German travellers prefer to organise and book their own holidays, Booking.com study shows

Some 69% of German travellers prefer to book all or most aspects of their holidays, a new study commissioned by Booking.com has found.

According to the study, around a quarter (26%) of Germans say that they share the responsibility for booking holidays with their travel companions, a figure that rises to 31% among the Gen Z cohort, the online platform said.

Just 5% of respondents said that they delegate the organisation and booking of holidays to others – of this cohort, 61% rely on their travel companions, while 18% opt for an external service provider such as a travel agency.

Those taking an active role in holiday planning tend to choose their own accommodation personally (71%), as well as their destination (69%), travel dates (60%), and transportation for arrival, departure, and on-site stays (59%).

Multiple holidays

Some 45% of respondents to the survey said that they plan to take more than two holidays in 2026, with this figure rising to more than half (51%) of families.

For many respondents, their holiday experience begins early, with 86% saying that the booking process marks the start of their vacation.

German holidaymakers have also been proactive when it comes to planning their 2026 trips, with more than a third (35%) having already booked most or all of their holidays for 2026, and 47% expecting to do so soon.

Some 43% of families say that they have already booked most or all of their planned 2026 vacations.

‘Seamless platform’

“As part of our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, at Booking.com we offer our customers a wide range of accommodations, transport options, and attractions – all on one seamless platform where they can easily plan and book every part of their holiday,” commented Norman Ladig, regional manager DACH at Booking.com.

“96% of German travellers find it easy and convenient to book all elements of a trip through one platform. Accordingly, our focus is on simplifying the booking process by giving our platform a wide selection, the latest AI tools for creating the perfect trip, and our Genius loyalty program – which includes benefits such as free room upgrades, discounts on rental cars, and free breakfast.” Read more here.