Latest news with #JuliaLoBueSaid
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Prices of all-inclusive family package holidays soar by 26% amid cost-living-crisis - but two popular destinations buck the trend
British tourists are facing steep price increases for all-inclusive family package holidays abroad this year to popular destinations such as Spain, Cyprus and Turkey. The price of a week to Cyprus has surged to an average of £1,166 per person for seven nights next month - up by 23 per cent from £950 in August last year. But trips to the United Arab Emirates have seen the biggest rise - a 26 per cent jump from £1,210 to £1,525, according to data compiled by TravelSupermarket. Holidays to Spain have gone up in cost by 9 per cent from £835 to £914, while stays in Greece have increased by 12 per cent from £926 to £1,038. Turkey, which has increasingly become a lower-cost alternative compared to other European destinations closer to the UK, is up by 15 per cent from £874 to £1,003. Portugal has risen 4 per cent from £936 to £972, while Egypt is up 20 per cent from £981 to £1,176 and Malta has increased 8 per cent from £804 to £866. Out of the top ten most searched countries, only Italy and Tunisia have seen prices drop – down 11 per cent to £1,129 and 4 per cent to £763 respectively. The figures were published by BBC News which reported travel agents are saying UK tourists are now booking shorter stays or travelling mid-week for a cheaper price. The data was based on online searches on TravelSupermarket between April 18 and June 17, for all-inclusive, seven-night family holidays in August 2024 and 2025. Julia Lo Bue-Said, from the Advantage Travel Partnership representing travel agents, said: 'These increases simply keep pace with the broader cost of doing business.' She also told MailOnline that the rises 'reflect the reality of higher operational costs, from increased energy bills affecting hotels, to elevated food costs impacting restaurants and rising wages across the hospitality sector'. But Ms Lo Bue-Said pointed out that some customers still had plenty of money to spend, given they were upgrading to more premium all-inclusive packages and booking more expensive seats on long-haul flights to destinations such as Dubai. She continued: 'Despite the continued cost-of-living crisis, the desire to travel has shown no sign of slowing down, and the luxury travel market is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry. 'As people look to make the most of the holidays they take, there is an increase in demand for luxury breaks and more personalised service, which again increases prices.' Ms Lo Bue-Said said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the all-inclusive holiday, and today they represent over 40 per cent of sales through its travel agency network. Chris Webber, head of deals at TravelSupermarket, said: 'Like most things, family summer holidays have become more expensive over the past 12 months — and our data at TravelSupermarket backs that up. 'We've seen price rises of between 4 and 26 per cent across popular destinations like Spain, Greece, Turkey, the UAE and Portugal. 'These increases are likely tied to rising fuel prices driving up flight costs, along with hotel expenses rising due to energy costs — which in turn pushes up food and drink costs for all-inclusive packages.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Holidays to Spain, Cyprus and Turkey soar in price
All-inclusive family package holidays from the UK have jumped in price for some of the most popular destinations, including Spain, Cyprus and Turkey. The average price for a week in Cyprus in August has gone up by 23%, from £950 per person to £1,166, figures compiled for the BBC by TravelSupermarket show. Of the top 10 most-searched countries, Italy and Tunisia are the only ones to see prices drop by 11% and 4% respectively compared with 2024. Travel agents say holidaymakers are booking shorter stays or travelling mid-week to cut costs. The top five destinations in order of most searched are: Spain, Greece, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Portugal. They have all seen price rises. Trips to the UAE have seen the biggest jump, up 26% from £1,210 in August 2024 to £1,525 this year. Cyprus had the next biggest rise and came in at number nine in terms of search popularity. The figures are based on online searches, made on TravelSupermarket from 18 April to 17 June, for all-inclusive, seven-night family holidays in August 2024 and 2025. While this snapshot of data reveals a general trend, costs will vary depending on exactly where a family goes and when they book. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of travel agent industry group Advantage Travel Partnership, said the price rises were down to a number of factors. "These increases simply keep pace with the broader cost of doing business and reflect the reality of higher operational costs, from increased energy bills affecting hotels, to elevated food costs impacting restaurants and rising wages across the hospitality sector," she said. But she added the group had seen evidence that some holidaymakers still had money to spend. Some customers were upgrading to more premium all-inclusive packages and booking more expensive cabin seats on long-haul flights to locations such as Dubai, she said. Holiday destinations are a frequent topic of conversation at the hairdressers. At Voodou in Liverpool, Ellie Mooney talked to us as she got a last-minute trim before jetting off to Turkey. "We've been going for the past 20 years or so. We normally book a year ahead then save up in dribs and drabs," she said. Hope Curran, 21, was getting her highlights done and she and her partner had just got back from holiday in Rhodes in Greece. "We did an all-inclusive trip because it was a bit more manageable, but it's not cheap," she said. End of life care nurse Francesca Ramsden, 35, from Rossendale, has made it her mission to cut the cost of holidays, saving where she can and hunting for a bargain at every turn. "My husband is sick of me, he'll ask 'have you found anything yet' and I'll say no, rocking in the corner after looking for 10,000 hours. "The longest I've booked a holiday in advance is two to three months and I find that the closer you get, the cheaper it is." She said she spent hours trying to save as much as possible on a May half-term break to Fuerte Ventura for her family of four which came in at £1,600. She now shares her budgeting tips on social media. "I've mastered the art of packing a week's worth of clothes into a backpack. I always book the earliest or latest flight I can, and midweek when it's cheaper." Luke Fitzpatrick, a travel consultant at Perfect Getaways in Liverpool, said people were cutting the length of their holidays to save money. "Last year we did a lot for 10 nights and this year we've got a lot of people dropping to four or seven nights, just a short little weekend vacation, just getting away in the sun," he said. He has also seen more people choosing to wait until the last minute to book a trip away. "People are coming in with their suitcases asking if they can go away today or tomorrow," he added. "Yesterday we had a couple come in with their passports and we got them on a flight last night from Liverpool to Turkey." Choose a cheaper location. A UK holiday eliminates travel and currency costs, but overseas destinations vary a lot too To decide whether all-inclusive will save you money, first look at local costs for eating out and don't forget about drinks and airport transfers Travel outside the school holidays if you can Booking early can help, especially if you have to travel at peak times Check whether you can get a cheaper flight by travelling mid-week Haggle. Call the travel agent to see if they can better the price you found online Choose destinations where the value of the pound is strong. This year that includes Turkey, Bulgaria and Portugal Source: Which? and TravelSupermarket
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Package holidays to Spain, Cyprus and Turkey soar in price
All-inclusive family package holidays from the UK have jumped in price for some of the most popular destinations, including Spain, Cyprus and average price for a week in Cyprus in August has gone up by 23%, from £950 per person to £1,166, figures compiled for the BBC by TravelSupermarket the top 10 most-searched countries, Italy and Tunisia are the only ones to see prices drop by 11% and 4% respectively compared with agents say holidaymakers are booking shorter stays or travelling mid-week to cut costs. The top five destinations in order of most searched are: Spain, Greece, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Portugal. They have all seen price to the UAE have seen the biggest jump, up 26% from £1,210 in August 2024 to £1,525 this year. Cyprus had the next biggest rise and came in at number nine in terms of search figures are based on online searches, made on TravelSupermarket from 18 April to 17 June, for all-inclusive, seven-night family holidays in August 2024 and this snapshot of data reveals a general trend, costs will vary depending on exactly where a family goes and when they book. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of travel agent industry group Advantage Travel Partnership, said the price rises were down to a number of factors."These increases simply keep pace with the broader cost of doing business and reflect the reality of higher operational costs, from increased energy bills affecting hotels, to elevated food costs impacting restaurants and rising wages across the hospitality sector," she she added the group had seen evidence that some holidaymakers still had money to spend. Some customers were upgrading to more premium all-inclusive packages and booking more expensive cabin seats on long-haul flights to locations such as Dubai, she said. Holiday destinations are a frequent topic of conversation at the Voodou in Liverpool, Ellie Mooney talked to us as she got a last-minute trim before jetting off to Turkey."We've been going for the past 20 years or so. We normally book a year ahead then save up in dribs and drabs," she Curran, 21, was getting her highlights done and she and her partner had just got back from holiday in Rhodes in Greece."We did an all-inclusive trip because it was a bit more manageable, but it's not cheap," she said. End of life care nurse Francesca Ramsden, 35, from Rossendale, has made it her mission to cut the cost of holidays, saving where she can and hunting for a bargain at every turn."My husband is sick of me, he'll ask 'have you found anything yet' and I'll say no, rocking in the corner after looking for 10,000 hours."The longest I've booked a holiday in advance is two to three months and I find that the closer you get, the cheaper it is."She said she spent hours trying to save as much as possible on a May half-term break to Fuerte Ventura for her family of four which came in at £1, now shares her budgeting tips on social media."I've mastered the art of packing a week's worth of clothes into a backpack. I always book the earliest or latest flight I can, and midweek when it's cheaper." Luke Fitzpatrick, a travel consultant at Perfect Getaways in Liverpool, said people were cutting the length of their holidays to save money."Last year we did a lot for 10 nights and this year we've got a lot of people dropping to four or seven nights, just a short little weekend vacation, just getting away in the sun," he has also seen more people choosing to wait until the last minute to book a trip away. "People are coming in with their suitcases asking if they can go away today or tomorrow," he added."Yesterday we had a couple come in with their passports and we got them on a flight last night from Liverpool to Turkey." How to save money on your holiday Choose a cheaper location. A UK holiday eliminates travel and currency costs, but overseas destinations vary a lot tooTo decide whether all-inclusive will save you money, first look at local costs for eating out and don't forget about drinks and airport transfersTravel outside the school holidays if you canBooking early can help, especially if you have to travel at peak timesCheck whether you can get a cheaper flight by travelling mid-weekHaggle. Call the travel agent to see if they can better the price you found onlineChoose destinations where the value of the pound is strong. This year that includes Turkey, Bulgaria and PortugalSource: Which? and TravelSupermarket
Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Times
When can UK travellers use EU passport e-gates? What we know so far
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports soon as part of a new UK-EU deal, the Government has announced, in a move that it says should end 'the dreaded queues at border control'. The EU has promised to ease checks on British travellers at borders and to drop objections to allowing British tourists using e-gates. The deal says 'there will be no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from European Union' after tougher biometric checks come in later this year. Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. Meanwhile, Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA — the Travel Association said that the UK-EU agreement 'will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin'. Got a trip coming up? Here's what you need to know about the changes. After the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, British travellers started being considered as 'visa-exempt third-country nationals' when it came to arriving and departing EU airports. This meant that British travellers could no longer use the passport e-gates, and instead had to join (an often longer) queue for a stamp in their passport and a manual check by EU border officials. British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. Following the new UK-EU agreement announced on Monday, May 19, British citizens will soon be allowed to use e-gates at many European airports, which is expected to reduce waiting times. It is also unclear whether member states will be required to give British travellers access; the deal only promises 'use of e-gates where appropriate'. The EU is planning to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, which will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped. Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years. If passengers refuse to supply it, they will be denied entry. It is therefore likely that more EU airports will allow British travellers access to the e-gates after the launch of the EES, as this will remove the need for passports to be stamped and remove any legal barriers to access. Note that a select number of EU airports already allow this with additional checks in place. Travellers should also note that this new agreement will not change the current '90-day-rule'. Eligible non-EU citizens are allowed to spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa; the EES will digitise travel records to ensure that this limit is not breached, while increasing border security. • Read more about EES here Yes — if you're a pet owner. The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports. • When does the Etias scheme start for UK travellers? Everything you need to know• 100ml liquids rule: which UK airports have changed restrictions?
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
British passport holders to be allowed to use e-gates at more EU airports
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal, the Government has announced. Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. The issue has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. After the agreement with the EU, the Government said in a statement: 'British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. She told the PA news agency: 'The frustrating experience of lengthy border control queues upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so the expanded access to e-gates across Europe comes as a tremendous relief. 'With this streamlined system in place, we anticipate both holidaymakers and business travellers will enjoy a much smoother, more efficient airport experience, allowing them to begin their journeys without unnecessary delays.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: 'This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.' British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at travel trade organisation Abta, said: 'Since Brexit, Abta has been calling for changes that will make travel easier, and we're pleased to see the UK and EU agree these steps. 'The EU is home to the UK's favourite overseas holiday destinations, and travel between our nations creates a huge boost for the UK economy and is a big driver of growth.' The EU is planning to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October. This will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped. Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years. There are fears this will cause queues at EU airports, as well as at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel's terminal in Folkestone and London's St Pancras railway station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys. Mr Petherbridge said: 'It is vital we continue to see good co-operation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.' The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.
