BARRHEAD Travel, one of the UK’s leading travel agents, is expecting a surge in bookings this weekend as people rush to secure their much-anticipated summer holiday and make the most of the January deals.
With the festivities over, the cooler temperatures and shorter days have people thinking ahead to their summer breaks. The first Saturday of January – informally known as ‘Sunshine Saturday’ by the travel industry – is typically the most popular day of the year for travel bookings as people start planning their holidays.
The first weekend of the year is one of Barrhead Travel’s busiest booking periods and it is anticipating high demand over the weekend. Many people, particularly families, will be eager to snap up early booking discounts, for the most popular travel periods such as the school summer, Easter and October holidays.
Preparation for ‘Sunshine Saturday’ comes after Barrhead Travel, one of the UK’s leading travel agencies, celebrated its “best ever” trading year in 2023 as demand for travel continues to soar. The Glasgow-headquartered travel agency group celebrated 12 consecutive record-breaking months since last year, and year to date bookings for the group were up by 26 percent, compared with 2019 sales which, before 2023, was the company’s best trading year.
All inclusive holidays remain the most popular type of holidays for summer 2024, accounting for more than 25% of bookings. Alongside demand for the all inclusive holiday there is a noticeable growth in cruising, particularly amongst families and couples, which Barrhead Travel says points to interest in seeking great value-for-money.
So far, family favourites such as Tenerife, Mallorca and Turkey are amongst the top spots for Barrhead Travel holiday bookings this summer while cruising from Southampton and Miami is also favoured by all types of holidaymakers.
Barrhead Travel has a range of deals for customers to take advantage of this January, including:
Tunisia – Hammamet
4* TMK Flora Park
2nd July 2024
7 Nights | Half Board
2-minute walk from the beach · Enjoy a luxury treatment or Hammam at the hotel spa · Surrounded by a beautiful garden creating a peaceful atmosphere
From £499pp
Flying from Manchester
Greece – Crete
3* Bellos Hotel Apartments
27th September 2024
14 Nights | Self Catering
Quiet Location
Small and friendly
Pool with slides
From £589 Per Person
Flights from Liverpool
Tenerife – Costa Adeje
4* GF Isabel
15th June 2024
9 Nights | Self Catering
Canarian Style Village · Children’s splash park · Adults only sun terrace · Children’s club
Flights from Glasgow
Family 3 from £1429 | Family 4 from £2389
Costa Del Sol – Fuengirola
4* Benalmadena Beach
24th July 2024
7 Nights | Self Catering
Free Child Place
Flying from Belfast
Family 3 from £1979
Family 4 from £2479
Benidorm
4* Hotel Bristol
23rd April 2024
4 Nights | Self Catering
Located in Benidorm’s Old Town
Walking distance to beach
Modern, spacious rooms
Flights from London Gatwick
From £249 Per Person
Morocco – Agadir
4* Allegro Agadir Hotel
23rd April 2024
7 Nights | All Inclusive
Flying from Glasgow
From £569pp
Mexico – Cancun
4* Riu Tequila
12th April 2024
12 Nights | All Inclusive
Complimentary beach shuttle
Flights from London Heathrow
From £1659pp
Dubai
5* The Retreat Palm Dubai Mgallery by Sofitel
22nd May 2024
7 Nights
On the exclusive coastline of Palm Jumeirah’s East Crescent
Rayya Wellness Centre in resort
Flights from Edinburgh
From £989pp
Antigua – Hodges Bay
3* Ocean Point Hotel & Spa
3rd June 2024
7 Nights | All Inclusive
Adults Only
Flying from London Gatwick from £1439pp
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, Sales & Marketing Director of Barrhead Travel, said:
“When the festive period draws to an end, many of us start thinking about locking in our holidays for the year ahead. It’s one of the best times of year to book – not only because many operators, hotels and airlines have fantastic January sales on, but having a holiday to look forward to later in the year is always welcome.
“This weekend in particular, ‘Sunshine Saturday,’ is usually the busiest booking weekend and we’re very excited to be showcasing incredible deals, savings, added value and low deposits for our customers currently planning their annual holiday calendar.
“We’re seeing signs that people will continue to prioritise holidays this year. Longer durations and more upgrades are a common theme at the moment, while multi-generational breaks continue to make up a notable portion of our bookings. Spending time with loved ones is a priority and getting the family together for a holiday is a great way to make cherished memories together.
“The desire to book with a travel agent increased during 2023 and that trend is set to grow this year. Our experts across the country are very excited to work with their customers – old and new – to help people get the holiday they’ve been dreaming of.”
Barrhead Travel’s retail network is open seven days a week until late as well as offering evening support through their online service, call centres and social media channels. Find your nearest Barrhead Travel store by visiting https://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/storelocator
