Which Holiday Hotspots are Selling Out?
This year over a million Irish holiday makers are trading the rain and gloom for some much needed vitamin-D and relaxation in ever popular holiday hotspots such as the Costa del Sol, the Algarve and the Balearic Islands – Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza (where the population of these islands is expected to swell to a whopping 13 million in July and August).
Why has Demand Increased?
The downside of increased demand in foreign holidays is that popular beach resorts like Santa Ponsa and Magaluf in Majorca, Marbella, Torremolinos and Fuengirola in the Costa del Sol and Albufeira in the Algarve, amongst other top destinations, will be busier than ever this year. There are a number of reasons for this – we experienced a huge increase in early bookings at the beginning of the year, especially from families. Early booking discounts, installment payment plans and a low €1 deposit per person were great incentives for those looking to secure their favourite beach properties and take the stress out of planning a family getaway. It’s also increasingly hard to find large 2 bed units if you wait to book later in the year.
Another major factor in the sudden surge of tourists to Spain and Portugal in Summer 2016 is the safety concerns around troubled destinations like Tunisia and Egypt. Parts of Eastern Europe have also been affected due to knock on effects of instability in neighbouring countries. The number of tourists from Germany, France and the Netherlands travelling to these regions has dramatically dropped and they are making a beeline for Southern Europe instead.
It’s not too late to Get Away!
If you still want to get to the sun but can’t find deals, availability or cheap flights from Ireland to popular resorts in Europe there are other options available. One of the new holiday hotspots growing in popularity this year is Roquetas de Mar. It has everything you could want from a Spanish holiday – sand, sunshine and sangría – and there’s still plenty of availability and great prices for July and August, compared to other well-known resorts.
We have an excellent selection of hand-picked 4* beach properties such as the Playaluna and Neptuno Hotels, just 35 minutes from Alicante airport. Short flight times from Ireland, easy transfers and use of the euro currency makes Roquetas de Mar really accessible to Irish tourists.
Another lesser known Spanish coastal region offering great value last minute holiday deals is the Costa Calida in Murcia. The beautiful, sweeping beaches of La Manga, San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcazares and San Javier are approximately 30 minutes’ drive from Murcia–San Javier airport. Nicknamed the “Warm Coast” of south-eastern Spain, this 250km stretch of Mediterranean coastline offers breath-taking sea views, safe beaches for swimming and relaxing holiday vibes.
Not only a winter sun holiday destination, some reckon the Canary Islands have one of the best climates in the world, as it enjoys average temperatures of 24 degrees in August. Even better, you can still find amazing holiday deals to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria in the busy summer months.
How to Find the Best Last Minute Deals?
If you’re looking for a last minute holiday to popular destinations, use our unique Deal Finder to take the stress out of searching for deals across multiple travel sites. All our accommodation is handpicked by our experienced travel experts for its central location, quality of services, choice of amenities and nearby attractions.
Now that you’ve heard about some great alternative holiday destinations and how to search ClickandGo.com for unbeatable deals in July and August – hurry up and book your summer break before holiday hotspots are completely booked out. Don’t miss an opportunity to unwind and work on that tan!
