Bring me sunshine! Find out the top five destinations for beach-loving UK travel

Bargain-loving Brits have raced to snap up a slew of holiday bargains with high street travel agents reporting a surge of new customers.

The rush heralds a return to trusted outlets ​i​n further proof that peace of mind is now the number one consideration for cost-conscious families when travelling. 

Christmas and New Year bookings are 12% up on 2023 with the Canary Islands the most popular destination. 

Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria and perennially-popular Benidorm complete the top five places as travellers favour tried and tested package deals.

Meanwhile, bookings for next year are 15% ahead of 2023 with summer holidays with an average duration of 10 nights accounting for 55% of all reservations.

Tenerife, Majorca, and Costa Blanca occupy the top spots for European getaways, while America, the Caribbean, and Thailand lead international destinations.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, Britain’s largest consortium of independent travel agents, said: “The appetite for travel continues to grow as consumers seek both value and experience.

“Our agent partners across the UK also continue to see new customers as people look to book their travel via a travel agent, not only to get access to great deals but also for peace of mind when travelling.”

While short-haul destinations in Europe remain favourite, long-haul travel is hugely popular as it caters for a range of budgets, from luxury to more affordable options. 

Dubai continues to attract those searching for family-friendly resorts, shopping and entertainment, while Thailand offers an appealing blend of affordability and exotic appeal.

Turkey is one of the fastest growing travel destinations due to the exceptional value for money it offers, as the Turkish lira tanks against the pound.

The most common length of stay remains eight nights, with half of all bookings for all-inclusive packages.

It comes as millions prepare to jet off with Heathrow is expecting its busiest December ever. Some 500,000 are set to depart from Stansted and Manchester, 400,000 from Luton, 200,000 from Birmingham and 175,000 from Bristol. 

Hundreds of thousands of passengers will leave from Scottish airports, while few slots remain on cross-Channel ferries or the Channel Tunnel.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA, the trade association for UK travel agents, said: “Christmas and New Year are one of the busiest times of year for overseas travel with millions heading off to spend quality time with family and friends.

“Holidaymakers are either looking for some winter sun or guaranteed snow as well as the opportunity for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves with someone else doing the hard work of cooking and clearing up after the festivities.

“We’re encouraging people to plan ahead when making their journeys; public transport and the roads will be very busy so always leave plenty of time to arrive at your departure port to avoid any difficulties.”

Britain’s frustratingly topsy-turvy weather has been an infuriating time for millions who are hankering for a break after a tumultuous year. 

In the UK it was the warmest spring on record but May was also the wettest spring since 1986.

Globally, July was the hottest on record, but the UK had its coolest summer since 2015, prompting many to abandon all hope of sunshine at home and head overseas. 

Visit England’s Christmas trip tracker survey suggests 8.8 million are planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK over the holiday providing a £2.5 billion boost to the economy.

The estimates are similar to last year but significantly ahead of the 5.8 million who travelled domestically in 2022. 

VisitEngland boss Patricia Yates said: “It is encouraging to see so many of us are planning a short break with friends and family during the festive season, boosting the economy through tourism. 

“We know from destinations across England that 2024 has been a very mixed picture for many areas, with the weather also having an impact.”