Brexit causing summer holiday prices to drop - should you book?

April 4, 2019

Summer holiday demand is down compared to last year, with some British holidaymakers showing reluctance to book until they know the outcome of Brexit.  Others, meanwhile, are reportedly keen to avoid Europe altogether.

This uncertainty, combined with a more competitive holiday market, is driving discounts across the board, with some incredibly low prices up for grabs over summer 2019.

In some instances, package prices are up to 38% lower when compared to last year. The Spanish Costas, Majorca, the Algarve, the Cote D’Azur, Croatia’s Istrian Riviera and Greek islands, Kefalonia and Zante, are showing some of the largest price drops.

Should I be worried about Brexit when booking a holiday this summer?

If you put politics aside and you’re just looking for a good deal this summer, then there’s no reason not to book your holiday as normal.

The UK government and the EU have agreed that whatever happens with Brexit, we will be able to travel visa-free to Europe for up to 90 days within a 180 period until December 31, 2020. After that, to travel to Europe, we will need to pay 7 euros for an ETIAS visa waiver, which lasts three years.

We are also being told that flights will continue and not be cancelled, even in a no-deal scenario and that package holidays will be refunded in the unlikely event that the holiday doesn’t go ahead as a result of Brexit. For more information on what Brexit will mean for our holidays, read this post.

Holiday market more competitive this year

It’s not all about Brexit, though. The return of Turkey and Tunisia, as well as the emergence of destinations such as Bulgaria, has created a much more competitive holiday market when compared with the last couple of years.

With the lira offering excellent value, Turkey, in particular, is a selling well with Brits, according to reports from tour operators earlier this year. Bulgaria, meanwhile, saw summer bookings rise by 30% earlier in the year, according to Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

As a result, many companies offering Western Med packages to the likes of Spain, Italy, France and Portugal have lowered prices in a bid to tempt Brits to book.  In addition to this, a slow end to last summer due to the UK’s heatwave and England’s World Cup heroics, could also be affecting prices, as companies try to encourage people to book earlier.

So where are the biggest price drops?

We’ve rounded up 9 destinations where the *price has dropped by over 10% compared to last year.

Costa de La Luz – 38%

Istrian Riviera, Croatia – 34%

Cote D’Azur – 32%

Tunisia – 27%

Algarve – 20%

Zante – 19%

Costa Calida – 16%

Majorca – 15%

Kefalonia – 14%

 

*Disclaimer: Price drops are a comparison between searches made between March 1 and April 1, 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. These searches were for holidays leaving between May 1 and September 30, 2019 compared to summer 2018. Percentages are based on the median price.

All based on two people travelling together and are correct as of April 3, 2019 but are subject to change and availability.

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