Glum Brits book last-minute holidays abroad in bid to escape miserable weather
Brits are dashing to book last-minute holiday bookings abroad due to record rainfall in the UK, travel agencies say.
Bookings in July for travel in August more than quadrupled, Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents about 20 per cent of travel agents, has confirmed. One tourist, desperate for some sun, says she'll pay "pay whatever" for a last-minute getaway.
Katie Lodge, a hairdresser from Eastbourne, East Sussex, said: "You can't really get cheap last-minute holidays anymore. I don't want to book time off for my holiday and for it to be raining all week. I'm wearing winter clothes and it's August. I don't mind what it takes, I'll be getting on the plane."
Her determination is shared by scores of Brits following heavy rainfall across the country in July and August. More than 43mm of rain fell in Scarborough, North Yorkshire – almost half of August’s average rainfall - in just a few hours on Saturday. Storm Antoni caused localised flooding and the evacuation of homes in some areas.
It's caused 18 per cent of bookings with Advantage Travel Partnership within the last month to be for travel in August. This is a much higher proportion than the four per cent the group, a network of independent travel agents, would normally expect, boss Julia Lo Bue-Said told BBC News.
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Speaking to the Mirror, a spokesperson for Holiday Warehouse, an independent travel agency in Solihull, West Midlands, said the business has seen a peak in last-minute getaway bookings too.
"Bookings increased as soon as the forecast was for rain for most of July. So people were booking trips for July and August, and that trend remains," they said.
"People are desperate for some summer sun, which we haven't really had in the UK, so they're looking for anything abroad or even cruises. Cruises have been particularly popular since the end of the pandemic.
"We specialise in things like cruises and all-inclusive deals and these packages tend to keep the cost down, which is of course important in a cost-of-living crisis."
And as the cost-of-living crisis has hit families hard, the Mirror has started a campaign to help cash-strapped families have holidays this year. More than two million families cannot afford a one-week break at any time of year. There are 1.46 million families struggling to pay for just a day out together, an Office for National Statistics study found.
As a result of the economic situation, prices are up on last year, and Sean Tipton, from the travel association Abta, said many destinations do not have much availability left. It means less choice for people searching for short-notice deals.
"You can get them if you are flexible, not too fussed about which country, which destination - but I'd also recommend thinking about going in September, October, even November," he said.
Families were, last month, reticent to fly to parts of Southern Europe, because of huge wildfires. Greece, in particular, endured the blazes, which tore through parts of the countryside. These happened due to a devastating heatwave, caused by climate change.
But nevertheless, both OnTheBeach and Jet2 said customers are keen to grab flights to Europe, and further afield, to relax in the sun.
Trevor Ridler, regional manager for Fred Olsen Travel Agent in Eastbourne, said he had seen last-minute bookings rise 25 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite cost-of-living pressures.
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He added: "People are still wanting that holiday and they are willing to make sacrifices to get that. For many clients, the holiday is the most important thing. Maybe over that bit of decorating."
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