Brits are shelling out hundreds of pounds on their appearance before they go on holiday to ensure their travel snaps are good enough for the ‘gram.

Research from Santander UK has revealed that Brits are spending up to £546.20 on preparations for the perfect holiday social media shot, in addition to their travel and accommodation costs.

Image-conscious travellers are now investing significantly in their pre-holiday appearance, with typical expenses including haircuts (£35.50), manicures (£40.70), new outfits (£69.40) and pre-holiday gym visits (£38.70).

Some holidaymakers go even further, spending an average of £62 on photo backdrops, lighting or camera effects, with some even hiring personal trainers at £62.20.

Despite these extensive preparations, capturing the ideal image still requires effort, with Brits taking an average of 11 shots before selecting one to share on social media.

The research highlights the growing importance of social media in holiday planning and documentation.

Matt Hall, Santander head of cards, says: “Immortalising those precious holiday memories for years to come has always been an important part of going away, but the rise of social media has left many feeling the pressure to spend on extra prep ahead of capturing the perfect shot to share with the world.”

Forty-three per cent of Brits report using a holiday photo as their main online profile picture. Among 18-34-year-olds, nearly half (46 per cent) say their entire holiday photo album now exists solely on social media platforms.

Social media’s influence extends to holiday planning as well, with one in five respondents (20 per cent) admitting to choosing destinations based on potential photo opportunities for social media.

A similar proportion (21 per cent) use social media to research their destination before booking.

by Jess Hipgrave | GLOBETRENDER