Budget conscious Brits choose long-haul villa holidays
Online villa specialist villarenters.com has seen a surge in bookings for long-haul villas this winter, with sales up 24 per cent.
Destinations including Thailand, South Africa, Barbados and Jamaica have all seen huge growth this winter as British holidaymakers look for ways to get away for winter sun without spending a lot on expensive hotels.
Caribbean islands are notoriously expensive in terms of hotels, eating out and shopping – and are set to see prices soar further thanks to the rise in Air Passenger Duty. However a villa holiday can cut back costs dramatically according to villarenters.com managing director James Marchant.
He said: “For example, we have a villa in Barbados in St James, with a private pool and Jacuzzi, which is going for £1071 for a week in mid-November. It sleeps six people so that works out at just over £175 a head for the accommodation – this is incredible value compared to hotel prices.”
Traditionally, Florida has been the market-leader for long-haul villas in the UK for many years thanks to the lure of the theme parks. However Thailand is starting to really boom in terms of volume for villa holidays, something that Marchant attributed to the boom in package holidays to the country in recent years.
“People are feeling far more confident about travelling to Thailand now more than ever before. The people who are now choosing villas have, more than likely, been on a few hotel holidays in Thailand, have seen a few different areas and worked out which is their favourite. Then they’re choosing to return – but in a villa, with friends or family – for a more independent holiday experience,” he said.
The independence and value for money are not the only attractions for booking a villa. It also gives holidaymakers the chance to save money while they are in resort by eating in, rather than having to go out for food every night.
“If you’re not on a full-board or all-inclusive deal this can be especially expensive in the Caribbean,” said Marchant. “With a villa however, stocking up on a few bottles of wine, getting in some food from the supermarket, means that you’re able to budget your holiday cash far more wisely.
“At the end of the day, we live on an island with cold winters and people want to get away –this means largely long-haul. Thanks to economic factors, many are choosing to forego a winter holiday, but there are ways of getting away for some winter sun without breaking the bank, and a long-haul villa holiday might be just the ticket.”
Top five long-haul villa destinations for villarenters.com:
Florida
Thailand
Barbados
South Africa
Jamaica
Sample deals: (correct as of October 26)
Barbados: Vida Mejor Villas, Holetown near St James
villarenters.com/61012
From £1071 a week starting November 19, for 6 people
Thailand: luxury villa on Patong Beach, Phuket
villarenters.com/37149
From £1074 for a week for 6 people, for seven nights from November 27
Malaysia: Penang, town house in Tanjung Tokjung
villarenters.com/56403
From £645 for a week for up to 8 people from mid-November