Populus Poll

Summer Holidays

• Over half (54%) of Saga respondents with grandchildren are planning on looking after them over the school summer holidays, a third (33%) are planning do so at least once a week. Younger respondents are more likely to say they are going to look after their grandchildren at least once a week than older respondents (43% of 50-59 year olds vs. 7% of 80-89 year olds respectively).
• Two in five (44%) Saga respondents who say they will look after their grandchildren at least once a week during the holidays say they are likely to take them on days out. A third (36%) plan to entertain them at home, and 6% intend to take them on holiday in the UK.
• The average amount Saga respondents think they will spend as part of looking after their grandchildren at least once a week during the summer holidays is £102.

Health

• On average, Saga respondents feel 10 years younger than they are physically. Older respondents are more likely to feel younger than their actual age than younger respondents (on average 12 years for 80-89 year olds vs. 8 years for 50-59 year olds respectively)
• Among those who report feeling physically younger than they are, four in five (80%) maintain their physical health by not smoking, 77% do so by walking, 74% eating a healthy diet and 71% say it is because they get plenty of fresh air.
• Mentally, Saga respondents feel on average 19 years younger than they are. 80-89 year old respondents feel on average 22 years younger than their real age, whereas 50-59 year olds only feel on average 15 years younger mentally.
• Female respondents are, on average, more likely than male respondents to feel younger mentally (20 years younger vs. 18 years younger respectively).
• 69% of respondents who feel mentally younger than their actual age keep themselves feeling young by not taking themselves too seriously. Two thirds (64%) travel, and 61% keep mentally active, for example taking evening classes or doing a crossword.

Travel - Wifi

• Half of Saga respondents use the internet on their mobile/tablet whilst on holiday to check their emails (54%) or keep in touch with friends or family (51%). 12% own a device with internet but do not use it when abroad, 16% don’t go on holiday abroad and 4% do not own a mobile or tablet.
• Those respondents who don’t use their device abroad most commonly cite not having any need of the internet whilst away (65%) as their reason for doing so, while three in ten see the internet as too much of a distraction from their holiday (30%) or only use their phone/tablet for emergencies (27%)
• Two thirds (64%) of respondents who use the internet abroad would only do so if free Wifi is available. A similar proportion (63%) view free Wifi as a great benefit but say it would not dictate their choice of hotel/accommodation.

Cruises

• Among Saga respondents who take holidays abroad, 46% like to go sightseeing, while 18% like to relax/sunbath for most of their holiday. 14% like to explore off the beaten track however this is higher among younger respondents than older respondents (18% of 50-59 year olds vs 9% of 80-89 year olds respectively).
• Two in five (38%) respondents holidaying abroad have worries about exploring their chosen destination. The most common worries concern a lack of local language skills (14%), getting lost (6%), and personal safety (5%).
• The majority (72%) of Saga respondents read the brief overview of a destination in a guidebook before their holiday abroad. 58% learn a bit about the destination from their tour guide, whereas half (49%) always spend a long time researching a destination, its history and culture before they go.
• Three fifths (58%) of respondents who take holidays abroad look at the ‘top things to do’ in their chosen destination when planning their holiday. 47% take recommendations from the place where they’re staying and a similar proportion buy a guidebook (45%) or spend hours researching their holiday online (43%).
• Among Saga respondents who do not plan anything to do during their holiday abroad, 36% say it is because they don’t like to plan anything in advance and one in five (22%) prefer to take recommendations from locals.
• A third (32%) of respondents who take holidays abroad agree that in the past they have got back from a holiday and wished they had done more while they were away. 37% disagree and 31% are neutral.

Populus interviewed 10,325 Saga respondents, all aged 50+ online between 20 and 26 June 2017. Data was weighted to be nationally representative. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules; for more information www.populus.co.uk