Book holidays now to beat price hikes
Air fare and accommodation costs set to soar
FAMILIES are being warned to book summer breaks early to avoid price rises of at least 10 per cent linked to the Brexit vote.
Christmas and the New Year is the busiest booking time for travel firms, with customers being wooed with a series of promotions.
Companies are promising big savings and free child places for those who book early for summer 2017. However, industry research suggests travel companies face a squeeze that will inevitably lead to higher prices later this year.
The fall in the value of the pound following the Brexit vote means the cost of booking hotels, villas and apartments in Europe and the US has gone up. At the same time, the price of airline fuel, bought in dollars, threatens to put up the cost of fares. A 10 per cent rise would add £300 to the cost of a £3,000 holiday and some research suggests prices could rise by up to 20 per cent. It comes as a survey of 2,000 adults by travel protection body Atol suggested 6.5million people would book breaks between yesterday and New Year’s Eve – more than a million a day.
Spain was set to be the most in-demand destination, with 28 per cent of people choosing it, followed by Italy (19 per cent) and Greece (13 per cent).
The holiday industry has faced two years of turmoil following terror attacks in previously popular destinations such as Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey.
With little sign of improvement, firms are promoting Vietnam, Cuba and Singapore as long-haul alternatives. They say mainland Italy, Sardinia, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa and the US are also likely to win tourists turning away from countries tarnished by terror.
A study by online firm Travelzoo found four in five UK travel companies are expecting price rises. Managing director Joel Brandon-Bravo warned families to book early to avoid the worst. He said people should also consider trying new destinations, beyond the normally popular Spain and Greece.
He said: ‘For those looking to minimise the impact of these imminent price hikes we would advise consumers to book early for peak holiday periods such as summer 2017. They should also consider destinations that have more favourable exchange rates and be open-minded about which country they visit.’
A survey by Thomson found, despite concerns about cramped conditions on holiday flights, more than three in four people are happy to travel more than nine hours.
Several package holiday firms are offering trips to Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. Cuba’s Cayo Santa Maria island, connected to mainland by a 30-mile causeway, has also been added to online brochures.
Thomas Cook said Brexit had triggered more interest in allinclusive resorts, where travellers are less vulnerable to exchange rate changes. As a result, it has increased the number of all-inclusive deals to destinations other than Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia by 20 per cent.
‘Be open-minded over destinations’