UK heatwave sparks bargain hols bonanza Cut-price deals for stay-at-home Brits
TRAVEL firms are slashing the price of breaks abroad to encourage Brits to go overseas and leave the scorching UK summer behind.
Tour giants Tui are offering reductions on 2200 packages.
Rival Thomas Cook cut 10 per cent off the alreadydiscounted cost of July foreign trips in a three-day promotion.
That ended on Monday but the firm said: “We are looking at other compelling offers for the rest of the summer.”
An industry insider said: “The good weather seems to be postponing lots of customers’ decisions on their summer getaway.
“As a result, prices have really come down for late bookings.
“There are lots of bargains around, which is great for customers but less good for the companies involved.”
Analysts believe operators’ profits could be hit. Investment bank Morgan Stanley said: “The consensus among tour firms and travel agents is that overseas holiday bookings have weakened.”
Credit Suisse added: “The hot weather has added risk to near-term trading.”
Comparison site Travelsupermarket advised holidaymakers to look online for the best deals.
They said: “If you are flexible on departure date, flying midweek is often cheaper.
“Add in flexibility on exact destination and you will find some excellent last-minute deals.”
Among the site’s deals, for seven nights, are a Crete apartment leaving on July 29 for £342 per person, a Majorca hotel departing on July 30 for £307 and a Costa Dorada hotel leaving on August 1 for £284.