31% of Poles plan a winter trip, but only 12% will travel during school holidays

A survey commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor reveals that 31% of Poles plan to take a winter trip, yet only 12% intend to travel during the school holidays. This cautious approach may reflect an effort to avoid higher costs during the peak season, when prices tend to surge.

According to the study conducted by Quality Watch for the InfoMonitor Economic Information Bureau, many travelers are opting for more flexible arrangements, steering clear of high-season travel. More than half of Poles (54%), an increase of 19 percentage points compared to 2023, will fund their winter trips with savings, while 46% plan to cover expenses from their current income. Only 5% of respondents intend to rely on loans from family or financial institutions, marking a six-percentage-point decrease compared to two years ago.

Another challenge for the domestic tourism industry is that 30% of those planning a winter holiday prefer international destinations, with 67% choosing locations warmer than Poland. Travel agencies are benefiting from this trend, offering packages tailored to customers seeking sun and relaxation in milder climates.

Among those taking winter trips, 53% prefer self-organized domestic travel, followed by 33% who opt for visiting family. Independently planned foreign trips account for 16%, while 10% rely on travel agencies or specialized entities. This ranking remains consistent for winter vacations taken outside the holiday period as well.

Waldemar Rogowski, chief analyst at BIG InfoMonitor, noted that this shift poses challenges for Polish hoteliers, particularly three- and four-star hotels, which are struggling amid increasing income polarization. While luxury accommodations attract affluent travelers and budget options remain popular, mid-tier hotels face difficulties, especially as foreign competitors, such as Alpine resorts, offer better weather conditions, lower prices, and comparable or superior service quality.

The study, titled “Examining and Directions of Trips of Poles in Winter Holidays,” was conducted using the CAWI method by Quality Watch on behalf of BIG InfoMonitor. It surveyed a sample of 1,068 Poles aged 18 and older in January 2025.