Last-minute summer deals will not be in short supply despite ongoing demand, according to independent travel agents.
Agents said bargains were still available for the key months but admitted prices were higher than 2022 and stressed clients had to be flexible.
Meeting demand for specific properties or durations was becoming a struggle, they said, particularly adjoining hotel rooms or two-bedroom apartments in popular destinations.
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Ahead of a trading update in which Tui said its UK summer programme was 64% sold, chief executive Sebastian Ebel suggested that last-minute bargains would be in short supply for the German market this summer, telling German newspaper Bild: “Spontaneous bargains will be the absolute exception.”
But agents said that is not the case in the UK, with Turkey, Bulgaria and the Greek islands offering some of the best deals, while Spanish resorts and all-inclusives were holding fast on price.
Seaside Travel owner Nicola Park said: “The deals tend to be in places like Kefalonia and Skiathos. We’re never going to see those £99 deals come back.”
Idle Travel director Tony Mann said per-person prices for August started at about £550 for the Med, with some free child places still available.
“Prices in August are dearer than last August, and if customers want specific hotels or dates we might find less availability, but that’s similar to years ago. People cannot expect their first choice,” he said.
Spire Travel owner Paul Knapper said agents had to “think outside the box”, adding: “Family rooms and two-bedroom options are almost non-existent for the school holidays.”
Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson said availability would inevitably “dwindle” closer to departure but added: “Our agents are using their product knowledge to help customers find the right trip.”
Around 60% of Barrhead’s new bookings are for summer, indicating a “healthy lates season”, she said.
It is tricky to find last-minute bargains but not impossible
Premier Travel managing director Paul Waters said high summer prices were encouraging some families to book for 2024. He cited £4,707 for seven nights in Majorca this summer, including flights, all-inclusive hotel and transfers, for a family of four, and said the same holiday in 2024 was selling for £4,080 – £627 cheaper.
“When families see this sort of price difference you can see why they are booking next year,” he said.
Despite this, 60% of sales through Premier’s branches last week were for 2023; 17% for departures within six weeks; and 32% for July to September. Most clients were not willing to compromise on product but realised they had to pay more, Waters said.
Advantage Travel Partnership chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes agreed: “There is a general acceptance that costs have gone up. It is tricky to find last-minute bargains but not impossible.”
In total, she said 69% of members’ bookings last week were for summer, with the Canaries, Greece and the Balearics the top destinations.
C The World director Carolyn Park said sales remained buoyant but stressed: “Some people say ‘find the right holiday and we’ll book’, while others are living on pre-Covid prices, so we have to do a fair bit of bubble‑bursting.”
Inspired Travel managing director Kate Harris said May trading had been better than expected, and predicted that continued poor weather would further boost sales.