A Belfast travel agent has said record sales for the start of the year are a clear sign that despite the cost of living crisis, people still need and value their holidays.
Customers are also changing how they book trips away by opting for package deals and all-inclusive stays to help with budgeting.
Alongside demand for all inclusive holidays, there is also noticeable growth in cruising, particularly amongst the family market, which further points to more interest in seeking greater value-for-money.
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While traditional holiday spots like Spain and Portugal still remain popular for Northern Irish travellers, many people are also booking trips to far flung locations around the globe.
In particular, spots such as Japan, South Africa, the USA and Canada have been increasingly popular, with more people looking for longer holidays than the typical seven or 14 day trip.
Many families are aiming to lock-in travel deals for the school summer, Easter and October holidays as more holidaymakers turn to travel agents. Holiday duration is also trending upwards with almost half of new bookings for 10 nights or longer.
Kelly Hutchinson, store manager of Barrhead Travel in Victoria Square, says bookings to date for January have been breaching 2019 levels.
"We're totally restriction free this year so everybody is getting back in the air and it feels like things are finally back to normal pre-pandemic levels," she told Belfast Live.
"The demand is really high at the minute and we've had a really busy start to the year with some record-breaking booking days that we've never seen even before coronavirus hit.
"I think a lot of people may have had money in a pot during the lockdown and are only now getting to spend it. Holidays seem to be a luxury that people can't do without.
"They'll always cut corners in other directions of their life so they have something in the diary to look forward to, especially families that maybe haven't had the opportunity to travel in recent years.
"They're now steering away from staycations and getting on a plane to their bucket-list destinations. People are also booking earlier than normal so they can get the best price.
"It's also about getting that date in the diary so they can start counting down and be able to financially plan paying off the holiday."
Kelly added: "Value is key this year and generally customers will come in and say they have a certain amount of money set aside and ask what they can get for that.
"Because we have a wealth of knowledge and experience with various suppliers, we can steer them in a direction where they are getting a cruise holiday with different stops for the same price as a land based holiday.
"Also I don't think people are as confident as they would have been about booking a holiday themselves online so there is a lot more loyalty coming back to the agent and customers can know exactly how much they're spending."
In light of the record bookings being made across the travel industry this January, Kelly has shared her top tips on how to make your holiday budget go further.
- Aim to book as far in advance as possible
It’s always recommended to book early to enjoy launch deals and early booking discounts – but the biggest influencer of price at the minute is availability.
People have been booking earlier than usual and demand for popular destinations is particularly high. Leaving it until last-minute won’t guarantee a discounted deal: if you know where you want to travel to, lock it in with a deposit as early as you’re able to.
- Book with a reputable travel professional
As well as saving you time, providing advice and protecting your money, they have the tools to scan the market and source the best deals and savings to suit your budget. They’ll often have inside information on upcoming flash sales or have access to exclusive offers.
Additionally, if you book with an agent, you can book everything in one go – flights, accommodation, insurance, attractions, car-hire – and have just one total payment that can be split into instalments.
- Multi-family and multi-generational holidays are on the rise this year
As well as spending cherished time with the people we love the most, it can have a money-saving benefit too. Villas abroad come in all sizes and many can comfortably accommodate large groups of friends or several families.
If teaming up with your extended family or friends was on your mind, a villa can offer a very cost-effective way of sharing accommodation costs while spending valuable time together.
- Attractions and add-ons, such as car hire or transfers, are always best value when booked in advance
Think about what you’d like to do when you’re on holiday and book before you go to take advantage of savings.
This also helps with availability: some popular attractions, such as Alcatraz in San Francisco, cannot be booked on the day, while theme-park passes often have special offers for advanced booking.
Booking in advance for car hire will eliminate the risk of eye watering costs when the car is returned.
- Travel off-the-beaten-track
Visiting major tourist hubs or the busiest resorts can often hold a higher price tag than lesser-known destinations.
Considering destinations away from the traditional tourist trail can also provide rich experiences and contribute to micro-tourism economies where you can immerse yourself in local culture.
It doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your favourite destinations either – for every major resort, there’s usually plenty of smaller and very accessible towns nearby meaning you have the best of both.
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