The Irish got innovative with their travel budgets in 2012, by choosing domestic travel above all other destinations, with these in-country bookings doubling compared to 2011.

The Irish remained committed to travelling despite the economic situation, but have adapted their habits to ensure they can continue to travel without over-spending using tactics like opting for slightly shorter breaks, travelling within the Eurozone and travelling more within Ireland and closer to home, according to research from Expedia.ie.

The UK eclipsed the United States as the second most popular travel destination for Irish travelers, as the U.S. moved into third place. Unsurprisingly, holidays to Poland increased by 20%, as the country played host to Euro 2012.

The growing interest for travelling within our own country is clear from the top 10 city destinations for Irish travellers, where Galway overtook New York and bookings to Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Belfast all doubled compared to the previous year.