Jet2holidays reports surge in ‘flexible duration’ holidays
According to new figures from Jet2holidays, British holidaymakers are opting for holiday durations that make better use of their annual holiday entitlement – which could see the decline of the traditional 7 and 14 night holidays.
Package holiday specialist Jet2holidays offers flexible durations of 1 to 42 nights enabling people to choose the length of their holiday rather than being restricted into choosing a 7 or 14 night holiday because they are the only options. Giving customers this choice has produced some interesting booking trends. Jet2holidays has reported a surge in bookings for breaks of between eight and 13 nights in duration - one in five Jet2holidays customers have booked a summer break this year which falls in between the traditional one or two week break most people expect, up from one in seven in 2010.
Holiday experts Jet2holidays worked with life coach Jo Orgill to better understand the optimum holiday length to offer the maximum relaxation and restorative benefits for the holidaymaker. Jo said, “The ideal trip duration varies for all of us and at different times we may want more or less time away. For many, a nine night trip is the ideal as it enables people to have a clear seven day holiday between their travel days at either end of the trip. By having more than a week away we feel we have a better work/life balance and as result feel more rested and less stressed. We return home more refreshed and it lowers our risk of stress related illnesses. The opportunity to be away for longer is healthy for both mind and body.”
She continued, “Very often, a two week holiday can leave people with time on their hands at the end of the trip, meaning that they spend valuable holiday time worrying about issues back home and the mounting backlog of work that will be waiting for them back in the office. Also the fact that a nine night holiday only uses five or six days of a holiday allocation reduces the stress that many workers feel – that their leave time is so precious that they must maximise enjoyment of every minute – on a two week trip they often return home exhausted and anxious rather than rested and recharged.”
Jet2holidays findings are backed up by the Institute of Payroll Professionals research in 2010 which revealed that “three-quarters (75%) of workers think that the ideal length of time to be on annual leave in order to feel rested and recharged is eight or more days.” They also found that, “These research results indicate that workers in the UK may not be booking sufficient time off to feel the full benefits of a relaxing holiday.”
In addition the Office For National Statistics reported increase in trip duration, “People travelling abroad appear to be staying slightly longer. The average length of stay on visits abroad in quarter 3 was 11.9 nights, compared with 11.8 nights in the same period a year earlier and 11.3 nights at the start of the century (quarter 3 2001).” Source: Overseas Travel and Tourism - Quarter 3 2010
Steve Heapy, managing director of Jet2holidays said: “Two weeks away may be what we aspire to, but work commitments and a lack of holiday allowance can often make it impossible. But by carefully selecting the departure date, customers can book less days off work yet spend more time on the beach. We still offer 7 and 14 night holidays but our recent booking figures show that the standard seven or 14 night break is not everyone’s preference.”
“At Jet2holidays we believe in optimising our customers’ time off by offering flexible breaks. Jet2.com’s friendly flight times are carefully scheduled to get passengers to their resort and on the beach the day they arrive, so there’s no wasted days or turning up in resorts exhausted in the middle of the night.”
Jet2holidays generous 22kg baggage allowance as standard also takes the stress out of packing, there is plenty of room for extra items needed for a longer trip! Jet2holidays low deposit of £60 per person and part payment scheme enables people to plan ahead even if they are currently cash strapped to give them maximum time looking forward to their summer break.
Jet2holidays is currently offering £75 off every summer 2011 and winter 2011/2012 holiday booked before the end of February. To receive the £75 saving customers simply need to enter the promotional code ‘TVSAVE75’ when prompted. There is no minimum spend required to qualify and the discount is valid for all departures between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012.
Holiday seekers can search for their holiday online at Jet2holidays.com or in its brand new glossy 244 page holiday brochure. Jet2holidays helps people select their holiday by rating accommodation by holiday type – Family Choice, Adults Choice, Late ‘n’ Lively and Luxe Collection. Jet2holidays offers breaks in over 200 resorts across 40 destinations all flying with the friendly sister airline Jet2.com from 8 airports.
SAMPLE 9 NIGHT HOLIDAYS
Algarve, Portugal – 4* Luna Alpinus Falesia Suites – Save £75 per booking
The Luna Alpinus sits in a quiet location in Albufeira, surrounded by beautiful pine trees. This resort boasts fantastic amenities for water-lovers, from windsurfing and jet skiing to sailing – plenty to take your mind off your life back home.
Offer: £389 per person – price excludes £75 discount per booking – based on two sharing for 9 nights all inclusive, including transfers and 22kg of baggage, flying from Leeds Bradford on 15th May 2011.
San Antonio Bay, Ibiza – 3* Playa Bella Apartments – Save £75 per booking
Its location on the Punta Xinxo Beach makes the Playa Bella Apartments some of the best situated in Ibiza. Offering spectacular views of San Antonio Bay, the apartments are perfectly located to enjoy the famous party hot spots, tourist attractions, superb shops and restaurants for a great break from your routine.
Offer: £349 per person – price excludes £75 discount per booking – based on two sharing for 9 nights self catering, including transfers and 22kg of baggage leaving Manchester Airport on 14th May 2011.
Playa De Fornells, Menorca – 3* Carema Aldea Playa – Save £75 per booking
The Carema Aldea Playa is set in lovely gardens overlooking the picturesque Cala Tirant beach. Just a short walk to the pretty fishing village of Fornells with its pretty harbour and choice of shops, bars and restaurants, these comfortable apartments provide the perfect base for families and couples to spend some quality time.
Offer: £335 per person – price excludes £75 discount per booking – based on two sharing for 9 nights self catering, including transfers and 22kg of baggage leaving Newcastle Airport on 4th June 2011.