Tipperary travel specialist announces top destinations for January bookings

Long haul destinations have risen by 25% in popularity over the past year, with travel specialists Travel Counsellors today reporting USA as the top long haul spot booked in January. The rise is led by more affordable long haul air travel and the surge in cost of European holidays due to increased demand.

 

General Manager of Travel Counsellors Ireland, Cathy Burke said: “Throughout 2017 we witnessed the appetite for long haul holidays grow due to a boost in consumer confidence. This was cemented last month with a rise in those choosing to head further afield for their big holiday this year.

 

“As some European destinations have risen in price this year, due to demand, it’s very comparable in cost to travel long haul, particularly as a family, either westbound to the USA and Mexico or eastbound to Thailand. With the USA, the extra capacity on transatlantic routes is driving up availability and driving prices down. The world is much more accessible now, and for the adventurous traveller, there are fantastic opportunities to travel and explore.”

 

Long haul destinations included in Travel Counsellors’ top 10 list for January 2018 saw the USA in first position, in the same spot as last year, with Mexico in second place, followed by Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Canada. Travel Counsellors’ busiest day for bookings was Friday, 19 January.

 

Tipperary Travel Counsellor, Rosemary Chawke stated: “A lot of my regular families are now looking at something different and further afield because the usual Spain and Portugal holiday prices have risen so much. 

 

“I’m also finding that many families are opting to take their holiday during Easter or over the October Bank Holiday weekend, due to the lack of options and availability in the peak summer months of July and August, while for families with older children in secondary school, early June is a great alternative. Honeymoons are another speciality of mine and I’m seeing couples wanting something more adventurous rather than to just fly and flop.”

 

Interest in cruises has also increased, with Travel Counsellors witnessing a record high in bookings, up 30%. This is in part due to Celebrity Cruises becoming the first major cruise line to homeport a ship in Dublin, with Celebrity Eclipse arriving in April 2018, along with an increase in expedition cruises to off-the-grid destinations such as Alaska and the Galápagos Islands.

 

On the top European destinations list, Spain took top position followed by Portugal, France and Italy.