Bargains boost anticipated January holiday bookings to six million

Expectations are for as many as six million holidays to be booked in January as holidaymakers take advantage of the many special deals on offer by the airlines and travel operators.

So far this month, approximately 200,000 bookings a day are being seen, in defiance of the gloomy economic outlook, as Britons scoop up bargains by booking summer holidays early.

Tour operators are featuring ‘two-for-one’ and ‘free child’ offers, while a number of airlines are offering substantially-discounted airfares.

What this means for families is savings of hundreds of pounds on their annual holiday.

A spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said: “Our research has shown that the last thing people give up is their holiday and there are some extraordinary deals out there at the moment. January is a big month and with all these offers it looks like being a busy month.”

Thomas Cook is offering a 10 per cent discount on holidays booked by 16 February. At First Choice, savings of as much as £200 on summer 2009 bookings are possible, as are thousands of free child places and low booking deposits. Flight supplements are also being waived.

Direct Holidays is discounting holidays to Fuerteventura by nearly £100 per person on flight and hotel packages.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.abta.com