The long-awaited start of the summer holidays is expected this week with the travel industry bracing itself for a surge in bookings after the Olympics.
With the Games having captured the public’s imagination, many Britons are taking their holidays later than usual.
Two years ago there was a similar exodus when England was knocked out of the World Cup.
British Airways sought to capitalise on the mood encouraging passengers to stay at home and enjoy what has turned out to be a glut of gold medals.
The airline is now pushing holidaymakers to enjoy what it described as a “sizzling September” with offers including £100 off European holidays.
The first sign of the delayed great British exodus will be at Heathrow, which expects to deal with 116,000 departures tomorrow, compared with 95,000 on an average day.
While the numbers are initially being swelled by departing athletes, families and supporters, daily departures from Heathrow will hover around 110,000 for the rest of the week.
According to research carried out by the price comparison website, Travelsupermarket, more than 3million Britons have delayed their holiday because of the Olympics.
“By mid-August we’d expect most people to have booked their annual summer holiday or at the very least have something booked,” said Bob Atkinson, the company’s travel analyst.
“However, with the huge amount of us planning to go on post-Olympics breaks, many of which haven’t even been booked yet, this year is going to be a particularly late summer holiday season.”
Laurence Hicks, director of tour operator and holiday rentals company CLC Leisure, has noticed a similar trend.
"The end of July and beginning of August were relatively quiet but suddenly we have seen this massive upswing in booking and inquiries.
"Either we Brits don't want the party to end and intend to carry on celebrating the success of Team GB with a holiday or we are worn out by the emotional extremes of watching the Games and need a break.
"We knew that there would be a late-booking trend this year because people wanted to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience of London 2012 but the sudden rush has exceeded all expectations."
EasyJet has already noticed a surge, with nearly 200,000 passengers booked to depart tomorrow, with Athens and Alicante the most popular destinations.
Eurostar is also expecting a busy week with Britons crossing the Channel in droves for their delayed summer break.
According one aviation industry insider, airlines have had a slack summer and will be looking for a pick up in post Olympics departure to fill empty seats.
“It does look as if people have been deferring their holidays, so there is fair chance business will pick up.”
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Showing posts with label Summer Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Holidays. Show all posts
Monday, 13 August 2012
Monday, 30 July 2012
E-Books Edge Ahead Of Paperbacks On UK Holidays
People are putting paperbacks aside on holiday and reaching for e-books instead, according to a survey.
E-reading devices such as the Kindle are now the preferred way to get stuck into a good novel while on a break, the poll by a leading online travel agency found.
A total of 1,928 UK adults who had been abroad on holiday in the last 12 months were surveyed.
Of those who had read while away, 51% had used an e-reader while 49% had opted for a traditional book.
E-readers were most popular among those aged 40 or more, with only 11% of 18-25-year-olds using them.
Of those who used an e-reader, 44% said it was easier to hold while 29% said it was easier to see in the sun.
Of those sticking with traditional books, 24% felt e-readers were too expensive while 46% said they "simply preferred books".
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
E-reading devices such as the Kindle are now the preferred way to get stuck into a good novel while on a break, the poll by a leading online travel agency found.
A total of 1,928 UK adults who had been abroad on holiday in the last 12 months were surveyed.
Of those who had read while away, 51% had used an e-reader while 49% had opted for a traditional book.
E-readers were most popular among those aged 40 or more, with only 11% of 18-25-year-olds using them.
Of those who used an e-reader, 44% said it was easier to hold while 29% said it was easier to see in the sun.
Of those sticking with traditional books, 24% felt e-readers were too expensive while 46% said they "simply preferred books".
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Tips to Save You Money on Holiday This Summer
A big holiday abroad can be the experience of a lifetime, and often people save up for years to afford one great trip away. After so much preparation, you want to make sure that your holiday is perfect, and if possible, save a few pennies so you can spoil yourself that much more when it comes to getting on the plane.
First of all, get yourself a good exchange rate by using a service like Currencies Direct's travel-money service. Foreign exchange costs a surprising amount and particularly if you're changing a lot, a good company can save you a surprising amount. Unless you're going to the Eurozone, it's worth making sure you have a few dollars, and as the dollar to pounds rate is so good at the moment, they're more than worth it as a backup.
Next up, it's important that you get a good deal on your holiday insurance. That does not mean that you should go for the cheapest one available, but rather go for the one that represents the best value for money.
A good tip is to check out the Defaqto website, Defaqto is the independent body which judges the quality of products in the UK financial sector, so work your way through the list of Defaqto 5 star holiday insurances and pick the one that represents the best value for you.
Another good tip, particularly if you're going to somewhere which might not be quite as developed as the UK, is to buy things when you get there. This saves you a little space in your bag and maybe a lot of money. Things like suntan lotion are usually a lot cheaper abroad (except in Latin America) so it's worth waiting until you get out there before splashing out.
Again, depending on where you're going, it might be worth looking up local transport routes. Generally speaking you can buy things in advance from the UK, but a trip that could cost £50 when bought from the UK could cost a fraction of that when you get out to your destination, particularly if you're willing to hop on a bus with the other local travellers.
Last of all, restrict your mobile phone use when you get out there, if you're going to be at your destination for a long time it's worth buying a local sim, but otherwise, roaming data charges can be huge so it's best to reduce your phone use as much as possible.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
First of all, get yourself a good exchange rate by using a service like Currencies Direct's travel-money service. Foreign exchange costs a surprising amount and particularly if you're changing a lot, a good company can save you a surprising amount. Unless you're going to the Eurozone, it's worth making sure you have a few dollars, and as the dollar to pounds rate is so good at the moment, they're more than worth it as a backup.
Next up, it's important that you get a good deal on your holiday insurance. That does not mean that you should go for the cheapest one available, but rather go for the one that represents the best value for money.
A good tip is to check out the Defaqto website, Defaqto is the independent body which judges the quality of products in the UK financial sector, so work your way through the list of Defaqto 5 star holiday insurances and pick the one that represents the best value for you.
Another good tip, particularly if you're going to somewhere which might not be quite as developed as the UK, is to buy things when you get there. This saves you a little space in your bag and maybe a lot of money. Things like suntan lotion are usually a lot cheaper abroad (except in Latin America) so it's worth waiting until you get out there before splashing out.
Again, depending on where you're going, it might be worth looking up local transport routes. Generally speaking you can buy things in advance from the UK, but a trip that could cost £50 when bought from the UK could cost a fraction of that when you get out to your destination, particularly if you're willing to hop on a bus with the other local travellers.
Last of all, restrict your mobile phone use when you get out there, if you're going to be at your destination for a long time it's worth buying a local sim, but otherwise, roaming data charges can be huge so it's best to reduce your phone use as much as possible.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
UK holiday spend on the rise
According to latest research released by MasterCard Cash Passport, three quarters of travellers expect to spend the same or more on their main holiday this year compared to 2011, despite concerns over the Eurozone and the costs associated with travel.
Results from a YouGov survey commissioned by the prepaid travel money card, Cash Passport, show that two thirds of us are taking a summer holiday.
Of these, one third (29 per cent) resolve to budget more for their holidays this year compared to 2011.
Two fifths (38 per cent) of 18-to-24-year-old holidaymakers are putting more money aside for spending compared to last year while one third of the over 55s are budgeting for an increase of up to 50 per cent on their holiday budgets.
As the strengthening pound means better exchange rates for those spending in Eurozone countries, less than one in ten (seven per cent) UK adults said they would be avoiding European holidays as a result of reported banking difficulties in destination countries.
Across the regions, only the south of England has a larger proportion of people budgeting to spend less on their summer holiday (31 per cent) compared to more (19 per cent), while Wales enjoys the largest percentage of people prepared to spend more on their holiday this year (37 per cent).
People in the East of England are expecting to spend 50 per cent more than they did last year, the highest proportion of all regions.
Jonathan Bennett, European sales director at Cash Passport, commented on the findings: “Faced with a difficult economic climate in the UK and elsewhere and perhaps even spurred on by the dismal weather so far this year, UK holidaymakers are staying positive about their main summer holiday and their expectations of getting away without worrying about bigger economic issues.
“For those going away but looking to tighten their belts and even those planning to spend more than last year, it remains important for people to be in control of their spending. Cash Passport customers can conveniently put aside their money and manage holiday budgets by using a prepaid card.”
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Results from a YouGov survey commissioned by the prepaid travel money card, Cash Passport, show that two thirds of us are taking a summer holiday.
Of these, one third (29 per cent) resolve to budget more for their holidays this year compared to 2011.
Two fifths (38 per cent) of 18-to-24-year-old holidaymakers are putting more money aside for spending compared to last year while one third of the over 55s are budgeting for an increase of up to 50 per cent on their holiday budgets.
As the strengthening pound means better exchange rates for those spending in Eurozone countries, less than one in ten (seven per cent) UK adults said they would be avoiding European holidays as a result of reported banking difficulties in destination countries.
Across the regions, only the south of England has a larger proportion of people budgeting to spend less on their summer holiday (31 per cent) compared to more (19 per cent), while Wales enjoys the largest percentage of people prepared to spend more on their holiday this year (37 per cent).
People in the East of England are expecting to spend 50 per cent more than they did last year, the highest proportion of all regions.
Jonathan Bennett, European sales director at Cash Passport, commented on the findings: “Faced with a difficult economic climate in the UK and elsewhere and perhaps even spurred on by the dismal weather so far this year, UK holidaymakers are staying positive about their main summer holiday and their expectations of getting away without worrying about bigger economic issues.
“For those going away but looking to tighten their belts and even those planning to spend more than last year, it remains important for people to be in control of their spending. Cash Passport customers can conveniently put aside their money and manage holiday budgets by using a prepaid card.”
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Friday, 20 July 2012
Schools out! Two million Brits head abroad
This weekend marks the start of the summer holiday getaway and is expected to be one of the busiest of the year at UK airports, with thousands also arriving for the Olympics. Eurozone destinations are proving popular with holidaymakers looking to take advantage of the pound’s strengthening against the Euro, coupled with the fact that many bars and restaurants have lowered their prices.
Two million holidaymakers are expected to head overseas this weekend after schools break up for the summer.
According to Abta, the majority will be heading to Spain, with the Canary and Balearic Islands being extremely popular.
Abta said airports will be extremely busy, with 482,000 passengers leaving from Heathrow, 275,000 from Gatwick, 132,500 from Stansted and 70,000 from Luton this weekend.
Over 100,000 will be leaving from Scottish airports with 50,000 from Glasgow alone.
It is expected that 297,000 will leave from Manchester, 64,000 from Birmingham and 45,000 from Bristol.
The travel organisation said Turkey and Greece were also proving popular with Brits.
With the pound at its strongest against the euro for almost four years, British holidaymakers are receiving 11.5%more value for their money than this time last year.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Two million holidaymakers are expected to head overseas this weekend after schools break up for the summer.
According to Abta, the majority will be heading to Spain, with the Canary and Balearic Islands being extremely popular.
Abta said airports will be extremely busy, with 482,000 passengers leaving from Heathrow, 275,000 from Gatwick, 132,500 from Stansted and 70,000 from Luton this weekend.
Over 100,000 will be leaving from Scottish airports with 50,000 from Glasgow alone.
It is expected that 297,000 will leave from Manchester, 64,000 from Birmingham and 45,000 from Bristol.
The travel organisation said Turkey and Greece were also proving popular with Brits.
With the pound at its strongest against the euro for almost four years, British holidaymakers are receiving 11.5%more value for their money than this time last year.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
School's out for summer 2012
The last week of July marks the beginning of the summer holidays in the UK and the annual rush to the airport is set to begin.
The persistent rain we’re experiencing seems to be threatening any chance of a domestic holiday, urging families to escape to warmer climes, recently lowcostholidays.com reported a yearly increase of 103 per cent on family holiday related searches in June this year.
Just in time for the school holidays, here’s what is new in five of the UK’s favourite destinations for family holidays.
Traditional sun and sea in Majorca
Majorca remains a favourite for UK families, with over nine million visitors enjoying the island’s universal appeal in 2011. The biggest of the Balearic Islands is home to 554km of exotic coastline, understated natural beauty and a mix of modern attractions that keep families returning year after year. Known as the birthplace of the package holiday, Majorca offers families traditional fun in the sun, but is also beginning to offer more diverse holidays, ideal for adventure seeking families. Active breaks in the rural Tramuntana Mountains are amongst the new trends on the island.
New for 2012: Majorca is set to be the first destination in Europe to enjoy artificial surfing. Two flow barrel machines are being installed in the beach resort of Calvia, making Majorca a new hotspot for novices and surf enthusiasts.
Thrill-seeking in Florida
Florida reigns supreme as the go-to destination for fun-seeking families. With guaranteed hot weather and the biggest and best attractions, it is a playground for young children, teenagers and parents alike. Thrill-seekers are catered for with an incredible selection of theme parks, whilst younger children remain enchanted with the magic of the Disney theme parks. Parents are not left out either; Florida is home to some of the world’s most loved golf courses and a fantastic selection of shopping outlets.
New for 2012: SeaWorld in Orlando is creating a new Freshwater Oasis for visitors to enjoy in 2012. The new attraction allows visitors swim alongside Asian otters, and enjoy a 3D Turtle Trek experience.
Beach lovers in Turkey
Turkey strikes a great balance between culture and relaxation, with the eastern Mediterranean country a favourite destination for beach-loving families. Surrounded by four different oceans, Turkey’s beaches are some of Europe’s most diverse and loved stretches of sand. The country is home to an incredible 352 blue flag beaches, detailing the incredible natural beauty of the Turkish coastline. OluDeniz is one of Turkey’s most celebrated beaches and was recently voted Europe’s top beach. The resort is also renowned as a centre of excellence for paragliding.
New for 2012: Adaland Water Park has recently been renovated, adding the exciting water coaster ride to its already impressive list of attractions which include a dolphin park and sea park.
Red Sea adventures in Egypt
Competing with Turkey as a resort for relaxing beach breaks, Egypt has grown to be one of the UK’s favourite family holiday destinations. Beach resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai have been largely unaffected by events elsewhere in the country, with families still attracted by Egypt’s year-round sunshine and selection of luxury hotels. The resort’s now world-renowned diving is also a highlight. The 1950s saw famous diving pioneer Hans Has ‘discover’ diving in Sharm El Sheikh, paving the way for today’s facilities, which include snorkelling, diving and even specially designed children’s diving excursions.
New for 2012: Soho Square in Sharm El Sheikh is home to an ice rink, a bowling alley and numerous other great family attractions (not to mention the shopping). Every year they tip the cheesy entertainment scales, with acts such as former Eurovision stars Ruslana, and the likes of Peter Andre – if you’re in need of a good laugh, check their website’s listing pages.
Terrific trips in Tenerife
Tenerife is an island of diversity, making a favourite with families seeking culture, excitement or relaxation. Day trips are a great way to explore all that the island has to offer and include trekking up a volcano, boat trips to watch whales and dolphins, Thai themed water parks and enough hotels with children’s pools and activity clubs to suit even the fussiest of families. The weather on The Island of Eternal Spring is warm year round and doesn’t get too hot in the summer, averaging around 26C in August, meaning little ones won’t be uncomfortable.
New for 2012: 15 of Tenerife’s beaches have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag awards for 2012. Parents can rest easy knowing that the beaches here are clean, the waters are safe and you will never be short of ice cream shops or places to buy buckets and spades.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
The persistent rain we’re experiencing seems to be threatening any chance of a domestic holiday, urging families to escape to warmer climes, recently lowcostholidays.com reported a yearly increase of 103 per cent on family holiday related searches in June this year.
Just in time for the school holidays, here’s what is new in five of the UK’s favourite destinations for family holidays.
Traditional sun and sea in Majorca
Majorca remains a favourite for UK families, with over nine million visitors enjoying the island’s universal appeal in 2011. The biggest of the Balearic Islands is home to 554km of exotic coastline, understated natural beauty and a mix of modern attractions that keep families returning year after year. Known as the birthplace of the package holiday, Majorca offers families traditional fun in the sun, but is also beginning to offer more diverse holidays, ideal for adventure seeking families. Active breaks in the rural Tramuntana Mountains are amongst the new trends on the island.
New for 2012: Majorca is set to be the first destination in Europe to enjoy artificial surfing. Two flow barrel machines are being installed in the beach resort of Calvia, making Majorca a new hotspot for novices and surf enthusiasts.
Thrill-seeking in Florida
Florida reigns supreme as the go-to destination for fun-seeking families. With guaranteed hot weather and the biggest and best attractions, it is a playground for young children, teenagers and parents alike. Thrill-seekers are catered for with an incredible selection of theme parks, whilst younger children remain enchanted with the magic of the Disney theme parks. Parents are not left out either; Florida is home to some of the world’s most loved golf courses and a fantastic selection of shopping outlets.
New for 2012: SeaWorld in Orlando is creating a new Freshwater Oasis for visitors to enjoy in 2012. The new attraction allows visitors swim alongside Asian otters, and enjoy a 3D Turtle Trek experience.
Beach lovers in Turkey
Turkey strikes a great balance between culture and relaxation, with the eastern Mediterranean country a favourite destination for beach-loving families. Surrounded by four different oceans, Turkey’s beaches are some of Europe’s most diverse and loved stretches of sand. The country is home to an incredible 352 blue flag beaches, detailing the incredible natural beauty of the Turkish coastline. OluDeniz is one of Turkey’s most celebrated beaches and was recently voted Europe’s top beach. The resort is also renowned as a centre of excellence for paragliding.
New for 2012: Adaland Water Park has recently been renovated, adding the exciting water coaster ride to its already impressive list of attractions which include a dolphin park and sea park.
Red Sea adventures in Egypt
Competing with Turkey as a resort for relaxing beach breaks, Egypt has grown to be one of the UK’s favourite family holiday destinations. Beach resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai have been largely unaffected by events elsewhere in the country, with families still attracted by Egypt’s year-round sunshine and selection of luxury hotels. The resort’s now world-renowned diving is also a highlight. The 1950s saw famous diving pioneer Hans Has ‘discover’ diving in Sharm El Sheikh, paving the way for today’s facilities, which include snorkelling, diving and even specially designed children’s diving excursions.
New for 2012: Soho Square in Sharm El Sheikh is home to an ice rink, a bowling alley and numerous other great family attractions (not to mention the shopping). Every year they tip the cheesy entertainment scales, with acts such as former Eurovision stars Ruslana, and the likes of Peter Andre – if you’re in need of a good laugh, check their website’s listing pages.
Terrific trips in Tenerife
Tenerife is an island of diversity, making a favourite with families seeking culture, excitement or relaxation. Day trips are a great way to explore all that the island has to offer and include trekking up a volcano, boat trips to watch whales and dolphins, Thai themed water parks and enough hotels with children’s pools and activity clubs to suit even the fussiest of families. The weather on The Island of Eternal Spring is warm year round and doesn’t get too hot in the summer, averaging around 26C in August, meaning little ones won’t be uncomfortable.
New for 2012: 15 of Tenerife’s beaches have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag awards for 2012. Parents can rest easy knowing that the beaches here are clean, the waters are safe and you will never be short of ice cream shops or places to buy buckets and spades.
Find your next FABHoliday idea with FABTHINGS2do.
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