Snap up a bargain

Major tour operators and leading travel agents are launching a range of special offers and discounts to try and stimulate demand. But long-haul prices for the second half of this winter are already in freefall and the fear is that regular travellers may just wait to firm up their summer break until much later.

Platon Loizou, managing director at Jewel in the Crown Holidays, says: “We’re selling seats at crazy prices to cut our losses. Basically, consumers are so punch-drunk at soaring living costs, fuel prices, rail fares and day-to-day living that they are reluctant to spend on travel, both short-haul and long-haul.

“Prices must fall by about £200 to get people interested; 14 nights this winter in Goa, originally £725, is selling around £525. In summer, two weeks in a hotel in Marmaris, Turkey, starts at £299.”

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At Greece specialist Sunvil, managing director Noel Josephides says: “Travellers are spoiled and keep expecting cuts, but problems at Thomas Cook show this can’t go on forever.” His company has so far secured around 2,000 bookings for Greece this year, paying an average £650 per head. “But much of that is down to repeat bookings and word-of-mouth recommendation,” adds Josephides.

Long-haul specialist Hayes & Jarvis has been offering discounts of 30 per cent and more. With a £799 lead-in, there’s a 33 per cent saving on 10-night all-inclusives in early May at the three-star Mermaid Hotel & Club, in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. With return Emirates flights and in-resort transfers, the cut is worth £398.

Prices are plunging in Thailand too: Hayes & Jarvis’ eight-night getaways in Cha-Am next April gives holidaymakers entry to the Far East from just £639 per person (saving £301). In the Caribbean, they are offering seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Butterfly Beach in June from £669, saving £191.

Niel Alobaidi, Hayes & Jarvis commercial director, says: “Eagle-eyed consumers should watch out and snap up deals quickly.”

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Thomas Cook is slashing up to £400 off millions of holidays for booking made up to the end of this month for a range of self-catering, all-inclusive, adult-only and family holidays. Through the Thomas Cook subsidiary, Cresta, three nights in Paris in March costs £192, saving £192.

But that is dwarfed by Italy specialist Citalia’s claims of potential savings in its January sale up to £2,700 per couple in a five-star hotel in Puglia. Three-night breaks start from £189, which includes free nights, board and room upgrades.