CityLife

Show aims to help beat holiday crunch

BACK IN TOWN: The Holiday and Travel Show

THE dark clouds of recession could provide an even greater incentive for families to head away for a spot of sunshine this summer.

But those who do sign on the dotted line for a foreign break will be looking for the bargain of their lives.

The strength of the Euro against the pound – around 90p for every Euro yesterday – means the price of a pint and all-day breakfast in traditional destinations has soared. That will rule out the bulk of Euro-zone resorts for many of us.

Then there is the worry of booking now and spending the next six months concerned that you might lose your job. And what happens if the travel company goes bust?

Manchester-based Co-operative Travel says almost 90 per cent of customers who had booked a holiday in January last year, have not done so this year as uncertainty over the future hits home.

However, this is expected to rise as the year goes on because, despite everything, the summer holiday is a non-negotiable treat.

Trevor Davis, head of retail distribution at Co-op Travel, says: “ABTA has reported this week that 37 per cent of holidaymakers view their summer holiday as their most prized annual purchase and this will be reflected in increases in bookings as the year goes on.”

So where to go? According to Kathryn Thomas, managing director of the M.E.N.’s in-house holiday company, Go Travel, there are still plenty of affordable options for people flying out of Manchester Airport.

She suggests Turkey, Egypt and Mexico as destinations which have matured to meet the tastes of British tourists while still offering value to visitors with Sterling to spend.

“Turkey and Egypt have always been good value,” she says. “This year, because of the Euro, they are going to be even better. Mexico is very popular too and has an awful lot to offer.”

Thomas says the savvy traveller will save money by not only choosing carefully where to travel, but when.

Those who can avoid peak school holiday times and travel in the “shoulder” periods will pay a fraction of high season price, she says.

Yearn

But she doesn’t have any good news for people who yearn for places like France, Spain and Portugal.

“Don’t forget, the tour operators are paying for rooms in Euros too, so they won’t be in a position to pass on significant discounts. I think you might find them reducing capacity.”

For those who want something a little more exotic, she suggests Bermuda as the ideal “near far” destination.

“You have to fly from Gatwick,” she says. “But it has that far-flung feel… even if it’s only six hours flying time away.”

And for the more adventurous traveller in search of a developing destination, she suggests the former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde.

“It is 100 per cent still possible for people to afford a family holiday in the sun,” Thomas adds. “There will also be a huge ‘sod it’ factor influencing people who just choose to go away. When you compare what you can buy a foreign holiday for with what the same money will buy you in this country, going overseas is still hugely attractive.

People might choose to reduce the length of their stay from 14 nights to 10 or even seven, but they’ll still want to go away.”

Dermot Blastland, boss of Thomson and First Choice, two of the UK’s largest brands, agrees that the weak pound will not deter everyone from travelling in 2009.

“I have a feeling as we get into late January, people are going to say ‘It’s the middle of winter, it’s dark when you get up in the morning, it’s dark when you come home from work …’ And they’ll think I just want to look forward to a holiday.” “All our research, and that of other independent companies, says consumers think they would rather give up other things than miss our time together with our family in the sun.

“Holidays are now deemed an essential requirement for re-charging the batteries, rather than a luxury.”

He says bookings are already up from Manchester for Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, the Dominican Republic and Varadero in Cuba.

“Sharm-El-Sheik is really good value for money, too,” he adds.

He believes travellers are controlling their budgets better. and settling on a ceiling for holiday spends.

“They are going for all-inclusive holidays,” he explains. “They don’t want any surprises about how expensive it is in the resort itself.

“If they book a package where everything is included, they know what they are getting in advance, what their budget is - and save accordingly.

“If you are sensible, you can book a package with a reputable company who will guarantee the hotel is of a minimum standard.

Saving holiday time

"And, if you need your money to go further, go for 10 or 11 nights instead of 14, saving holiday time as well as money.”

But he warns: “People think they should wait till the last minute to get the best deals. Actually this year that is unlikely to be the case.

“With several mergers last year and the collapse of XL and others, there is less capacity in the market. It’s more likely you will get the best prices for booking early, especially if you want to travel during the school holidays.”

Blastland says his most important advice for travellers is to make sure their money and holidays are financially protected.

“The recent collapses have brought home that if you book through a company that has signed up to the ATOL (Air Travel Operators Licence) scheme, your money is safe and protected by the government.

“We recently did research that showed 90 per cent of holidaymakers wanted financial protection for their holiday, but 50 per cent also wrongly believed if they booked a flight direct with a scheduled airline or low cost carrier, their money was protected.

“The benefits and values of traditional holiday companies have been brought back to people’s attention.

“Doing it all yourself isn’t always quite as smart. If it goes wrong, you are stranded – it can cost a lot of money to get back.”

Summing up, he adds: “We are not quite as well off. The pound may have been over-valued, and maybe we are now paying the true cost.

“Yeah, sure a little bit of the cheap overseas holiday bubble has burst. They’ll still be terrific value for money - but not nonsensical prices. But holidaymakers will still get great value.”

The Holiday and Travel Show will be opens for business at Manchester Central (formerly G-Mex) from Friday until Sunday between 10am and 5pm. Doors are open between 10am and 5pm. Visit holidaywith go.travel to check the latest deals.