Single travel on the rise for Christmas and New Year 2011
Singles travel continues to increase and there is a new trend for single travellers to break away during Christmas and New Year according to Just You, one of the UK's leading tour operators for single travellers.
Overall single travel for the company was up by a third in 2010 and is up by around ten per cent in 2011 to date. A quarter of Just You's travellers are actually married, but people choosing to travel at different times to their partners. However the rise in single travel also reflects both increasing divorce rates and a decline in marriage rates - official statistics show these are now as low as 40 per cent.
Andrew Dufty, marketing director for Just You, said: 'We're finding that single travellers are now increasingly exploiting their lack of ties by booking breaks away before, or during Christmas and New Year. They are abandoning the laborious preparations of Christmas shopping by making a break of it and then many are also avoiding the possible chores of Christmas itself - cooking dinner and having to charm uninvited and often unwanted relatives. We're finding customers who simply want to escape and let someone else do all that work in more interesting surroundings. Plus as we never include a single supplement, our customers know that they can look forward to a fantastic break at a great price.'
Just You's top 10 pre-Christmas and Christmas and New Year breaks include:
Warwick and Warwick Castle, three days from £299
Cheltenham, four days from £429
Wiltshire, four days from £419
Andalucía, six days from £785
Croatia, six days from £699
Edinburgh, five days from £499
London, five days from £659
Durham, five days from £599
West Country, five days from £519
Christmas in Prague, five days from £699
Those looking to follow the trend and get their festive plans sorted well in advance can still get their hands on the outstanding deals on offer. A couple of the most popular include:
Home
New Year in Wiltshire - departure 30 December - four days from £419
Singles holidays specialist Just You has a four day break staying at the four star Swindon Marriott Hotel in Swindon. The trip includes an excursion to the Great Western Railway Museum and the Swindon Designer Outlet as well as visiting the atmospheric standing stones at Stonehenge and Avebury and as the historic town of Marlborough. On New Year's Eve, there will be a black tie gala dinner in the Mediterrano Restaurant and then guests can dance the night away to welcome in 2012.
Short Haul
Croatia for Christmas - departure 22 December - six days from £669 save £30
Singles Holidays specialist Just You has a five night half board break to Croatia starting in historic Dubrovnik in a three star hotel close to the beach and a short stroll from the city centre. This tour includes sightseeing excursions of Dubrovnik and Mostar which is just over the border in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. Christmas Day can be spent however the guest pleases and a festive lunch will of course be arranged to celebrate the day. Optional tours include Montenegro, Kotor and the resort town of Budva.
Long Haul
Trip of a lifetime - Christmas - Spirit of India - departure 21 December - 13 days from £2,799, save £200
Singles holidays specialist Just You has an 11 night break on a half board basis. Guest on the tour get their own room and no single supplement. This comprehensive tour explores the wonders of the Golden Triangle destinations, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra as well as incorporating tigers in Ranthambore, spiritual enlightenment in Khajuraho and sacred places in Varanasi. The spirit of Christmas will not be missed on this trip as special Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners will be included as well as tours of Old and New Delhi, Amber Fort & Jaipur city tour, two game drives in Ranthambore, a visit to Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Khajuraho Temples, a boat ride on the River Ganges, Varanasi and Sarnath
For more information about Just You breaks, visit justyou.co.uk