Research by Abbey Credit Cards has revealed that this year’s dissappointing British summer has prompted UK travellers to head abroad in the search for sunnier climbs.
Despite the current economic uncertainties, more than 15 million Britons intend to jet off abroad spending a collective £8bn.
The research also revealed that just over 1 million UK holidaymakers were so disappointed by the poor summer weather that they are opting for a holiday abroad for the first time in three years.
Among the most popular sunspots this winter are the western European destinations such as southern Spain and the Canary Islands, which are expecting almost 8 million visitors over the next few months. Other more exotic destinations include the Middle East, Latin America and Asia.
Flights from Southampton will now include the destinations Grenoble and Zurich which will be offered by Blue Islands, an airline based in the Channel Islands. Flights to Zurich will depart daily during the week with an extra flight being introduced on Sundays as of October 26th.
Blue Islands will join the airline Flybee in offering flights to Geneva.
Holidaymakers departing from Southampton will now have the choice of eight winter ski destinations across Europe.
Southampton airport customer service director, Mark Knox, said: “It’s fantastic that Southampton Airport will be offering passengers such a wide variety of ski holidays this winter. Ski enthusiasts can fly from their local airport to literally hundreds of Europe’s leading ski resorts.”
In the wake of much uncertainty in the travel world over the last six months many travel industry experts are predicting an increase in the popularity of package holidays, as travellers demand more security from their holiday deals.
ATOL-protected package holidays provide consumers with financial protection in the event of an airline failing, whereas customers buying flights or booking hotels direct do not have this protection.
Traditionally package holidays have catered for smaller budgets, but it is predicted that the increased interest in this type of holiday booking will see travel providers becoming more sophisticated and offering more up-market and luxurious package deals.
The World’s biggest and most famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest, got underway on Saturday 20th September and will continue until 5th October.
Visitors to the festival come from all over the world to sample some of Germany’s finest beers in the enormous, decorated beer halls specially constructed for the event.
This fortnight-long celebration of everything German is an excellent excuse for a spontaneous city break to explore the metropolis of Bavaria’s capital city.
While the festival is a major attraction for beer enthusiasts, the event also boasts a fair ground and a wide variety of German cuisine and crafts from all over the country.
Traditionally skiing holidays have been thought of as one of the more expensive types of holiday, but recent research has shown that there are some excellent skiing destinations in Eastern Europe offering great value accommodation and a fabulous ski experience.
Bulgaria’s increasingly popular ski resorts of Bansko, Borovets and Pamprovo offer great, low-cost deals on ski passes as well as top-class skiing facilities for skiers and snowboarders alike. Paragliding is also a popular sport in these areas.
Luxury ski apartments and charming, well-equipped chalets are available at the price of standard hotel rooms at other more up-market ski resorts around the world.
Slovenia’s central location and its unspoilt nature and uncrowded slopes make it an excellent choice for skiers. Its modern facilities and wide, open slopes make it the perfect location for those wishing to try their hand at skiing for the first time.
Sleigh rides, ice skating, ice climbing and hiking are among other equally popular activities at the resort. Modern apartments and chalets are available to suit all group sizes and budgets and all with stunning views of the surrounding mountain scenery.
A report by the Telegraph has revealed that short- and medium-haul destinations are becoming increasingly popular with British holidaymakers as increased fuel charges continue to push up the prices of flights to destinations further a field.
Morocco is enjoying increased popularity this winter and is served by a number of low-cost airlines. Marrakesh and the beaches of Essaouria will be popular destinations in the coming months as well as Tunisia.
Only a six hour flight from London, the islands of Cape Verde offer the white sands of the Seychelles and Maldivian waters but at a much cheaper rate.
The game parks and beach resorts of Gambia offer a less crowded and cheaper alternative to the wildlife safaris in Kenya and South Africa.
Mexico and Brazil are also excellent, affordable winter holiday destinations with British Airways offering direct flights to Rio de Janiero and the pound still strong against the Mexican Peso.
Cruises are also proving to be good value this season, with many lines including Ocean Village, offering week-long Caribbean cruises for under £700 including return flight.
The largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hawai’i, is home to the majority of the attractions which have made the archipelago of islands world famous.
The island is host to a number of boutique hotels which cater for all tastes, requirements and budgets.
The Beachtown hotel of Paia Inn offers visitors a fashionable and classic edge to their stay. The hotel itself has a certain trendiness to it while the characteristics of the old buildings provide a sense of history. A stunning beach, fine restaurants and modern boutiques are all within short walking distance.
For holidaymakers looking for a quiet retreat the Hanalei Colony Resort on the island of Kauai offers the perfect environment in which to withdraw, relax and unwind in beautiful tropical surroundings. The rooms are devoid of televisions and telephones, allowing for complete peace away from the buzz of everyday life.
The Palm Cliff House Inn is said to be one of the most sublime boutique hotels on the biggest of Hawaii’s islands. Each room has its own balcony with scenic views, a luxurious bathroom and private entrance to the room.
The “SkiWelt- Kitzbüheler Alpen” ski resort in Tirol, Austria is to unveil a revolutionary news solar powered ski lift which will come into service for the coming ski season.
The solar powered conveyer belt and T-bar style lift will take skiers and snowboarders from near the swimming lake at Brixen up to a new 8-seater cableway.
The aptly named “Sonnenlift” is a worldwide innovation with a photovoltaic system that provides enough energy to power the lift even when the weather is poor.
From December this year the ski areas of Kals and Matrei will be joined and will form East Tirol’s largest skiing area with 100kms of piste and guaranteed snow cover.
The island of Aruba in the Caribbean Sea is well known with those who seek out luxury destinations for their holidays. It is however less well known for its riding ranches.
The island has a wild-west style landscape and has four ranches which offer visitors western style riding along the islands breathtaking beaches.
The ranches cater for all levels of riding ability or rides through sand dunes, desert planes and black pebble beaches of the north of the island, or the smooth sandy beaches of the south.
All of the ranches offer group rides or private tours of the island with sightseeing including the historic California Lighthouse and Alto Vista Chapel.
Autumn is the perfect time for a colourful holiday break. The Times has compiled a list of the most colourful destinations for this season.
Lake Trasimeno in Italy is said to be at its most beautiful in the autumn, when the woods along the shoreline glow with the colours of autumn. The mild weather makes walking on the largest island or through the woods close to the picturesque village of Panicale an ideal pastime.
Romania’s mythical region of Transylvania and the Carpathian mountains covered in beech, oak and spruce are a breathtaking sight in the autumn. Many walking enthusiasts come here to experience the wildlife and beauty of the countryside. Small towns such as 13th-century Sighisoara offer insights into the history and culture of the area.
The Lot Valley in France offers an escape from the busier Dordogne and its wooded hills and vineyards provide the excellent environment for those wishing to take in the sights.
The wine region of La Rioja in Spain is the perfect destination for wine lovers as the harvest begins against a backdrop of stunning autumn colours.
The High Tatras Mountains in Poland boast breathtaking landscapes at this time of year with the forests glowing with reds and golds. Hiking and riding are popular activities for which the mountain town of Zakopane provides a great base.
The Association of SnowSports Countries (ASC) is planning to offer free skiing across 46 resorts in some of the most popular skiing resorts in Andorra, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland.
This one-off offer is open to 1000 genuine first time skiers, for one week only beginning either on the 17th or the 24th January 2009. The event is limited to those over the age of 18 and participants will only have to pay for the standard cost of their package holiday.
Free tuition, lift passes and equipment hire are all included in the package in order to attract more interest, as many travellers who are tempted by skiing are often put off by the added costs.
A survey of visitors planning to visit the TNT Winter Travel Show in London has revealed that Dame Helen Mirren is the dream holiday partner for men.
The 63-year-old actress was chosen ahead of younger celebrities such as Britney Spears, Sienna Miller and Katie Price.
Brad Pitt was voted as the dream holiday partner for women, with Daniel Craig, star of the James Bond film “Casino Royale”, coming a close second.
Many UK holidaymakers are choosing to go abroad this winter to escape the poor weather. Kylie Minogue was voted the men’s ideal winter travel companion with “Tomb Raider” star Angelina Jolie in second place.
Fashion guru Gok Wan beat England football star David Beckham into first place as the man women would most like to spend their winter holiday with.
The German city of Cologne is the ideal destination for a short city break. It is less than a hour away from St Pancras, via Brussels and offers a vibrant mixture of history, culture and architecture.
Upon leaving the train station, visitors to Cologne are met by the magnificent double-spired Gothic Cathedral, which reportedly took 600 years to build and houses the world’s largest swinging bell, weighing in at 24 tons.
There are a wide range of museums in the city, including the Ludwig Museum and the Chocolate Museum.
The Old Town offers a varied and lively nightlife with excellent pubs, cafes and restaurants offering the famous Kolsch beer.
A recent study by the Telegraph has compiled a list of international events this September to cater for all tastes, and providing the perfect reason for an autumn holiday break after the summer period.
The Ryder Cup will this year be held in Kentucky where golf enthusiasts can soak up the sporting atmosphere out on the tree-lined fairways of Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club.
Scotland’s many country houses and castles are opening their doors to the public this month, giving those seeking a cultural break the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country’s rich history.
The Orvieto feast, or Slow Food Festival, in Italy gets underway on the 29th September offering wine tasting and cuisine at a former monastery.
The first Singapore F1 Grand Prix for 35 years will take place on 28th September on a circuit in the Marina Bay area.
Many of Paris’ art galleries hold exhibitions this month including the louvre and the Grand Palais.
The 2008 Expo in Zaragoza will end on the 14th September and is themed on water and sustainable development. The site is located about 20 minutes from the town centre and there are shows and events throughout the day.
The Beethoven Festival takes place in Bonn this month with a celebration of the composers’ life and works.
September 13th sees a night of celebration in Madrid with the famous White Night during which the city will be kept awake and entertained into the dawn with street performances, music and dancing.
Vicenza is the location for the 500th anniversary of the architect Pallaido who trained in the city. A major exhibition of his work and awards will be displayed until January 2009.
A study by the private bank Cater Allen has show that British travellers are increasingly choosing holidays which offer them new and exciting activities.
The research showed that only one in five British tourists were planning to spend their next holiday relaxing by “doing nothing”.
One of the most popular activities is said to be trekking, with popular holiday destinations including Africa and the Alps. According to the study over a quarter of those questioned said they planned to go walking on their next holiday.
Other popular activities are scuba diving in hotspots such as Sharm el Sheikh or Australia, and snowboarding or even sandboarding.
The research shows that increasingly British travellers are looking for alternatives to the traditional family holiday destinations, and are becoming more adventurous in their choice of holidays.
Many american resorts are aiming to cater for the traditionally non-ski times of year with a range of new and exciting activities such as dogsledding, snowshoeing.
Activities such as kayaking are also highly popular with holidaymakers at holiday locations such as Lake Tahoe, voted number one ski destination by Orbitz in 2007/2008.
Holidaymakers are advised to research their winter holiday destination for non-ski events and activities that will add to their vacation experience.
Non-ski activities also provide travellers with the opportunity to get to know the culture and delights of the area around their chosen destination.
As the UK’s festival season draws to a close those festival lovers looking for more music and fun may wish to try a holiday break in Holland, where the autumn festival season is just getting underway.
The first event on the calendar will appeal to classical music lovers as some of the most talented young musicians from around the globe showcase their talent in performances in the Dutch Capital as part of International Gaudeamus Music Week. The event runs from 1st-7th September.
The very best of Dutch and Flemish Theatre is on offer at 15 venues across Amsterdam as part of the Amsterdam Fringe Festival from 4th -14th September.
The PINT Bokbierfestival, which celebrates its 31st anniversary this year, will run throughout October 2008 at Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam. The festival provides beer enthusiasts from all over the world with the opportunity to sample and celebrate the fine art of beer-making.
The Amsterdam Dance Event is said to be Europe’s best conference on dance and electronic music. At night numerous venues across the city showcase talent from all dance genres between October 23rd and 25th 2008. Over 100 international artists, including Armin Van Burren and the UK’s Artful Dodger will keep the party going throughout the night.
According to recent research cruise holidays are defying the rising issue of rising fuel costs by offering some of the cheapest deals for ten years.
P&O cruises claims that its cruise packages are around a third cheaper than they were ten years ago and says that sea travel has never offered better value for money.
The affordability of holidays on cruise liners has made them more attractive to younger holidaymakers and families.
A contributing factor to the falling cost of holiday cruises is the construction of mega-ships which have larger capacities.
A spokeswoman for P&O said that it would be unlikely that the cruise industry would suffer the same fate as the airline industry. She added: “Cruise companies seem to be more resilient to recession”.
The Telegraph has compiled a list of some of the top river cruises around the world which provide travellers with the best and most relaxing way to witness breath-taking scenery and countryside.
A cruise along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan provides cruisers with a deeply cultural experience. Holidaymakers can visit the temples at Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the temple dedicated to Horus at Edfu.
The attractions of both Moscow and St Petersburg can been enjoyed by cruising along the Volga River and other waterways which connect the two cities.
The Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam are the highlight of a cruise along the Yangtze River in China. Many travellers also choose to spend time in Shanghai before beginning the cruise.
A cruise along the Danube offers a cultural journey through European history, starting from the Hungarian capital of Budapest and sailing through Slovakia, Austria and Germany.
A cruise along the Amazon, the world’s largest river, takes travellers to the picturesque city of Santarem and many other stunning destinations.
Europe’s most popular cruising river, the Rhine, offers plenty of sightseeing opportunities along its 900 mile course, including fairytale castles, medieval towns and the impressive UNESCO World Heritage gothic cathedral in Cologne.
