Holidaymakers are swapping the UK’s washout summer for sunnier destinations, with loveholidays revealing more Brits are booking last minute getaways compared to last year.
Almost two thirds (64%) of the online travel agent’s current bookings are for ‘lates’ – holidays departing in the next 90 days – a 5% increase on the same period last year.
Those wanting to book a last-minute summer holiday needn’t break the bank, however, with new analysis from loveholidays identifying the most cost effective travel periods and destinations to visit.
Sitting just west of Barcelona, the cheapest short-haul beach destination is Blanes, Spain. A seven night holiday in the coastal town averages at £287 per person and offers golden shores and average high temperatures of 29°C during the summer months.
Other affordable short-haul beach options include Ipsos, Corfu, averaging at £294 per person for seven nights, and Vlore in Albania, £329 per person on average for a week – both locations boasting blue waters, stretches of sandy beaches and average temperatures of 27°C.
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Dona Paula in India and Fort Lauderdale in the USA offer the cheapest last minute long haul deals, costing an average of £707 per person, £784 per person and £812 per person for seven nights, respectively.
For those flexible on destination, September is currently the cheapest month to book overall, while the first week of October is the cheapest week.
For those tied to school holidays, loveholidays’ data goes on to reveal late August as the cheapest period to travel, with a seven-night holiday in the last week of August up to 8% cheaper than late July, on average.
Cheapest average short-haul destination based on price pppn between July and October
| Rank | Destination (Short haul beach) | Avg.cost (Jul-Oct, 7 nts) | Destination (Long haul beach) | Avg.cost (Jul-Oct, 7 nts) |
| 1 | Blanes, Spain | £287pp | Bur Dubai, UAE | £707pp |
| 2 | Tarragona, Spain | £294pp | Sharjah, UAE | £714pp |
| 3 | Ipsos, Greek Islands | £301pp | Jumeirah Beach, UAE | £742pp |
| 4 | Castellon, Spain | £315pp | Dona Paula, India | £784pp |
| 5 | Comarruga, Spain | £315pp | Fujairah, UAE | £791pp |
| 6 | Poros, Greek Islands | £336pp | Fort Lauderdale, USA | £812pp |
| 7 | Vlore, Albania | £343pp | Santa Maria, Cape Verde | £819pp |
| 8 | Aghios Gordios, Greek Islands | £343pp | Halong Bay, Vietnam | £854pp |
| 9 | Cala’n Blanes, Balearic Islands | £350pp | Boca Chica, Dominican Republic | £868pp |
| 10 | Albena, Bulgaria | £357pp | Rodney Bay, St Lucia | £882pp |
loveholidays’ top last-minute summer 2024 deals:
Blanes, Spain from £279pp (September) – Book a 4* 7-night stay
Ipsos, Greek Islands from £309pp (September) – Book a 3* 7-night stay
Vlore, Albania from £429pp (August) – Book a 4* 7-night stay
Bur Dubai, UAE from £515pp (September) – Book a 3* 7-night stay
Fort Lauderdale, USA from £855pp (August) – Book a 4* 7-night stay