Brits flock to beaches abroad following wash-out summer at home
According to figures released by HomeAway.co.uk, the holiday rentals website, in the second quarter of 2012 Brits fled en masse to sunnier shores abroad. Following the wettest April and June on record, demand for beach holidays was strong, with the Cote d'Azur, Algarve, Majorca and Malaga among the top five most popular destinations for holidays in the second quarter on HomeAway.co.uk. The findings mirror recent figures from easyJet, which saw passenger numbers increase by 10.9 percent to 16 million in the three months to the end of June, with Spain and Portugal as popular destinations.
Top 10 destinations for holidays in Q2 2012 on HomeAway.co.uk
1. London
2. Cote d'Azur - Riviera
3. Algarve
4. Majorca
5. Malaga Province
6. West Country
7. Barcelona Province
8. Alicante - Costa Blanca
9. Paris region
10. Florida
Results from a holidaymaker survey conducted by HomeAway.co.uk in July 2012 also highlighted a strong demand for beach holidays. According to the study, 43 percent of holidaymakers went on a beach break in the second quarter of the year, while 25 percent opted for a rural retreat. Just 17 percent were planning to spend their main holiday at home this year, the vast majority due to the unpredictability of the UK weather. However, more than half (57 percent) would consider holidaying at home if we could count on some sun.
And in terms of UK property, it seems low house prices may be forcing second homeowners to rent out their properties instead of sell, as prices in popular holiday home regions, including London, continue to decline. On HomeAway.co.uk the UK was the second best performing destination in terms of growth in supply of properties added to the site in the second quarter of the year, with a 32 percent year-on-year increase. The top growth areas were London, the Cotswolds, Yorkshire, Cumbria, North East England and South East England.
Holiday rentals can provide a good way for holiday home owners to offset costs of ownership with almost 62 percent of owners advertising on HomeAway.co.uk managing to rent out their UK property for 16 weeks a year or more, according to a survey conducted by the company in July.