Holiday firms forecast a 'booking bonanza' for long-awaited sun and ski breaks

families book holiday beach ski trips

Families are booking their first getaways in two years (Image: getty)

They are predicting the busiest weekend since Covid – and one says it could be its biggest-selling spell of all time.

Experts said the easing of travel curbs, coinciding with the first post-Christmas pay day, has sparked the boom.

As well as summer seaside package breaks, tourists have been keen to catch the end of the ski season with cut-price trips to European resorts.

Katie McAlister, of tour operator Tui, said: “Appetite to travel is stronger than ever.

“Customers who may not have been abroad for more than two years are now taking advantage of flexible booking and payment options, plus excellent deals.”

Simon Cooper, of online giant On the Beach, said the next few days could be the busiest in its 18-year history.

He predicted sales to equal, and possibly exceed, pre-Covid levels. He says breaks in the Greek islands, Turkey and Dubai are among the most popular. The demand was stoked by the scrapping earlier this month of the rule that fully jabbed tourists must take a pre-departure test.

Mr Cooper said: “We would expect it to be a bumper weekend, with people who’ve been researching holidays all the way through the month jumping on and booking.”

Claire Bentley, managing director of British Airways Holidays, said: “Over the last few weeks, holiday searches have surged in line with UK Government announcements around relaxed testing rules.

“Customer confidence is returning, which, combined with pent-up demand for travel, is very positive for the industry’s recovery.”

Ms Bentley said beach holidays in Dubai, Barbados and Tenerife were among the most-searched destinations.

She added: “Quality time with friends and family is top of the list and travel is a great facilitator for this.” Helen Roberts, of travel firm Kuoni, said orders were building for “bucket list” breaks like the Maldives, Mauritius, the Caribbean, Africa and Italy.

She said: “The easing of testing measures combined with a January pay day means lots of people will be ready to press the book button this weekend.”

EasyJet is to boost the number of holiday flights, as business looked its best in two years.

And Saga says cruise bookings aimed at over-50s are “positive” for this year and 2023.

Ski resorts were enjoying a surge as tourists took advantage of falling prices to plan their first trip in two years.

Post Office Travel Money said the cost of food and drink, ski passes, equipment hire and lessons was down by up to 20 percent.

It said the cheapest destination of 28 surveyed was Bansko, Bulgaria, where a six-day deal for skis and boots costs £228 for a family of four – down 12 percent.

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Even in top resorts like Saas-Fee in the Swiss Alps, kitting out a family was down three per cent to £581.

Nick Boden, of Post Office Travel Money, said: “Bulgaria and Italy are again looking great value, but both Andorra and Finland are good alternatives.”

Yvonne Rosenstatter, of Austrian firm Saltzburgerland, said: “We’ve really missed the British tourists. They are so important to our economy and frankly, we can’t wait to have them back.”

Rachel Arkin, resort director of Murren in Switzerland, said: “The UK’s relaxation of testing requirements can only be a good thing.”

Marc Canavaggia, of campsite operator Sunelia Vacances, said: “We are beginning to see many valued Brits return.

“Abolishing costly testing requirements is a win-win.”

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COMMENT BY NIGEL THOMPSON

If you are not booking your sunshine summer holiday this weekend then you jolly well should be.

There is no better time to bag a bargain. The value out there is superb, but it’s not going to last for ever. So head to your friendly high street travel agency or go online to secure that getaway now.

Travel and testing restrictions have eased and the battered British holiday industry is tempting us with a dazzling array of deals. Dive in!

Your sun-soaked cocktail and Kindle time by the pool is beckoning at the prime Mediterranean region hotspots, including Spain and Greece, plus Turkey, Italy and Portugal.

Though do bear in mind we are not the only country booking summer hols now.

The likes of the Scandinavian nations and Germany will be piling in too, so don’t hang about.

However, do not go abroad without travel insurance, get it in place as soon as you book.

I also recommend package holidays with the security of UK Civil Aviation Authority ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) protection.

If you are arranging your own travel, then pay on a credit card for cover via section 75 of the UK Consumer Credit Act, though this may not apply to bookings made via a third party.

  • Nigel Thompson – Travel Editor

source: express.co.uk