Ferry holidays are on the rise
Online ferry ticket aggregator, Directferries.co.uk, has experienced a record surge in the number of people booking ferry trips during the October half term following a relatively quiet summer.
The site has seen a 57 per cent increase in bookings this half term when compared to the same period last year. The ferry brand is attributing October’s sudden rush in bookings to the number of UK families looking to take a break abroad after opting to stay at home this summer to watch national events such as the Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic Games.
When we were planning our family holiday this year, it seemed crazy to us to leave the country during the summer when so much incredibly exciting stuff was happening right on our doorstep
Of these bookings, France topped the list of the most popular half-term holiday destination with 28 per cent of ticket purchases, while Italy and Holland took second and third place respectively.
Matt Davies, director of directferries.co.uk, said: "With so many families staying at home to watch an amazing British summer of sport and royal celebrations, it’s no wonder that we’re now seeing record numbers of bookings for European holidays before winter sets in."
Mrs Beaney from London is among one of those who chose to save her family holiday until later on in the year as she didn’t want to miss the excitement of being in London for the Olympics Games.
She said: “When we were planning our family holiday this year, it seemed crazy to us to leave the country during the summer when so much incredibly exciting stuff was happening right on our doorstep.
"We felt it was really important to stay in the country to soak up the fantastic atmosphere and allow our kids to witness first hand this once in a life time event. Instead, we’ll be grabbing an autumn break this October with a short trip to France,” she added.
Top 5 European Half Term Holiday Destinations according to directferries.co.uk
1. France (28%)
2. Italy (20%)
3. Holland (18%)
4. Belgium (17%)
5. Denmark (8%)
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Shabana Adam