Bank holiday exodus begins as Britons go in search of the sun

IT has been a summer to remember in more ways than one.

But while the Olympics helped engender a sense of national pride through extraordinary sporting feats, the recent downpours have only united people behind the view that the weather in this country is little more than a lottery and we’re just as well booking time off in March as we are in July or August.

So with summer drawing to a close before it even really got started, and forecasters predicting heavy rain yet again for parts of England, it’s perhaps not surprising that people are falling over themselves in search of a last minute break in the sun.

The August Bank Holiday is busy at the best of times but this year looks like it’s going to be even more hectic than usual as around 1.8 million Britons jet off to popular tourist destinations like Spain, Greece and Turkey. It’s estimated that 400,000 people will fly from Heathrow over the weekend, with 150,000 from Manchester and 25,500 from Leeds Bradford.

Travel organisation Abta say that as well as the poor weather in the UK there are several factors making the eurozone a popular choice for holidaymakers, with the pound at a four-year high and reports that prices in bars and restaurants have fallen.

The problem is that with so many people trying to get away at the same time and with city breaks to places like Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin, also proving popular, there aren’t enough flights available. This means that prices, even on low cost airlines, have gone through the roof, with one travel commentator pointing out last weekend that you could find cheaper flights to New York than you could to Malaga.

But even if you are able to find reasonably-priced flights, getting back could be tricky. “Return flights are the problem because everyone who’s been away, whether for a week, two weeks or a month, are all trying to get back in time for their kids to start school,” says travel writer Sarah Woods.

“Having spoken to some of the big tour operators, they’re saying there’s been a big surge in last- minute deals unlike anything they’ve seen for a long time. People are going to destinations where there is guaranteed sunshine,” she says.

“Earlier in the year I think most people were planning to stay in the UK because they wanted to be here for the Olympics, but because the weather has been so awful people are now looking to get away.”

Holidaymakers have increasingly turned to the Internet to find the cheapest flights and best accommodation deals, but Woods says the best deals right now are likely to be found with high street tour operators.

“These days a lot of us go online to find the best deals ourselves but I think in this instance people are better off going to a travel agent because they still have holidays to places like the Caribbean and Turkey and there are bargains out there. The internet isn’t always king.”

If you are one of those people jetting off to the sun, spare a thought for those attending outdoor events, like the Leeds Festival, this weekend.

Although as Kate Hopcraft from Hotels.com points out, there’s been a surge in internet searches for hotels. “It appears that Brits are sick of the mud and rain and have no desire to camp in sodden conditions, and seem to be opting for a hotel stay, choosing comfort over camping.”