Winter sun's newest trend... and how to book it
Longer duration winter escapes are rising in popularity, not just among retirees but with digital nomads too. We explore what to offer this burgeoning demographic
High energy bills, coupled with the trend for more people to work remotely, is making long-stay winter sun breaks attractive and viable for a wider range of people.
Energy costs have typically doubled, meaning from this July households with both gas and electric have been paying around £2,074 a year, an average £173 or more a month. With energy use greatest in winter, avoiding one month would in real terms save clients more. It’s no wonder that some who can still afford to travel are framing this as a potential saving off a long-stay winter holiday.
Abta’s Travel in 2023 report predicted the “hibernation holidays” trend, with members reporting rising demand for winter stays of 21 or even 28 nights in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Malta, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Florida.
EasyJet holidays is noting such increases. “With more people able to work remotely and looking for ways to cut their heating bills, we’re committed to offering long stays at unbeatable value,” says commercial and sourcing director Paul Bixby.
“Egypt, Spain and Tunisia appear to be huge hits, with customers looking for these breaks over an extended period, with Tenerife and Costa Blanca also popular choices.”
LONG-STAY TREND
JG Travel Group has tripled capacity on its long-stay, no-fly winter sun programme to Costa Blanca due to demand, with more departures to Benidorm and the addition of nearby Calpe across its Just Go! Holidays and National Holidays brands.
Within its winter sun programme, Jet2Holidays’ long-stays are 6.2% up on last year helped by its flexible durations. “For many, the thought of enjoying a long holiday in the sunshine is clearly very appealing, and they see a holiday as an essential purchase, rather than a discretionary one,” says Alan Cross, travel agent relationships director.
Food inflation is still rising, with an average month’s shop now £163.20 per person, another factor that increases the value of full-board packages. Space may be a greater consideration for some, especially those needing to work, with villas providing appeal for that reason.
Chris Etheridge, business development manager for CV Villas, notes post-Covid flexible working has boosted enquiries, adding: “The core age demographic of our customer is 45-plus… we’re seeing increasing demand for shoulder periods, for longer durations, and from a mix of demographics, with young families and couples increasing in number.”
SHORT-HAUL VS LONG-HAUL
Italy, Spain and Portugal are top CV Villas winter destinations and the most cost-effective, with Portugal having a notably long mild season. Though not traditionally winter sun, it is looking to extend France year-round. Etheridge points out the French Riviera off season is a little milder than home, reachable with clients’ own cars and offers hotspots such as St Tropez crowd-free.
He adds: “Long-haul destinations will not be cost effective, as often winter is actually the most expensive time of the year. Also, the time difference can be an issue for those who need to work remotely.”
Long-haul long stays are proving popular for Tui, however. Product manager Claire Goldring says: “Compared to last year, long-stay winter holidays have grown in popularity by 11%, with the majority of that increase being driven by mid-haul holidays such as Turkey, Greece and the Canaries. That said, long-haul still makes up about half of all our long-stay winter trips.
“Goa is the most popular spot for long stays by far. Tenerife is the second most popular long-stay spot, followed by Costa del Sol, Lanzarote, Costa Blanca, Cancun and Thailand.
“We are seeing interest from younger digital nomads, with people under retiring age making up 47% of our long-stay winter travellers for 2023.”
Mark Mallinson, destination manager, Far East for Gold Medal, has seen bookings for up to 90 days and has spoken with the Thailand and Bali tourist boards about promotional possibilities, with Thailand’s low season pricing available until mid-December.
However, he’s conscious of the sensitivity around the financial situation. “The cost of living crisis is not something we want to play on, but we’re seeing 14- to 21-day requests and where we’d [previously] marketed 10 nights, now we will push 14- to 18-night stays.”
AGENT ADVICE
Hannah Porter, director of Travel By Hannah in Marlborough, made two long-stay Thailand bookings for the coming winter and had several more enquiries after sharing a deal on Instagram offering 28-nights at the Centara Villas Samui from £2,279pp including flights, with half- and full-board upgrades available. “It was a great conversation starter and price point from Kuoni,” she says.
Travel Counsellor Ian Gifford points out UAE temperatures are favourable in winter but to consider Ras al Khaimah over Dubai for best rates. For European breaks he advises: “There are numerous resorts in the Canaries that will offer really good rates for long stays, frequently these can be in complexes that offer full hotel amenities, but with an apartment that also has kitchen facilities.”
His colleagues, Sebastian Burgess and Max Fone, suggest agents “look beyond traditional hotels and explore alternatives such as holiday lets, guesthouses or serviced apartments”, while carefully checking reviews and inclusions to get clients the best long-stay deal.
What to book
Tunisia: easyJet holidays offers 28 nights all-inclusive at four-star Medina Diar Lemdina in Yasmine Hammamet for £729pp* including flights from Gatwick on 6 January 2024.
easyjet.com/en/holidays/ trade-portal
Lanzarote: Jet2holidays has 31 nights’ self-catering at three-star Hotel Club Siroco in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, departing Stansted on 15 November from £1,539pp.
Portugal: Meanwhile, 29 nights with breakfast at Auramar Beach Resort in Albufeira, Portugal costs from £939pp for an 18 November departure from Manchester.
Spain: JG Travel Group offers a 29-day Calpe break incorporating 24-nights’ all-inclusive at three-star Hotel Port Europa plus six excursions from £1,549pp, departing on selected November, January and February dates, travelling by coach and ferry via France.
justgoholidays.com/agents; nationalholidays.com/agents
Goa: Tui has 21 nights’ all-inclusive at Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort from £2,500pp, departing Manchester in November.
Marrakech: A similar package at Tui Blue Riu Tikida Garden, Marrakech is from £1,100pp with Gatwick flights. Short-haul self-catering deals start from around £450 for 21 days.
retailagents.tui.co.uk/retail/thirdparty/login
*all prices based on two sharing
Find contact details for these suppliers in TTG’s Travel Suppliers Directory
LONGER STAYS: POINTS TO CONSIDER
• The amount “offset” by being away is greatest for those living alone and paying the full fuel bill.
• In most of the countries Brits can visit visa-free they can stay at least 30 days, in many cases up to 90.
• If not booking full- or half-board, consider on-the-ground grocery/eating out prices.
• Good, free WiFi will be a clincher for working clients.
• Easy access to a town is important for self-catering supplies so there’s less need for full-time car hire and to avoid boredom.
• Consider space, especially for working couples or if pre-school children are involved.
• Make sure clients have realistic winter weather expectations of short-haul destinations.
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