And was it in the UK?
In the last week I've had three of my customers in who run holiday homes say they've had zero bookings in January. And bookings for summer are thin on the ground, and they expected a flurry after Jan pay day, but hardly anything.
These are nice cottages in nice areas and usually at good occupancy levels - probably middle/upper end of the market so not aimed at those on a tight budget.
Seems contrary to media reports at the start of the year saying 2023 holiday bookings were strong.
Only last night; just booked again at a place we often stay in Fife for a week in July. According to the calendar on the agent's website, it is fairly busy through the spring. Not chock-a-block though (spelling?)
There will be others booked over the next week or two if I can get my act together.
Seems contrary to media reports at the start of the year saying 2023 holiday bookings were strong.
Probably done on the back of pressure from travel companies seeing low booking levels in the hope people will panic into booking something.
But we haven't booked anything yet - looking at Norfolk in April.
Booked a few days in a cottage in Lincolnshire and then 10 days on a tent only campsite in Devon early July. Probably be a Premier Inn on the way back north.
We've booked an Airbnb in the Pyrenees in July. Just had a quick look for somewhere closer to home out of interest, cheapest is almost twice the price. It'll work out more expensive eventually with flights and car hire but at least we'll be in the Pyrenees.
Fort William and Glencoe.
Mrs Weeksy is inspired, honest.
We run a holiday cottage in the highlands. Bookings are down - currently have 13 weeks booked for the season (April-Oct). This time last year we had 19 weeks booked. I fear it's going to be a thin year.
We have a few long weekends away in the UK booked in the camper.
Tunnel was booked this week for mid September for a week in Finale and then roaming round SE France.
Looking to Austria and elsewhere in June but still debating.
We use our Tesco vouchers for the Tunnel.
Had noticed last year that the UK campsites are almost double the price what we were paying for the equivalent in Europe and its looking from enquiries this year that the gaps getting bigger.
Yes we have, and the place we are staying has a few available weeks still which is unusual-on St. Martin’s IOS. Normally fully booked by now.
We live near a holiday let which hasn’t had anyone in since before Christmas which is also unusual so perhaps there are fewer people wanting to stay?
Seems contrary to media reports at the start of the year saying 2023 holiday bookings were strong.
Budget airlines are having a really strong year...
https://www.ft.com/content/79ec42b8-d41d-416f-8c45-a04d2d8013ef
There was a similar article elsewhere about Wizz Air having best bookings ever.
Maybe it's just that there's still a huge latent demand for foreign travel post-Covid?
Yes, going to Northumberland for a week at some point. Considering a few extra days away too (up to a week), but the prices seem extravagant.
Not yet, I know my annual leave dates for the year, just need to decide when/where to go.
We just booked a villa in Corfu with friends, through AirBNB. Price was comparable to a UK cottage so even though we will get bent over on flights it seemed worth it. The few places we looked at/spoke to didn't have that much availability.
I suspect now that we are "living with" covid a lot of people are desperate to get away. I love the UK but I don't want to holiday here every year and I'd like the kids to see a little bit of the world, even if it is a tourist ridden beach on a tourist ridden island.
Not yet, but only because we're trying to get a rescue dog so can't book anything yet 🙁
Got one weekend away in the UK booked up for a specific event and planning something for the next weekend in Germany. Hopefully taking my mum away for a week too but that's dependant on a few things. Other than that no plans although I have the small possibility of having a short week away with the bikes, hoping in the PDS region but most likely in the UK.
Holiday?
I have Not been away since lock down started.
I will only go for holiday next year if I can plan properly.
Fort William then onto Oban for a few days.
World champs at the start of it but only get there in time for the finals on Saturday also taking our bikes up so hopefully the family will get some riding in round the area the rest of the time we’re up there.
We struggled finding places round Oban to book they were either booked up or far too expensive But did eventually find a small holiday cottage.
Huh.
No choice saloon here.
Son is getting married (well technically its a service, but still has to actually get married here in the UK.
So, you might say, What is unusual about that?
They have chosen Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy in August !!
Thats our holidays budget gone for this year, and probably next year as well.........grrrr.
2 summer weeks in Morzine are pencilled in and hope to confirm soon. No idea how we’re going to pay for it but can’t cope with not going. With a 16 year old in the house we’re running out of years where we can have family holidays!
Ferry to Spain booked for the beginning of May,2 months of going where the fancy takes us
3/4 nights riding the Rebellion way in September too
They have chosen Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy in August !!
But what a lovely spot to get married! We stayed in a hotel opposite Ravello, ooh, 15 years ago now. We walked over to Ravello a couple of times, it's beautiful. Amalfi itself is lovely too, but it's a long way back up! I was younger and fitter then and decided to run up the road from Amalfi, got some very funny looks/comments from the locals 😀
Half term in Feb Yorkshire Dales in a lux cottage, was surprised it was free given its fantastic reviews?
Its the first time in my life I've had to book during school holidays so come the summer it will be even more of a shock!
Didn't factor this in when choosing to date a teacher 😀 Having said that I did 2 months of last summers road trip during school holidays and AirBnB for 1 or 2 was plentiful and cheap.
We have three different UK self catering trips already booked this year. One is a canal boat but the others are cottages. Last year's wet Welsh trip broke our camping spirit 😂
Our rescue dog has anxiety and separation issues so kennels and sitters are an issue. Sticking to the UK for now. Not sure how he'd cope with a car ferry in kennels or solo in the car either 🫤
We’ve not booked anything yet. My wife’s holiday let is booked up through the next few months so we are tied in to doing changeovers every week for the forseaable. Not complaining mind as it’s good to have bookings this time of year. A friend has offered to cover for us if we go away on holiday so may need to use that option to get away this summer.
We are absolutely rammed. January was fantastic, February very busy. July/August pretty much full. Busiest year for a long time (self catering units, West Highlands). Forward bookings are way up.
Amsterdam in April and Gran Canaria in May.
We have a static van in Wales, but hoping that the recession will reduce the demand for them as our site, after taking all our rent in covid, is kicking all the older vans off the site by the end of the year. Ours still looks new as we've looked after it, so somewhat hoping the site has lots of empty plots and don't kick us off. Quite a number left at the end of the season.
We have a Northumberland place booked in August. A repeat booking from last year. Going direct with the owners rather than via a company. A bit cheaper than last year.
We were looking for another week earlier in the year. Seeing lots of availability and high prices. May still do a second week but last minute if any good deals come up.
Also looking at a month in USA mainly camping in Sept/Oct. Can't book until time off confirmed in early March but pleasantly suprised by flight prices. BA doing £580 for Glasgow-Heathrow San Francisco and San Diego - Heathrow - Glasgow. Obviously plus bike fee and exit row fees. At 6ft3 economy not an option for 11 hour flights.
Not me. I'll be disappearing in the van for a while I reckon. Mrs S is off to Oz for May (all of it) so I might not go until June 🙂
Yep, off to see the family in Barbados, and pay our respects to an uncle that died during Covid. Managed to get a package the same cost as the last visit in 2018 thanks to the Virgin Christmas sale. Same seats on the plane, same hotel.
Nope, holiday money just went on a private operation for our son as the NHS obviously decided he wasn't worth seeing. 6 months on from being rushed to A & E and mutiple referals from our excellent GP we still dont have an initial consultation appointment. We can't book an appointment despite having the referral letter as the online booking service doesn't have any appointments. Apparently the hospital is managing appointments outside of the system, you have to wait for them to ring you. In our case no call in 6 months and no way to chase it up as we've been effectively locked out the system.
So no, we don't have a holiday booked.
@the-muffin-man to go back to your original question, could be those better off are feeling more comfortable booking abroad post covid which may mean bookings are up but not in UK. Those staying in UK probably looking more budget so the UK premium market is the one squeezed.
Yep 2 nights with me mate in Mojacar as Mrs DoD was unhappy with us having too much fun in Benidorm.
It’s weird when you actually live reasonably close to the places people go on holiday.
I run an Airbnb in the Cotswolds in our garden (separate unit to our house), we've had one weekend booking for January and only a couple of bookings for the summer... Normally full every weekend.
We mainly have under 35yr old couples without kids who have a dog. 2 night minimum stay and it's cheapish a night for the type of accommodation, when compared to similar in the area. So I think the drop off must be down to the type of customer and cost of living.
Comparatively, we had our only holiday for the year, a week at end of December/start of January in Beer in Devon - 2 bed cottage. That's pretty much 70% booked through to Christmas next year and beyond.
Going to the Le Mans 24H again. They're expecting 300,000 people, I hope some don't turn up!
A week booked in Amroth in a nice cottage for us two and two dogs, summer shutdown season as well. Prices were similar to last year and the place was booked out either side of when were going.
Got a week of skiing coming up and a long weekend in the Peaks at Easter time. Summer will hopefully be 3 weeks interrailing. I’ll try to squeeze in a couple of cheap, long weekends biking in Wales too.
We usually holiday in Uk, Northumberland and Cairngorms. We have a week in the former in May, outwith school holidays as youngest has a break after his highers. We usually go for quite large self catering as youngsters and partners tend to join for some or all.
Surprised at the price hike this year, what cost £1300 a week last year is now £2000, though appreciate we may be in a niche zone.
Week in Cornwall at the end of the month. Week in Devon in May and 2 weeks in Cornwall end of September.
We had 2 weeks in Mustique last year and I'm genuinely looking forward to a wet week in Cornwall more.
Just love the fact that we can load the car up and off we go.
I will add that 2 weeks in a Cornish house in September costs the same as our friend's all inclusive ,with flights to Sharm at the same time .
Les Deux Alpes in April for a week, then will be going out to my sister's place in the Pyrenees (France) in summer and will head over to Spain for a weeks camping while we're down there. Taking bikes and new dog, will be great fun.
TBH I can't wait to get away from this shit hole.
No, but I'll be finally taking the holiday I first booked in 2019 and have been rescheduling ever since!
If we hadn't already booked it, we might not be taking a holiday this year - we're usually comfortable enough (no kids) but we've had to do some belt-tightening lately.
It’s weird when you actually live reasonably close to the places people go on holiday.
Welcome to my life 🙂
Pros: Lots more facilities, cafes, pubs, activities etc than the resident population could support. Employment.
Cons: Ridiculously busy at times, low paid jobs, lack of affordable housing (buy or rent). Over-development.
Had one holiday this year and will be organising the summer holiday soon.
Very fortunate to have a French girlfriend, summer holiday will be at her gite (with Ventoux as a background).
I plan on riding to her place from either from Marseille or from Geneva.
Was looking at trip to Isle of man to race the 2 day enduro there
Prices were twice the price of ferry to France!
It's hardly surprising demand is low, money is tight, plus still pent up demand to go abroad post covid
My brother and his family is coming over from Australia for the first time in about 10yrs. My mum has booked a cottage in Cornwall for 7 days. There will be 6 adults, 4 kids. One dog. House sleeps 8. My wife pointed out my autistic daughter doesn't cope well with people she doesn't know and new places. My mum dismissed it, blamed my wife for causing trouble. Wife isn't happy. I already feel like it's going to be a shitfest
