Posts Tagged ‘cheap holidays’
The Canary Islands have been attracting large numbers of tourists to their breathtaking shores for over four decades. Presented as a perfect island paradise package, it’s hard to see why anyone would not want to visit. Yet, even these holiday gems have been suffering during these difficult economic times. Throughout 2009, falling visitor numbers have been regularly reported in the press and as the beaches fall quiet the islands have been spurred on to take this opportunity to undergo a refresh. It is hoped that this will encourage more tourists and stimulate the various local economies again. In the meantime, holiday-makers who want to experience reduced crowds and cheap Canaries hotels should head to the islands now.
The number of tourists visiting the Canary Islands, which include the popular Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, dropped by around 15% in the first five months of 2009 when compared with the same time the previous year, according to a recent report by the BBC. A difficult combination of a weakening pound against the euro and the collapse of major airlines and tour operators servicing the islands has been blamed for the problems.
The islands have not been sitting idly by, however. Local authorities are taking decisive action in the form of public investment of up to 120 million euros over the next four years to give the islands a ‘facelift’. They are not the only ones making a move, either. Private hotels are using the quiet period as an opportunity to renovate. This reinvention is being seen as one way to combat the recent problems and help restore the Canaries to their rightful place as a top holiday destination.
Future tourists will be able to reap the benefits of these measures. In the meantime, holiday-makers on a budget can enjoy deals on Canaries hotels that are as low as £15 per person per night in Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife – and can take advantage of a quieter holiday experience while they’re at it.
Relaxing on the beach and letting the cares of daily life drift away is a top pastime for holiday-makers, but it’s often confined to the tourist-heavy peak seasons. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and save yourself a bit of money, out-of-season holidaying could be the perfect solution. It doesn’t have to involve trekking half way across the globe either. There’s a good mix of year-round destinations much closer to home and some excellent hotel deals to be had as well.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are a great choice for year-round holidaying. The climate is warm and dry for most of the year and with so many islands to choose from, you’re bound to find your perfect partner. The most commonly visited islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, which all offer breathtaking scenery and varying degrees of action and adventure. Temperatures are consistently over 20°C throughout the year so traditional peak season has shifted towards the winter months. November to mid-December and April to June – avoiding Easter – are good times to enjoy fewer crowds and cheap Canaries hotels. A one bedroom bungalow on Fuerteventura can be found for as little as £10 per person per night this November.
Cyprus
Cyprus makes a good early spring option due to its favourable Mediterranean climate. Peak season runs from June to September, so avoid these months to experience the slightly quieter side of this popular isle. Visit in April and May and you can enjoy average maximum temperatures of 22°C and 26°C respectively while you laze on the beach, explore historic sites or indulge in some of the country’s delicious cuisine. Temperatures remain high into October and November, but heavier rainfall makes these months a less appealing choice. Mid-April Cyprus hotels prices go as low as £14 per person per night for a seven night stay in the Paphos area.
Egypt
For something a bit different, head to Egypt and prepare to explore the exotic land of the Pharaohs. There are a multitude of attractions both above and below sea level making a visit definitely worthwhile. To avoid the crowds, stay away during the peak season months between October and May and instead visit in June or September. Maximum temperatures in Cairo average over 30°C during these months, though, so be prepared to take it easy. The cheap Egypt hotels available should help take the edge of the heat; accommodation in Cairo can be booked for a little as £11 per person per night for a one week stay in September..
Before we know it summer will be here and it’s time to start planning those long awaited and well deserved holidays. The only trouble is it’s been a hard year, we’ve all had to tighten our purse strings and no one has much cash to spare for luxuries like going away. You probably feel like you need a holiday more than ever, and it’s a depressing thought that it might not happen. But don’t worry, it can still be done with some thrifty thinking and a bit of careful planning.
Firstly, you could always consider not going away at all. No I haven’t gone mad, and I don’t mean you should cancel your holiday. There are plenty of relaxing, fun and exciting destinations right here in the UK that are cheaper and less stressful than going abroad. With a little bit of investigation online you can find pretty much anything you could want, whether you’re looking for family holidays or romantic mini-breaks. Somewhere like TLH leisure resort in Torquay offers a wide range of pampering and sport entertainment from swimming pools, spas and gyms to specific golf, dancing and bowls holidays.
If you can’t stand the idea of not getting away from the notorious British weather at all this summer, you could still be able to get your couple of weeks in the sun for a manageable price. The most important thing when booking holidays is to make sure you plan ahead and book everything early. The earlier the better if you want the cheapest price, though if you’ve already left it too late you can get some great last minute deals as well. Booking online is also usually cheaper than using a travel agent, unless you’re an exceptionally good haggler!
Don’t forget, flights and hotels cost more at popular times. If you book flights at antisocial hours you will find they turn out a lot cheaper. Yes you may have to get up in the middle of the night, but you’ll be saving a packet and you’ll probably be about to change time zones anyway. Avoid holidaying in the school holidays as that’s when prices of accomodation will be highest. And don’t forget to check when the holidays are in your destination country too as they will probably be different and you could get a great deal in the last week before the kids go back to school.
Check out the exchange rates – Spain and Italy are some of the most popular destinations but at the moment Europe is an expensive place to be. It might be cheaper to travel further away, last year’s Post Office index ranked Thailand, South Africa and Egypt as the best value countries, and they’ll probably have more sunshine too!
Think about whether you really need to stay in a hotel. Maybe you could rent a house or cottage instead, or even go camping. These places are usually cheaper as they are self catering and you won’t have room service and tips to worry about. If you know anyone who lives abroad why not see if you can stay with them, or swap houses for a couple of weeks?