Surge in Late Summer Holiday Bookings

After much uncertainty surrounding holidays with Brexit still looming and people feeling uneasy about the future of travel in and around Europe, it comes as a surprise that summer 2019 sales are up from last year. After a slow start things are finally picking up, so it looks like now is the time to book.

According to Industry analyst GfK there was “a huge turnaround” in trading around the middle of July. Going into greater detail about the surge in bookings, David Hope, GfK Senior Client Insight Director said: “It’s very much all-inclusive driven.”

When compared to this time last year, sales were extremely low which may have had something to do with the heatwave and World Cup. However, the turnover we have seen over the last few weeks has even surpassed those in 2017.

Why has there been a sudden surge?

The most popular destinations are Greece and Bulgaria, while Turkey and Tunisia have seen a significant growth with more and more people choosing to travel outside the Eurozone.

But there’s one thing these hotspots have in common – they’re extremely cost-effective. Not only will your money go further with meals and drinks outside your hotel extremely affordable, but they’re also home to some great value All Inclusive resorts.

Most popular destinations

With some fantastic deals in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey and Tunisia, it’s hardly surprising that these destinations are proving popular.

Bulgaria

Constantly ranked among the best value beach destinations in Europe, there’s no wonder tourists are flocking to Bulgaria’s sun-kissed Black Sea coastline. Not only does it offer great value for money with its cheap All Inclusive hotels and low local costs, but its reasonable sterling exchange rates is a bonus.

Greece

Greece is another favourite with its wallet-friendly islands. Proving one of the Mediterranean’s most affordable destinations, it’s fairly easy to eat out on backpacker’s funds. With so many draws from a world-famous history to idyllic beaches and a pumping nightlife scene – there’s a resort to suit every traveller and budget.

Turkey

Those looking to escape Europe altogether can’t seem to get enough of Turkey. After unstable times, it looks like this hotspot is back on the holiday radar. Recognised for its extreme beauty, favourable weather and cheap resorts like the much-loved Marmaris, Turkey has multiple lures. While, the recent Lira slump means travellers get more for their pounds.

Tunisia

Another top choice outside the Eurozone is Tunisia. After flights resumed, tourists have descended in large numbers. The biggest attraction being you can bag luxury All Inclusive accommodation for less, not to mention its warm summers and mild winters.

Why is All Inclusive so popular?

1. Great value – It’s is easy to assume that All Inclusive holidays are more expensive, but with more and more hotels offering fantastic value for money, they’re proving more affordable than ever.

2. No hidden costs – Holidaymakers can rest knowing everything has been paid for upfront without having to worry about any additional costs. It’s a great way to control your budget with only extras such as excursions to fork out for.

3. Something for everyone – Families can benefit from resort-style complexes with extensive activity programmes and child-friendly facilities, some even built with onsite waterparks. While, couples will be blown away by the high standard of luxury their receive with hotels offering adult only zones, waiter service by the pool and a la carte eateries for no extra charge.

4. Plenty of choice – With a range of restaurants onsite, around-the-clock cocktail bars and amazing entertainment along with fantastic sports facilities and a helping of pool areas, you won’t have to worry about feeling bored.

5. New experiences – With so much included in the total cost, an All Inclusive holiday may encourage you to try something new, whether that be an exciting watersport or a fitness class.

6. Location – This is often a big deciding factor, so it’s worth weighing up the average cost of food and drink in a destination to determine whether an All Inclusive stay works out cheaper.

How does August look?

Despite not being able to predict the future, we believe August could follow suit. It seems the unpredictable British weather is back with rain forecast in the coming weeks, which could result in a surge of late bookings. Families are likely to opt for breaks in the sun where they can guarantee the weather over UK staycations.