FAMILIES should be booking their holidays now as “limited capacity” is likely to kill off any discounts and bargains offered next year.
Phil Salcedo, UK Head of Market for Holiday Pirates, warns that “capacity will be reduced in 2021” not just due to demand but also due to social distancing restrictions and hotel closures.
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You should book your 2021 holiday now, or risk paying much moreCredit: Alamy
Holidays for summer 2021 are already being booked, but now is the best time for getting a discount, with prices likely to only increase.
He said: “Whilst hotels and resorts will be looking to fill their rooms, capacity has been taken out of the market during the pandemic. The message is, if you are brave enough, book now while the strongest deals are still around.
“Hotels in some of the hardest hit tourist destinations are offering discounts of up to 40 and 50 per cent. The strength and availability of the discount will largely be dictated by the prevailing level of consumer confidence in the new year.”
Mr Salcedo also said that the news of a vaccine has given travellers a “cautious boost in confidence” making a small window of bargains right now.
Staycations are already soaring in popularity – meaning getting a private home or more secluded hotel may be difficult to find as people opt for holidays with fewer people around.
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Popular destinations are likely to be more popular than usual, meaning limited capacity next yearCredit: EPA
He added: “Domestic self-catering and AirBNB providers are already benefiting from an increase in demand from consumers less willing to travel abroad, and more keen than ever to isolate in a private property – a trend that is likely to persist into 2021 and beyond, so aggressive discounts will be rare.
He continued: “We are advising consumers to book ahead to lock in that bargain, as it looks like capacity will be reduced in 2021 and, when international borders start opening and restrictions ease, deals in popular destinations won’t be as compelling as they are currently.”
Camping holidays for summer 2021 are already seeing a booking boom – camping website Pitchup.com had 1,400 bookings for next summer, an increase of 500 per cent.
Canopy and Stars who offer glamping holidays had more bookings for August 2021 than this August, while holiday home owners are warning they have very few houses left.
Brits who are nervous about booking a holiday should check the terms with the tour operator, as many are offering free cancellations or date changes.
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PC Agency’s Paul Charles said families should book now as tour operators and travel agencies are likely to offer discounts now to make up for a difficult summer.
He told Sun Online Travel: “Travel agencies are needing some money to tide them over, so they are offering some very good deals right now.
“I think now is the time to book because you’ll guarantee decent prices before hypothetically they rise closer to next summer.”
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