Show me the way home... Yell.com counts the cost of surviving the office party - 15 December 2005
Forget the sore head and embarrassing flashbacks. According to a study by Yell.com, a leading UK local search engine, the main victim of the office party this Christmas will be a lighter wallet as stranded revellers face the journey home.Christmas is set to come early for the nation’s cabbies as 60 per cent of people who’ve missed their last stop opt to take a taxi home, spending on average £29. For one in six ‘lost souls’ (16 per cent), the journey is incomplete without satisfying the post-party munchies at the nearest takeaway and seven per cent check into a B&B for the night.
There are, however, thriftier alternatives. Around one in ten (11 per cent) say they sleep rough before catching the first train or tube home the next morning, while four per cent will swallow their pride and call on an old flame for a place to stay for the night.
One final expense is the cost of gifts to partners and loved ones to apologise for getting home late! People tend to spend between £26 and £50 on presents.
Eddie Cheng, president of Yell.com, said: “Wherever your Christmas party is this year, make sure you are fully prepared. Yell.com provides detailed business information on anything you need during Christmas and beyond. And with the service available on your mobile, whether you’re looking for a taxi at midnight or a bed for the night, Yell.com makes it easier to find exactly what you are looking for.”
The sign of a great night out
With almost a quarter of us (23 per cent) missing the stop home after falling asleep, and more than a third of us (35 per cent) having three or more Christmas parties this year, Yell.com is offering a way to avoid being stranded at the last stop. Look out for free “Wake me up at…” signs being handed out at major stations in Birmingham, Manchester and London. Simply fill in your final destination, hang it round your neck, and hope a fellow party-goer gives you the nudge when you reach your stop!
Your festive party planner
Yell.com lists two million businesses and services across the UK. So you’ll find everything you need for a safe, happy party season.
- Find your party destination using Yell.com’s maps
- Locate the nearest takeaway to satisfy post-party munchies
- Search for the name and number of your nearest cab firm
- If all else fails and you need a bed for the night, search Yell.com for a list of nearby B&Bs
Don’t get left out in the cold. Carry Yell.com in your pocket this party season by downloading it to your mobile. Visit www.yell.com to find out how.
