Flight Centre reveals holiday booking surge

January 23rd is the worst day of the year, according to Dr Cliff Arnall, a top UK psychologist from the University of Cardiff. Cold weather, mounting debts, fading Christmas memories, job dissatisfaction and a lack of motivation all add up to a general feeling of depression across the UK.

To help ease those January blues, Flight Centre is offering a range of unbeatable holiday deals for Brits looking to brighten a miserable month by booking a holiday escape. Flight Centre’s expert travel consultants have also pulled together their top ten tips on booking a bargain holiday in 2008.

Flight Centre’s, Steve Norris, Head of Marketing in the UK, said, “January can be a long and tiring month but booking a holiday gives people something to look forward to. At Flight Centre we have seen a 25% increase in bookings compared to this time last year - with people desperate to get to a 2008 trip booked up. And not surprisingly, people have been using their computers at work to research that dream holiday as we’ve noticed a 60% increase in page views on our site between the hours of 12 and 2pm.”

Norris continues, “Our consultants are able to offer expert advice and recommendations on any aspect of travel from places to stay and which excursions to take, to personally recommending restaurants and hotels. Hopefully our top tips will make things easier for consumers and help brighten up everyone’s January.”

The Flight Centre Top Ten Tips for booking a bargain holiday:

1. Consult high street travel retailers. They often have access to special offers that aren’t available on websites
2. Ask about alternative airfare routing options
3. Travel mid-week for the best fares
4. Avoid peak travel times if possible. Christmas, Easter and school holidays are very expensive times to travel
5. Ask for companion fares with airlines, which means cheaper tickets for people travelling together
6. Book accommodation and flights together as travel consultants can negotiate better deals on both
7. If you are doing a lot of internal travel in a particular country e.g. Brazil, book an air pass
8. If you are a student or under 26, a small number of travel retailers, including Flight Centre, have access to specially negotiated student and youth fares
9. Sign up to travel retailers’ weekly newsletters to stay on top of late deals and special offers
10. Watch out for hidden extras when booking online. Fares and taxes can be complicated and website prices often increase as you progress through the booking

January’s Top Deals:
Luxury Marrakesh - 7 nights from £409
Holiday includes direct return flights with British Airways and seven nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the 5* Hivernage hotel and Spa.
To book visit: Flightcentre.co.uk quoting reference: RAKLONPAC2.
Valid for travel between 15 Jun 08 - 31 Aug 08, offer ends 31 Mar 08.

Singapore City & Island Beach - 11 nights from £895
Holiday in the Garden City includes return flights, three nights’ accommodation at the 3* Copthorn Orchid hotel, return boat transfers from Singapore to Bintan Island and eight nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation at the 3* superior Nirwana resort hotel. To book visit: Flightcentre.co.uk, quoting reference: SINLONPAC2.
Valid for travel between 01 Apr 08 - 15 Jun 08, offer ends 03 Mar 08.

Dubai Jumeirah Beach Hotel - 5 nights from £899
Holiday includes return flights with Emirates and five nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the stunning 5* Jumeirah Beach hotel.
To book visit: Flightcentre.co.uk, quoting reference: DXBLONPAC3.
Valid for travel between 11 Aug 08 - 30 Sep 08, offer ends 31 Mar 08.