DINKYs sitting pretty

With children safely back at school, it is time for the couples without kids – dubbed DINKYs (Dual Income No Kids Yet) – to make their holiday charge.

Thomson is predicting that half a million DINKYs will jet off this month, lured by significantly lower prices and child-free resorts.

Turkey is emerging as the best-value short-haul destination for these late- season breaks. Despite a slow start to bookings to the country in May and June, with travellers wary of unrest in Istanbul, UK tourists have since cashed in on the rapid rise in the value of the pound against Turkey’s lira – up by 15 per cent during the past five months, generating an extra 199 lira on every £500 exchanged. This rise has occurred while the pound has been struggling against the euro.

David Swann, of Travelex, says: “Sterling has slumped by four per cent against the euro this year, meaning holidaymakers find themselves around e25 worse off for every £500. Turkey, on the other hand, is providing exceptional value. The average cost of a meal for two in Turkey is only £16, against £32 in Spain, meaning flying that little bit further afield can provide huge savings.”

These savings can be stretched even further in October, when Thomson Airlines is promising big reductions on air fares to Turkey, with return flights from around £169.

“In September, you might still pay around £250 return for Turkey”, says Nigel Harris, who runs Artemis Travel, finding British tenants for privately-owned villas and apartments on the Aegean coast. “But Thomson Airways has cut prices by £50-60 for October, meaning we can offer 14 nights self-catering in the resort of Altinkhum from £232 (six sharing), while 14 nights self-catering in a beach villa in Didim starts at £232 each (eight sharing).”

On top of these bargain prices, there’s an extra incentive for couples taking early autumn trips to Turkey. As Britain waves goodbye to one of its sunniest summers on record, Turkey is still basking in temperatures above 30C – and will continue to do so well into October.

Tim Buckman, of lowcostholidays.com, says: “Turkey is an ideal destination for holidays in September/October, you’ll get a sunshine guaranteed stay at a pretty reasonable price.” 

Some of the deals his website is offering include seven nights’ self-catering at three-star apartments in Marmaris from £151, ex-Birmingham October 17; and seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Belkon Hotel in Belek, near Antalya, from £251, ex-East Midlands September 30.

Other bargains can be found with Olympic Holidays, offering seven nights’ B&B at a four-star hotel in Marmaris, with flights ex-Manchester on September 30, starting at £249, saving £174; and seven nights’ half-board at the four-star Epic Hotel & Apartments, between Marmaris and Icmeler, from £279, again with flights from Manchester, in early October.

Thomson (0871 230 2555 and www.thomson.co.uk); www. lowcostholidays.com (0800 111 6271); Olympic Holidays (0844 576 2386 and www.OlympicHolidays.com