The great escape

Adrian Woodcraft at Thomson Holidays says: “In recent weeks, we’ve seen a marked rise in demand for long-stay holidays next winter. Trips of 21 and 28 nights are very popular for retired couples, as they are affordable and tend to be booked early as people plan ahead.”

The most popular options from Thomson between October and April 2012 include Spain, the Canaries, India, Kenya, Egypt, Tunisia, Malta, Cyprus, and Majorca.

Many regular visitors think some of these areas are better out of season than at the height of summer: in Benidorm, Thomson offers 21 nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Flamingo Oasis from £899, including flights ex-Newcastle on November 5.

On the Red Sea coast of Egypt, Thomson offers 21 nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh from £1,249, including return flights ex-Gatwick on November 28.

Long-haul is good value too: 21 nights’ B&B at three-star Highland Beach Hotel in Goa leads in at £1,095, ex-Gatwick on November 5.

At Saga Holidays, where at least one passenger must be 50-plus, they are used to dealing with customers who don’t have to return for a long time: their packages include travel insurance, return flights, transfers, Saga representative and meals.

There is also a promise of no single supplement on any hotel accommodation.

Saga spokesman Carl Catterall says: “We are taking many more customers away for long-stay winter breaks than ever before. They have the spending power and many hope they will save by avoiding Britain’s sky-high energy bills.

“More people than ever seem keen to abandon the dark and cold of a UK winter and opt for warmer climes. It is also great value and great fun to be away with people who share a love of the winter sun.”

Four weeks’ all-inclusive at Salobrena Hotel on the Granada coastline of Southern Spain, leads in at £999 with departures from November 7-13 and January 4-10.

Saga’s most popular long-haul bolthole during winter remains Sri Lanka: four weeks’ all-inclusive, with no single supplement, at Club Palm Bay, Marawila, in a bungalow amid tropical landscaped gardens, starts at £2,147.

At Thomas Cook, long-stay packages are available to destinations including Turkey (Antalya), Egypt (Hurghada), Tunisia, Canaries, Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, with long-haul options including Goa and Cancun. Flights mostly depart ex-Manchester or Gatwick, with some from Birmingham and East Midlands.

From November 13, Thomas Cook offers 49-nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Sentido Phoenicia Hotel in Hammamet from £2,139, and at the four-star Kanta Resort in Port el Kantaoui from £1,587, both departing from Gatwick.

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