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We're all going on a summer holiday ... near home to save cash
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Affairs Editor21.07.08
The urge for long-haul holidays in exotic locations has taken a major hit thanks to the credit crunch and the Terminal 5 fiasco.
Tens of thousands of London families have decided to take their summer holidays closer to home to save money and avoid the "Heathrow Hell" factor, say travel agents.
Many are following the example of Gordon Brown and David Cameron and opting to stay in Britain.
Quality packages to France, Italy and Spain have also done well in the face of the euro's appreciation - seen as the first sign of a reaction against "DIY holidays" booked on the internet using budget airlines.
Villa operator Simply Travel said its bookings were up 12 per cent this year, with Corsica the top destination. Spokeswoman Rebecca Lee said: "Customers want to know the total cost of their holiday in advance and can budget accordingly rather than add components in stages."
Online agent lastminute.com said holidays to Italy, Austria and Switzerland were "flying off the shelves," and destinations just outside the Eurozone, such as Tunisia and Croatia, were also proving popular.
Some people are choosing to take a series of mini-breaks closer to home rather than go on one massive intercontinental trek - bookings at hotels in Brighton are up 70 per cent.
This is in line with trends known as "the prosecco recession" - finding ways of having a good time on a tighter budget - and "staycation" - using home as a base for oneor two-day trips in Britain.
John Bevan, managing director of lastminute.com, said: "Britons are trying to find ways to cut corners by spreading short breaks throughout the year but also finding cheaper ways to have a good time at home or abroad."
Sue Ockwell of the Association of Independent Tour Operators said: "People are definitely starting to think again how wonderful Europe is. There is such a lot on offer in Europe - the buildings the food, the culture. If you are stuck in a crowded airport and you know you've got 12 to 14 hours of flight ahead of you, there is a lot to be said for a two-hour hop to Rome.
"We have had a fashion for long haul, perhaps we are at the start of a new fashion for short haul."
The Association of British Travel Agents said it had seen a 20 per cent increase in demand for all-inclusive holidays as families tried to control their budgets.
Overall, Spain is still the biggest destination with France, Malta and the Canaries all doing well. Brittany Ferries said its bookings to ports in Brittany and Normandy were up five per cent on last year.
About 460,000 travellers are expected to pass through Heathrow this weekend, following the break-up of many state schools tomorrow. A further 260,000 will leave from Gatwick and 160,000 from Stansted.
British Airways figures show longhaul flights to Africa, the Middle East and the Americas have seen the biggest falls in bookings.
Reader views (1)
Perhaps someone will let us know how to visit London and save money? Speaking to a Parisian this week, he told me he thinks it is three times as expensive as Paris... Berlin is cheaper because of the unemployment, and perhaps London will go that way too...
- Jonathan Montmorency, Cooden, UK
