1:49pm Monday 28th September 2009
With hotel prices and air fares under pressure, particularly in short-haul destinations, travellers can relish the prospect of good deals on short breaks in some of Europe’s most attractive cities.
Lowcostholidays.com has confirmed a 45 per cent surge in the number of holidaymakers seeking three-night breaks against a month ago. Bookings are up 48 per cent by the same measure.
“For many customers, who have had their summer holiday, a three or four-night break is a popular escape as the nights close in. The cheap low-cost carrier fares are combining with very competitive hotel prices,” says its chief executive Paul Evans.
Lowcostholidays offers four-night breaks in Prague in October from £119, with three nights’ B&B in a three-star hotel in Rome from £191.
Short-break specialist Cities Direct has ‘four nights for the price of three’ offers in several locations, coupled with direct flights from Manchester. Prices for Marrakech on that basis start at £199, saving £25.
Four nights’ B&B in Malta starts at £229, saving £25, with flights also available from Edinburgh, while Malaga and the Costa del Sol starts at £249 for four nights, including flights.
Jet2holidays.com is stepping up its winter programme and flies out of Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Blackpool airports, among others.
Its new destinations this winter include Gran Canaria, Kos, Madeira and Tunisia, from £179 for seven nights’ self-catering in Torremolinos.
Jet2holidays has cut deposits on booking to £30 per person, while the baggage allowance is 22kg per person. Flights are mostly at friendly daytime hours, and packages include resort transfers.
Dan Hart, chief executive of travel search engine nowfly.co.uk, says that UK airlines are offering some aggressive fare deals to help fill capacity in autumn and winter.
“Many airlines are clearly focusing on their load-factor. If you’re hunting for a bargain, you’re likely to find competitive fares from a number of carriers,” he says.
“However, care should be taken to ensure that all ancillary costs such as booking fees, checked-in baggage and onboard food and drink costs do not distort the base price of your trip.”
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