LONDON, February 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
With the UK suffering an even worse winter than usual, plagued
by record levels of snow, ice and rain, it's not difficult to see
why most of us are turning our thoughts to holidays in the sun -
with 4.5 million searches on http://www.thomascook.com between
Christmas and New Year alone.
Luckily, the UK's favourite tour operator is on hand to provide
some top tips as to the biggest travel trends for 2013.
Top Tip - Tunisia
In terms of destination, 2013 is the year to go to Tunisia. With searches on Tunisia holidays up
40% on this time last year, canny holidaymakers should get there
before the crowds do. The country's diversity comes as a surprise
to those expecting nothing but desert - not only does Tunisia offer miles of golden sandy beaches,
but also a lush and green mountainous interior, populated with
rivers and lakes. Its low rise hotels not only offer the latest in
luxury at great prices, but have also been built in harmony with
their surroundings - no eyesores here!
The destination is an adrenaline-seeker's dream also, with
diving, windsurfing and sailing on offer; or golf for those
preferring a more relaxed pace. With year-round sunshine and
temperatures reaching a balmy 20°C as early as March, it really is
the perfect springtime escape.
Winter
Sun in the Canaries
Those seeking sun holidays in the next month or so appear to be
favouring the Canaries as their getaway of choice - searches are up
17% on last year. Tenerife is the most popular of the three
islands, but Lanzarote is 13% more popular than at the same period
in 2012. The appeal of these island gems is legendary - situated
just off the Atlantic coast of North
Africa, they enjoy year-round temperatures which rarely dip
below 20°C. Their popularity with holidaymakers mean that they
offer all the amenities one could want from a sunshine getaway -
fantastic hotels, restaurants offering a wide variety of world
class cuisines and a huge array of water sports are just a few of
the attractions that keep Brits coming back here year after
year.
Summer
Sun on the Grecian Islands
In terms of bargain holidays for summer 2013, the current trend
appears to be centred on the Greek Islands, with searches for
Lefkas, Lesbos and Skiathos up 40% on last year. The rugged
volcanic coastlines and stunning whitewashed architecture of
Santorini appears to be particularly popular - up 50% on 2012.
Holidaymakers should book without delay before accommodation on
these iconic islands is sold out!
SOURCE Thomas Cook