 'I think that, especially now, there is a perception that people feel a European destination is very safe - and a European capital city is even safer.
'In the wake of whatever possible risk might be there, that is perceived as a very, very safe option.'
According to Lastminute.com's latest Travel Horizons Report, Baltic bookings were among the rising stars of 2025 – and that's not set to change anytime soon.
Eastern Europe saw the most growth, thanks to Gdansk (+97 per cent) and beautiful Bucharest (+71 per cent), with Kraków (+58 per cent) and Riga (+40 per cent) also increasing in popularity over the last year.
Many of these are popular destinations for weekend getaways, known for their low prices and ease of access.
Easy-to-reach destinations - such as Spain and eastern Europe - are at the top of bucket lists
Evidently, we've reached an era where travel has become increasingly desirable – and people want to see as many places as possible as many times as they can, even if this means shorter weekend trips in lieu of longer holidays.
Some are even taking this to the next level. Interest in the 'extreme' day trip is booming, with 58 per cent of Brits wanting to travel to a dream destination and back in a single day, Booking.com's Summer Getaway Report has revealed.
Our trajectory from two weeks to weekends has been evident. Will day trips be the next big travel craze?