Packages being heavily discounted, says TravelSupermarket

The comparison website found discounts of up to 48% on packages to the Algarve, with city breaks down by up to 42% and lead-in prices of less than £100.

TravelSupermarket examined search data from 24 March to 8 June 2020 for a summer holiday departing between 8 July and 31 October 2020. It compared rates with those advertised from 1 January until 23 March.

It found significant price cuts in many popular Spanish destinations including Tenerife (19%), Lanzarote (17%), Majorca (13%) and Fuerteventura (10%). Greek islands prices offered discounts of 12-21%.

TravelSupermarket spokesperson Emma Coulthurst said prices of “lower than £300pp” for four-star all-inclusive seven-night family holidays were available.

She said uncertainty about when travel could resume was inevitably having a downward influence on pricing. “FCO advice against non-essential travel needs to be lifted before travel can resume and countries need to confirm that Brits are welcome without any need to quarantine.

“All of this uncertainty and natural consumer reticence is pushing down prices. With demand much lower than normal for this time of year, the travel market is providing low holiday prices to encourage people to book.

“We have seen search demand pick up in the last fortnight as the Med has signaled its desire for tourists to return to its cities and beaches. But there will need to be more clarity on the exact dates when British holidaymakers can return before the market really picks up”.

Among the deals were:

• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in Venice from Stansted in September, from £113pp.

• A week’s all-inclusive in Antalya, departing Gatwick in August, from £297pp.

• Seven nights’ self-catering on the Costa del Sol next Easter, from £176pp, including flights from Stansted.

TravelSupermarket also found 2021 rates down an average 20% to Cancun and 13% to the Balearics, with Easter prices from £160pp.