Last year's price increases and economic instability have led Romanians to adopt a more conservative attitude towards non-essential expenses, including vacations, according to the results of a survey conducted by tbi bank.

According to the research, at national level, over 75% of Romanians say they will finance their vacation this year exclusively from personal savings, a sign that the idea of a 'carefree vacation' begins, more than ever, with financial peace of mind.

For another 4.3% of Romanians, the money needed for the vacation will come from the salary obtained in the month prior to departure - an approach that indicates careful planning and the refusal to turn to external resources.

Even when additional financial support is needed, Romanians prefer not to go into full debt. Almost 14% say they will cover the costs of the vacation through a mix of savings (50%) and credit (50%), the research shows.

Thus, the full loan for the vacation remains a marginal solution, given that less than 2% of the respondents say they will go on vacation exclusively with borrowed money.

At the same time, for most Romanians, the 2025 vacations come with a well-defined and rather conservative budget. Over a third of the interviewed (34.1%) have allocated less than 1,000 euros for this year's vacation, while almost 51% say they will spend between 1,000 and 3,000 euros. Only a minority (approximately 15%) exceeds this threshold, a sign that financial prudence dictates vacation choices in 2025, the same source states.

'The general perception is that vacations have become considerably more expensive: almost 7 out of 10 respondents estimate that they will pay at least 25% more compared to last year. This influences not only the duration and type of vacation, but also the chosen destination or the time of departure. For many Romanians, vacation thus becomes a carefully calculated equation between desire and possibility. In a still volatile economic climate, Romanians choose to adapt their plans to their pocket, avoiding impulsive spending and reorienting themselves towards more accessible or better planned options in advance,' the survey data also shows.

Almost two-thirds of Romanians (64.5%) say that in 2025 they will go on a single vacation or, at most, two, a clear sign of more prudent planning and limiting spending on relaxation. More than 16% say they will not be able to afford any vacation this year, either due to financial considerations, lack of time or personal priorities, according to the research.

'When it comes to their preferred format, Romanians are increasingly choosing flexibility. Over 51% say they opt for a longer main vacation, complemented by a few days off spread throughout the year - either for city breaks or for personal needs. Only 29% plan two longer vacations in different seasons, while the rest (approximately 20%) prefer several extended weekends, as a form of occasional escape from the daily routine,' the document also shows.

The tbi bank survey analyzed the financing needs of Romanians and was conducted in April 2025, at a national level, through the iVox platform, on a total sample of 1,030 internet users in Romania. Over 46% of the participants are female, and over 41% have a net income of more than 5,000 lei. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)