Latest news with #OntheBeach
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Pretty island' just 4 hours from UK often overlooked by tourists
Brits looking to escape the crowds in the Canary Islands may want to check out one gorgeous spot that often 'flies under the radar' because it's a little more reserved than other holiday hotspots A beautiful island that's just a four-hour flight from the UK has been tipped by travel insiders as a must-visit for those who want to escape the summer holiday crowds. La Palma isn't a secret holiday spot by any means, but according to experts it 'flies under the radar' when it comes to the Canary Islands, because the likes of Tenerife or Lanzarote have a bigger reputation for their party scenes and beaches. Still, for those who want sun, sea and sand as well as plenty of breathtaking scenery for those all-important Instagram snaps, La Palma is worth having on the list. According to On the Beach, one of the best months to visit is June when the weather is getting hot and sunny (temperatures tend to be around the high twenties), but the summer crowds haven't descended onto the resorts yet, since it's outside of the peak school holiday seasons. "The 'Pretty Island' lives up to its name, lush, volcanic and peaceful, especially in June. Unlike Tenerife or Gran Canaria, La Palma flies under the radar, perfect for peace seekers," the brand's chief customer officer Zoe Harris told the Mirror. If you're not tied to term dates, June isn't the only great month to visit La Palma. Like the other Canary Islands, it boasts year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures, so it can be a brilliant winter sun destination, especially if you're hoping to make the most of the countless hiking trails without having to deal with the summer heat. After all, La Palma is a must visit for any intrepid explorer, as it boasts a rugged coastline and rocky summits, so it's well worth lacing up your hiking boots for an adventure. One particularly popular spot is Playa Nogales, one of the top-rated on Tripadvisor. You'll need to take on a steep path to reach it, but when you do, you'll be treated to spectacular views courtesy of the black sand shores. "Of the best beaches I have seen, quiet, clean and with black sand," one happy visitor wrote. "To enter you have to go down a few steps, but it is very worth it. Bathing is difficult because of the waves, so I do not recommend bathing. A treasure in the palm." Speaking of beaches, the island has plenty on offer for the sun-seekers who want to lay out a towel and bask in the summer warmth. Most of the beaches boast black sands because of the volcanic landscape, but that doesn't mean you can't relax on them! For example, Puerto de Tazacorte beach is popular with families thanks to the large stretch of shore, the nearby restaurants and cafés, and amenities such as sunbed hire and a car park. If you're looking to add La Palma to the bucket list, the good news is that getting there is pretty simple. There are a variety of direct flights from the UK on offer with the likes of easyJet and TUI, with a flight time of approximately four hours and a half. Oh, and one top tip when you're booking your holiday - make sure you don't confuse it with Palma, the city in Majorca! Although also a brilliant holiday hotspot with beaches and a plethora of hotels, bars and restaurants, it won't have the same landscape and it will likely be far busier than you'd be after...
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourists urged to ditch 7 night trips for cheaper summer holidays
With Ireland's weather turning cold and blustery once again, many people will be dusting off their passports and planning a long-overdue summer holiday. But before you book that classic seven-night break, travel experts are urging tourists to rethink their plans - and potentially save hundreds of euros. Small changes to how you book, like tweaking your trip length or switching your departure day, can make a surprising difference to the final price. According to travel experts, the key is flexibility. Karen Williams of Eurocamp explained: "There are lots of holiday providers that don't have fixed departure or arrival days, so you can have complete flexibility over your travel dates." Her top tip is to not automatically book a seven, 10 or 14-night stay. Instead, "have a play about with the length of your trip" by adding or subtracting a few nights either way. She said: "If you're flying, choose a duration that allows you to get the best flight prices. Looking at earlier or later in the season can help to keep costs down." For families, the latter half of the school holidays, especially late August into early September, can often be cheaper than the peak weeks in July. Karen added: "For those travelling with children, look for the latter weeks of the school holidays running up to September which tend to be cheaper than the main part of the school holidays." Online travel agency On the Beach echoed this advice, revealing that the traditional week-long holiday might not be the bargain many assume it is. Their data from May, June, July and August last year showed that eight-night stays often worked out cheaper than those going away for six or seven-nights. For example, in August 2024, an eight-night trip averaged €320 per person per night - compared to €360 for six-nights. That's a saving of €40 per person, just for staying longer. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, explained: "Whenever you're getting ready to book, don't just settle for seven-night prices, test for different length of stays, you may find a great deal paying only a little extra for a bonus night away." Another smart tip they shared was to fly on a Thursday instead of a Saturday. On the Beach found that Irish departures on Thursdays were often cheaper last year. Zoe added: "Much like playing around with the number of days, also try looking at departure days, according to our research, last year, holidays worked out cheaper departing on a Thursday. This year, that might not be the case, but it's worth checking if you are flexible with which day you fly."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five 'buy' rated European travel stocks
Despite concerns about tariffs weighing on sentiment towards the travel sector, there are still stocks that are highly rated by analysts. Travel is among the sectors that has been impacted by fears that US president Donald Trump's trade war will lead to a recession, with concerns that an economic slowdown could see consumers spend less on holidays. However, the UK's trade deal with the US, announced last Thursday, and Washington's agreement with China to slash tariffs on each other's imports by 115% for 90 days, announced on Monday, have offered some relief to investors. That said, the nature of a longer-term trade agreement with China is still unclear, keeping an element of uncertainty looming over markets. Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Fears that US tariffs could squeeze consumers and cause a global economic slowdown have been weighing on sentiment in the travel sector. But with first-quarter earnings season drawing to a close, it's become clear that overall demand for travel and leisure has held up well." With that in mind, here are five stocks in the travel sector that analysts have given a "buy" rating. Shares in Tui ( tumbled after the German travel operator flagged a slight slowdown in summer bookings, in its second quarter results on Wednesday. Tui ( said that while summer 2025 bookings were "robust", they were "slightly down at -1%, based on flat risk capacity in a competitive environment with our focus on growing dynamically, protecting margin and reducing cost." The company posted a 1.5% increase in revenue for the second quarter to €3.7bn (£3.11bn). For the first half, revenue came in at €8.6bn, which was up nearly 8%, but was below Deutsche Bank's ( consensus of €8.7bn. Read more: UK economy grows 0.7% in first quarter of the year The company posted a loss of €156m for the first half, which was better than Deutsche Bank ( projections of a loss of €175m. Tui ( reiterated its 2025 fiscal year guidance of expecting top line growth of 5% to 10%, and an increase in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 7% to 10%. In a note published after the release of the results, Deutsche Bank's ( Andre Juillard and Shubhi Bansal reiterated their "buy" rating on the stock. They said: "Tui ( was deeply impacted during the COVID pandemic, but thanks to three consecutive rights issues and a solid recovery, this period finally seems to be over ... The balance sheet has been cleaned since FY23. "Tui ( is now back to a more solid financial situation ... The results are solid and margin protection clearly remains key focus of management. Moreover the stock's valuation remains particularly low." Holiday group On the Beach (OTB.L) said it was on track for another record year, in its interim results, published on Tuesday. Even so, shares in the company are flat year-to-date. In the first half of its fiscal year, On the Beach (OTB.L) posted a 7% increase in revenue to £64.2m and an 18% increase in profit before tax to £3.3m. The company said its board was confident about delivering profit for the fiscal year 2025 in line with the current consensus expectations, of adjusted profit before tax of £38.2m. Read more: Stocks that are trending today In a note on 3 April, Deutsche Bank's ( Richard Stuber had a "buy" rating on the stock and a spokesperson for the bank said that this rating has not since changed. "On the Beach (OTB.L) has reported TTV [total transaction value] growth, year-to-date of +10% yoy," he said. "Similar to its last trading outlook at its prelims in December, this is primarily bookings-led." "In order to normalise for Easter (falling in April this year vs. March last year), the group has reported that the TTV for holidays scheduled to travel from March to June is +17%," Stuber added. "This compares favourably, and implies market share gains versus Jet2, which reported summer package holidays +4% (albeit seat-only +19%) and Tui ( with summer bookings from the UK -2% yoy." British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG.L) reported last week, with its first quarter earnings beating expectations. The company reported operating profits of €198m in three months to the end of March, which was up €68m in the same period last year and was ahead of analyst estimates of €158m. Total revenue of €7.04bn, was up 9.6% on the €6.4bn that IAG (IAG) reported in the first quarter of last year. Stocks: Create your watchlist and portfolio Bank of America (BAC) analysts Muneeba Kayani, Othmane Bricha and Baptiste Bourdeau de Fontenay highlighted in a note on Monday that IAG (IAG.L) is around 80% booked for the second quarter. "IAG (IAG.L) shares are down circa 18% from the early February peak amid concern about a potential slowdown in Transatlantic demand," they said. "We think this is overdone and reiterate our buy rating." They added that IAG (IAG.L) has "lower corporate exposure in its revenue mix, which is more cyclical than during previous recessions given that the corporate demand recovery has been slower than leisure post-pandemic". In addition, BofA (BAC) analysts said that IAG (IAG.L) has the "best operating margin among network airlines". Full-year results from Ryanair ( are due out next week on Monday 19 May, with the company having guided to profit after tax (PAT) of between £1.55bn and £1.61bn. However, the company provided this guidance in its third quarter results at the end of January, prior to the escalation in Trump's tariff plans. At the time, Ryanair ( CEO Michael O'Leary said: "The final FY25 PAT outcome remains subject to avoiding adverse external developments between now and the end of March, including the risk of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, further Boeing delivery delays and ATC mismanagement/short-staffing here in Europe." Read more: UK pay growth slows as job market cools amid uncertainty Ryanair ( generated revenue of €2.96bn in the third quarter, which was up 10% on a year earlier, while profit after tax jumped €134m year-on-year to reach €149m. In a note on the airlines sector on 22 April, Bank of America's (BAC) Kayani, Bricha and Bourdeau de Fontenay, reiterated their "buy" rating on Ryanair. A spokesperson for BoA said this rating has not since changed. In last month's note, BofA (BAC) analysts said that in the full-year results that they would be looking for comments on summer bookings and pricing, as well as on cost guidance, an update on Boeing deliveries and "Ukraine plans in case of a reopening along with an update on aircraft deliveries". "We will also look for a potential additional buyback as the cash position remains strong," they said. They forecasted fourth quarter revenue of approximately €2.3bn and net income for the year of €1.6bn. The analysts said that the company's lower valuation was "unjustified given Ryanair's ( continued market share gains, strong balance sheet and cash flow." Fellow budget airline easyJet (EZJ.L) is also due to report next week, with its half-year results scheduled to be released on Thursday 22 May. In the first quarter, easyJet (EZJ.L) posted a headline loss before tax of £61m, though this was an improvement of £65m year-on-year. The airline said it had a positive outlook for the full year, consistent with consensus, and was on track to achieve its medium-term target of over £1bn profit before tax. Read more: Pension funds deal to back £50bn of investment for UK private markets and infrastructure BofA (BAC) analysts also had a "buy" rating on easyJet (EZJ.L) in their April note, which a spokesperson confirmed had not changed. "We will look for comments on summer bookings for the airline and the holidays segment, ticket fares, and unit costs [in the first half results]," BofA (BAC) analysts said. Once again, the analysts said that they viewed easyJet's (EZJ.L) lower valuation as "unjustified, given solid earnings prospect and strong balance sheet". Given that there is still some uncertainty on trade, investors appear to have shown some sensitivity to any signs of slowdown in company results, which will be key as more businesses in the sector report. Read more: Savers making costly 'bad decisions' around pensions as 15 million risk retirement poverty Bank of England interest rate-setters want inflation down before more cuts Why it's important to plan for retirement with your partner
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five 'buy' rated European travel stocks
Despite concerns about tariffs weighing on sentiment towards the travel sector, there are still stocks that are highly rated by analysts. Travel is among the sectors that has been impacted by fears that US president Donald Trump's trade war will lead to a recession, with concerns that an economic slowdown could see consumers spend less on holidays. However, the UK's trade deal with the US, announced last Thursday, and Washington's agreement with China to slash tariffs on each other's imports by 115% for 90 days, announced on Monday, have offered some relief to investors. That said, the nature of a longer-term trade agreement with China is still unclear, keeping an element of uncertainty looming over markets. Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Fears that US tariffs could squeeze consumers and cause a global economic slowdown have been weighing on sentiment in the travel sector. But with first-quarter earnings season drawing to a close, it's become clear that overall demand for travel and leisure has held up well." With that in mind, here are five stocks in the travel sector that analysts have given a "buy" rating. Shares in Tui ( tumbled after the German travel operator flagged a slight slowdown in summer bookings, in its second quarter results on Wednesday. Tui ( said that while summer 2025 bookings were "robust", they were "slightly down at -1%, based on flat risk capacity in a competitive environment with our focus on growing dynamically, protecting margin and reducing cost." The company posted a 1.5% increase in revenue for the second quarter to €3.7bn (£3.11bn). For the first half, revenue came in at €8.6bn, which was up nearly 8%, but was below Deutsche Bank's ( consensus of €8.7bn. Read more: UK economy grows 0.7% in first quarter of the year The company posted a loss of €156m for the first half, which was better than Deutsche Bank ( projections of a loss of €175m. Tui ( reiterated its 2025 fiscal year guidance of expecting top line growth of 5% to 10%, and an increase in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 7% to 10%. In a note published after the release of the results, Deutsche Bank's ( Andre Juillard and Shubhi Bansal reiterated their "buy" rating on the stock. They said: "Tui ( was deeply impacted during the COVID pandemic, but thanks to three consecutive rights issues and a solid recovery, this period finally seems to be over ... The balance sheet has been cleaned since FY23. "Tui ( is now back to a more solid financial situation ... The results are solid and margin protection clearly remains key focus of management. Moreover the stock's valuation remains particularly low." Holiday group On the Beach (OTB.L) said it was on track for another record year, in its interim results, published on Tuesday. Even so, shares in the company are flat year-to-date. In the first half of its fiscal year, On the Beach (OTB.L) posted a 7% increase in revenue to £64.2m and an 18% increase in profit before tax to £3.3m. The company said its board was confident about delivering profit for the fiscal year 2025 in line with the current consensus expectations, of adjusted profit before tax of £38.2m. Read more: Stocks that are trending today In a note on 3 April, Deutsche Bank's ( Richard Stuber had a "buy" rating on the stock and a spokesperson for the bank said that this rating has not since changed. "On the Beach (OTB.L) has reported TTV [total transaction value] growth, year-to-date of +10% yoy," he said. "Similar to its last trading outlook at its prelims in December, this is primarily bookings-led." "In order to normalise for Easter (falling in April this year vs. March last year), the group has reported that the TTV for holidays scheduled to travel from March to June is +17%," Stuber added. "This compares favourably, and implies market share gains versus Jet2, which reported summer package holidays +4% (albeit seat-only +19%) and Tui ( with summer bookings from the UK -2% yoy." British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG.L) reported last week, with its first quarter earnings beating expectations. The company reported operating profits of €198m in three months to the end of March, which was up €68m in the same period last year and was ahead of analyst estimates of €158m. Total revenue of €7.04bn, was up 9.6% on the €6.4bn that IAG (IAG) reported in the first quarter of last year. Stocks: Create your watchlist and portfolio Bank of America (BAC) analysts Muneeba Kayani, Othmane Bricha and Baptiste Bourdeau de Fontenay highlighted in a note on Monday that IAG (IAG.L) is around 80% booked for the second quarter. "IAG (IAG.L) shares are down circa 18% from the early February peak amid concern about a potential slowdown in Transatlantic demand," they said. "We think this is overdone and reiterate our buy rating." They added that IAG (IAG.L) has "lower corporate exposure in its revenue mix, which is more cyclical than during previous recessions given that the corporate demand recovery has been slower than leisure post-pandemic". In addition, BofA (BAC) analysts said that IAG (IAG.L) has the "best operating margin among network airlines". Full-year results from Ryanair ( are due out next week on Monday 19 May, with the company having guided to profit after tax (PAT) of between £1.55bn and £1.61bn. However, the company provided this guidance in its third quarter results at the end of January, prior to the escalation in Trump's tariff plans. At the time, Ryanair ( CEO Michael O'Leary said: "The final FY25 PAT outcome remains subject to avoiding adverse external developments between now and the end of March, including the risk of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, further Boeing delivery delays and ATC mismanagement/short-staffing here in Europe." Read more: UK pay growth slows as job market cools amid uncertainty Ryanair ( generated revenue of €2.96bn in the third quarter, which was up 10% on a year earlier, while profit after tax jumped €134m year-on-year to reach €149m. In a note on the airlines sector on 22 April, Bank of America's (BAC) Kayani, Bricha and Bourdeau de Fontenay, reiterated their "buy" rating on Ryanair. A spokesperson for BoA said this rating has not since changed. In last month's note, BofA (BAC) analysts said that in the full-year results that they would be looking for comments on summer bookings and pricing, as well as on cost guidance, an update on Boeing deliveries and "Ukraine plans in case of a reopening along with an update on aircraft deliveries". "We will also look for a potential additional buyback as the cash position remains strong," they said. They forecasted fourth quarter revenue of approximately €2.3bn and net income for the year of €1.6bn. The analysts said that the company's lower valuation was "unjustified given Ryanair's ( continued market share gains, strong balance sheet and cash flow." Fellow budget airline easyJet (EZJ.L) is also due to report next week, with its half-year results scheduled to be released on Thursday 22 May. In the first quarter, easyJet (EZJ.L) posted a headline loss before tax of £61m, though this was an improvement of £65m year-on-year. The airline said it had a positive outlook for the full year, consistent with consensus, and was on track to achieve its medium-term target of over £1bn profit before tax. Read more: Pension funds deal to back £50bn of investment for UK private markets and infrastructure BofA (BAC) analysts also had a "buy" rating on easyJet (EZJ.L) in their April note, which a spokesperson confirmed had not changed. "We will look for comments on summer bookings for the airline and the holidays segment, ticket fares, and unit costs [in the first half results]," BofA (BAC) analysts said. Once again, the analysts said that they viewed easyJet's (EZJ.L) lower valuation as "unjustified, given solid earnings prospect and strong balance sheet". Given that there is still some uncertainty on trade, investors appear to have shown some sensitivity to any signs of slowdown in company results, which will be key as more businesses in the sector report. Read more: Savers making costly 'bad decisions' around pensions as 15 million risk retirement poverty Bank of England interest rate-setters want inflation down before more cuts Why it's important to plan for retirement with your partnerError while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Extra.ie
24-04-2025
- Extra.ie
Huge surge in Irish bookings to Rome ahead of Pope's funeral
Online travel agent On the Beach has said it saw an unprecedented rise in bookings to Rome on Tuesday, just 24 hours after the Pope passed away. The 88-year-old died early on Easter Monday with Cardinal Kevin Farrell announcing the news via a statement released by the Vatican. It seems the Irish are seeking out a Roman holiday following the death of Pope Francis. He said: 'At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.' A later statement from the Vatican confirmed that the Pope died of a stroke and subsequent heart failure. Mourners from across the globe have already gathered in their droves at St Peter's Square in Vatican City, with many hopeful to pay their respects. Online travel agent On the Beach has said it saw an unprecedented rise in bookings to Rome on Tuesday, just 24 hours after Pontif passed away. Pic: Ben STANSALL / AFP)BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images Now, it seems as though thousands of Irish Catholics are set to make the journey across Europe to witness the historic funeral. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach told Irish Travel Trade Network: 'The Pope's passing prompted an outpouring of grief around the world and what followed was a flurry of bookings to Rome. 'With the Pope's burial due on Saturday and the historic process of the conclave beginning in two weeks' time, we know that people will want to be in the heart of Italy for this historic moment. The 88-year-old died early on Easter Monday with Cardinal Kevin Farrell announcing the news via a statement released by the Vatican. Pic: Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images 'We're expecting bookings to rise further over the next 24 hours following Tuesday's confirmation of dates of service.' A meeting of cardinals at the Vatican this week has now provided an update on plans for the pope's funeral. They have confirmed it will take place on Saturday 27 April, at 9am (Irish time). The funeral will set off a nine day mourning period, which will end in the process of choosing a new pope from 5 May.
