When to book your Crete Villa for summer 2016
ABTA has advised holidaymakers to book their summer holidays early this year after new figures show a 6% year on year increase in bookings for overseas summer holidays. Bookings to Greece are currently at similar levels to 2015 but with similar booking patterns being reported by travel trade associations in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, this will result in increased demand and competition for accommodation, emphasising just how important it is to book early this year.
Crete Escapes has seen a big upturn in bookings during January 2016 which means that availability for some summer dates is now becoming limited. If you want your first choice of dates and villa, don't leave it too late this year.
The growth in popularity of the Western Mediterranean is being driven partly by a drop in business to traditionally popular destinations like Tunisia and Egypt, following terrorist incidents and changes to Foreign Office travel advice.
More customers also appear to be looking for the wider choice and good value on offer to early bookers. Mediterranean Eurozone countries have responded to local economic problems by lowering prices in bars and restaurants and with the pound still at a relatively high level against the euro, eurozone destinations offer good value for money.
Another factor behind this growth is the continuing readjustment in the overseas holiday market following the significant falls seen in 2008 and 2009 after the financial crisis and credit crunch, when overall UK passenger numbers fell by 15%. In 2015, UK airlines reported that passenger numbers had returned to pre- credit crunch levels. | 