Holidays, Greece, Spain etc and costs

[Kimbers]

Anyone else watch the programme the other night filled with Restaurant, Hotel and Villa rental owners crying and saying that they can't afford the 50% drop in business this year?

It was based on Corfu I think, but I read about the Greek, Cypriot and Spanish issues in the paper the other day, which confirmed they have lost half their business in the last 12 months.

Now, I'm one of those having holidayed in the UK this year. But I thought, after reading about it, that I would check out the costs of holidays in these particular places. Especially as I have holidayed in these area's within the last 5 years.

I was astounded to note that, without exception, all of them are much more expensive than in previous years.

Is it just me? Or does the holiday industry not understand the correlation between cost and numbers booking?

If you need the bodies over there to spend their money surely make the holidays cheaper, cost even, fill up the hotels and villa's and people will bring their money to spend when there!

Or am I wrong?

[MartinL]

It appears to be flight costs greatly increasing due to fuel and higher tax that is pushing up the price of the package holiday.

I found hotels to be similar or less this year..........

I normally book flights and accomodation seperate to get the best deals outside of school holidays.

[gghc87]

Agree about the flight costs also the trend now is to increase pricing for late bookings especially on flights so its all about timing. Some of the early flight bookings can also be expensive so as said its all in the timing.

[Bibs]

I can't see 'holidayed' as being a real word...

[Kimbers]

I have it patented. Like Codgered (as in being hit by an old codger).

[slewthy]

prices very high everywhere

BUT WAIT!!

Holiday (Xmas) season upon us so deals are to be had.

Thompson began their offers today.

However, if you wait until the dip between Xmas and new year (plus another week maybe), the deals will be there for grabs.

[Gonzo]

We went to Crete in the summer ( - and very nice too..) on a put together package.

While the flights were well pricey, the car, accommodation and eating out were pretty cheap.

What was different this time round though, was that everyone wanted paying in cash - even for the apartment.

[fmxa]

We were in Santorini a few months back, busy everywhere we went and this was as the season was ending. Also noticed a lot of places asking for cash vs credit cards (to avoid paying tax I guess) but overall I didn't see slow down there.