Summer holiday rush

The summer holidays start this weekend and we are predicting more than two point five million people will be travelling abroad. All looking for cheap late deals and last minute hot offers.

Research for Cheaperholidays shows that summer holiday bookings out of the UK were up one per cent at the end of June compared to the same time last year, despite the gloomy economic climate. For the best deals see Travel Price Comparison

The biggest growth in bookings this year is for Egypt, which is up 29%, Turkey up 23% and the US up 9.5 per cent.

Growth is also being seen for France, Malta and the Caribbean (Hurricane season now).

Spain remains the number one holiday destination and has seen increased bookings for the Canary Islands, and the mainland Costa resorts, despite the strength of the euro against sterling.

Cheaperholidays also reports a 23% rise in popularity of the all-inclusive holiday, as away to keep and eye on budgets

Capacity cuts by major tour operators means there are less late deals available for the peak summer.

The summer escape will see 460,000 leaving from Heathrow, 260,000 Gatwick, 150,000 Stansted, 160,000 Manchester, 70,000 Birmingham and 150,000 from the main Scottish airports.

Hundreds of thousands will also be heading out through regional airports and over or under the channel.

“Spain for example, is still the top destination this year, but as a mature destination, and with the strong euro, greater growth is being experienced in the mid to long haul destinations outside of the eurozone, Such as the Egypt Red sea resorts and Turkey