Spain comes top for half term hot spots

Alicante was one of six Spanish cities that dominated the top ten most searched for flight destinations over the half term holiday period, according to flight search engine, Skyscanner. It seems families are keen to take their last chance for sun before winter sets in, with 9 of the top 10 half term holiday destinations being beach/sun holiday spots.

The top ten most searched for flight destinations during the 2008 autumn half term period, according to Skyscanner.net:

1. Alicante (Spain)
2. Malaga (Spain)
3. Tenerife (Spain)
4. Palma (Spain)
5. Faro (Portugal)
6. Dalaman (Turkey)
7. Murcia (Spain)
8. Lanzarote (Spain)
9. Paphos (Cyprus)
10. Amsterdam (Holland)

Spanish destinations dominated the chart, with 6 out of the top 10 being in the country. Portugal, Turkey and Cyprus each had one destination in the top ten, but France, Italy and Greece did not make the favourites list at all.

Amsterdam was the only non-sun city to feature in the top ten, suggesting that half term holiday makers definitely prefer a sunny break over a city break.

Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and Chief of Business Development said:

“Spain has always been very popular with British holiday makers, and despite heavy competition from other Mediterranean countries, it seems it’s still the favourite, with Brits keen to take advantage of the country’s warm weather, relatively low prices and close proximity to the UK for their half term holidays.”

So why are these places so popular? Skyscanner takes a look at the Top 5 Half Term Holiday destinations.

Alicante – with miles of beach terrain on its doorstep, it’s little wonder that Alicante is so popular with UK holidaymakers, but along with all that sun, sand and water sports which make ideal family fun, Alicante itself is a historic Mediterranean port, with picturesque harbours, café lined streets, busy markets and flashy marinas.

Malaga – with an average of 320 days of sunshine per year, the chances are, you’ll see plenty of rays during your stay. Malaga has the twin benefits of being a sophisticated, modern, culture-packed metropolis, combined with the relaxed vibe of a beach town, which means great value and plenty to do, whether you’re a culture vulture, a beach comber or a sports enthusiast.

Tenerife – situated off the coast of Africa as part of the Canary Islands, Tenerife offers a more exotic alternative to mainland Spanish beach destinations. With the often snow-capped volcano Mount Teide providing an impressive backdrop to the endless sandy beaches, Tenerife is one big outdoor activity centre. And with pine forests, plunging cliffs, not to mention the ocean to play with, there’s plenty of scuba diving, biking, hiking and sailing on offer for visitors.

Palma – the cultural and commercial centre of Majorca, Palma is the gateway to this popular Mediterranean Island. There’s no shortage of beaches on Majorca, and plenty of family activities too; why not take a boat trip round the island to explore the hidden coves that are inaccessible by car, ride the vintage Soller train up to the mountains, or join in one of the many local festivals that take place throughout the year?

Faro – gateway to the Algarve, start your trip with a stroll through Faro’s charming outdoor café-lined, traffic-free streets. The region boasts golden beaches, calm waters and for the most part, blue skies and sunny weather. The kids can enjoy organised sailing, water skiing and wind surfing whilst mum tops up on the tan and dad plays a round of golf.

For more information and flight bookings, log on to Skyscanner.net.