Winter sun options for clients who missed out on summer holidays
With many clients missing out on summer holidays this year due to travel restrictions, operators are hoping winter sun will soon be the new summer sun, says Abra Dunsby
Ever-changing FCO advice and quarantine restrictions due to Covid-19 mean many clients have been too nervous to take a European summer holiday this year. However, some in the travel industry remain hopeful that, by this winter, FCO advice will include more destinations and clients will feel more confident to travel, escaping the UK’s chill for warmer climes.
Clients who want to go away later this year or early next year should plan ahead to ensure favourable prices, suggests Kerry Golds, managing director of Cox & Kings and Abercrombie & Kent. “Planning a winter sun holiday early ensures access to some of the best offers, including free nights and upgrades,” she says.
Here we speak to several tour operators to get their recommendations and selling tips for winter sun destinations for this year and early 2021, aimed at clients who are seeking an alternative to their abandoned European summer sun plans. All options were on air corridor lists at the time of writing.
Antigua
With enough sun-soaked, picturesque beaches for every day of the year, Antigua is a great option for a relaxed romantic holiday.
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa is a good choice for loved-up clients, having been named by the World Travel Awards as one of the world’s most romantic hotels.
Karl Thompson, managing director of Unique Caribbean Holidays Limited, says: “Antigua is a perfect choice for couples who couldn’t travel to European beach destinations like Portugal [before the FCO advice changed] or Spain this summer.
“The island has plenty to offer, from beautiful golden beaches to a range of activities and excursions. [The resort] is consistently one of our most popular with British guests due to its romantic location on Dickenson Bay and
five-star ‘Luxury-Included’ formula.”
Agents must inform their clients that all passengers arriving by air to Antigua must currently provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than seven days before arrival.
Book it: An all-inclusive seven-night stay for two at Sandals Grande Antigua starts from £2,255pp including flights with British Airways and resort transfers. Price is valid for travel on 20 January 2021.
Mauritius
For families who want an affordable Indian Ocean stay, recommend Mauritius, which is currently Covid-free, says Shamira Kaumaya-Hatt, commercial director for Sunset Faraway Holidays.
“Our aim for the winter season is to focus on showcasing what the island is doing to maintain a Covid-free experience and make the visitor feel the service offering of the island, while also feeling safe to enjoy its beauty,” she says.
The island is becoming increasingly popular with adventurous families, she adds, offering a wide choice of product and activities.
“Mauritius has become an adventure playground in recent times, with the greatest increase in interest from the family market. We’ve introduced self-drive and Island Experiences, which include an overnight stay on private island Ile des Deux Cocos with butler service and a Gastronomy and Rum Tour.”
Agents cautious about selling the island due to the recent oil spill should be aware that the impact is localised in the south-eastern region across an estimated seven miles of coastline, leaving the remaining 193 miles untouched. Please note that the FCO is currently advising against all but essential travel to the destination.
Book it: Sunset Faraway Holidays offers a seven-night stay at The St Regis Mauritius Resort from £1,795pp based on two sharing an Ocean Junior Suite on full-board basis, including flights with Emirates and transfers in-destination. Based on travel from 1-12 December 2020.
Turkey
Agents can recommend Antalya in Turkey as an alternative to a Malta break. “With its superb culture, leisure options, beautiful scenery and a warm climate during the winter months, Antalya has all the ingredients for the perfect winter sun getaway,” says Zoe Towers, head of product at Jet2holidays.
For couples seeking a high-end romantic break, she recommends the five-star Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection in the Side region, part of the Jet2holidays Luxe Collection.
“Featuring chic and spacious accommodation with the option of swim-up rooms, a pool area, spa and wellness centre and four bars and five restaurants to choose from, this contemporary hotel comes complete with amazing scenery and stylish decor and is located [less than a mile from] Side resort centre,” she says.
Book it: Jet2holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection from £659pp based on two sharing, departing from Leeds Bradford and including flights and transfers. Based on 6 December 2020 departure.
Jamaica
For clients who were unable to escape for some all-inclusive family fun in Croatia, Spain or France this summer, Nadine Rankin, joint chief executive for AMG, suggests a trip to Jamaica in 2021 February half-term, staying at the Hilton Rose Hall.
“The hotel has many fun aspects, from the on-site Sugar Mills Waterpark with slides, lazy rivers and pools, to a kids’ club and Teen Zone,” says Rankin.
“Mum and dad aren’t forgotten thanks to a wide variety of sports, plus there’s a spa with treatment rooms on the beautiful beach, and fine dining across 11 restaurants and bars,” she adds.
The hotel’s Playa Safe Stay policy means extra safety protocols have been implemented, along with stricter hygiene measures.
Clients travelling from London from 13 October this year now have the option of flying to Montego Bay with British Airways. The service is in addition to the airline’s regular London Gatwick-Kingston route.
Agents who book Hilton Rose Hall will also earn £15 per booking if they log their bookings with Playa Hotels and Resorts’ loyalty programme.
Book it: Travelpack offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa from £1,439pp including flights and private transfers, travelling on 19 February 2021.
Agent insight
Sophie Vokes, assistant branch manager at Hays Travel in Reading, discusses recent winter sun bookings:
“If people aren’t wanting to book for summer this year but they still want to get away, we’re suggesting they go away later this year or early next year. It might not be the exact experience they’re used to, but at least they can travel, and we’ll always explain what’s open in the destination.
“I’ve booked winter sun holidays to Egypt, Thailand and Turkey in the past few weeks for clients. The Turkey trip is an all-inclusive holiday with Jet2 and was booked by a mum as a gift for her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend as a 30th birthday present. It was really cheap – only £350pp!
“We’re happy to book winter sun trips for this year – as long as it’s a package it’s fine as it can be cancelled and refunded or moved.
“Thailand and Egypt aren’t on all the travel lists so we explained that to the client at the time of booking and said if they continued to stay on the lists, as the trips are packages, the clients can amend them, cancel them or even change the destination.
“We’ve also recently booked some long-haul cruises for early next year, so the demand to travel is definitely there.”
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