Late Summer Holiday Bookings Offer Significant Savings, Research Finds

Travelers looking to book last-minute summer holidays to Europe could see substantial savings, according to research from consumer group Which?. Prices for August package deals have fallen significantly since March, with some destinations now hundreds of pounds cheaper.

Which? analyzed the cost of over 17,000 August holiday packages offered by major providers like easyJet Holidays, Jet2 Holidays, and Tui. The findings indicate that 53 out of 71 European destinations examined are now cheaper than they were five months prior. This price drop is attributed in part to easing political tensions that had previously driven up aviation fuel costs.

Tui reported a noticeable shift in booking habits, with more customers choosing to book closer to their departure date. This trend has led to more attractive late-package prices, particularly for August travel. Flexibility in departure dates, airports, or destinations can lead to the biggest savings.

For example, a week-long package holiday to Turkey's Turquoise Coast in August now averages £808 per person, a 14% decrease from March prices. This translates to a £528 saving for a family of four. Popular Turkish resorts like Fethiye have seen even steeper price reductions, with August holidays costing £1,042 in July compared to £1,759 in March, a saving of £717 per person.

In Greece, the island of Kefalonia and the Peloponnese peninsula are also offering savings. Package holidays to the Peloponnese are now 16% cheaper than in March, averaging £903 per person. Spain's Costa Dorada has seen prices drop from an average of £916 per person in March to £832 per person in July, a 9% decrease.

Portugal's Algarve region also presents savings, with a week-long summer break now costing an average of £1,100 per person, down £213 from March prices.

The Which? study included a wide range of European destinations such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. The average prices were calculated for seven-night holidays including flights, based on two people sharing a room, with various board types considered.

Additionally, holiday destinations in the Middle East are reportedly seeing a return of tourists. Following a period of uncertainty earlier in the year, regions like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are becoming more accessible. While the Foreign Office still advises caution in some areas, noting the situation can remain unpredictable, travel advice has been relaxed for many popular tourist spots. Prices in the UAE, for instance, are reported to be down more than 25% compared to last year.