Trend Five

The ‘new’ package holiday

We’re not talking about a return to the 1960’s, but with people increasingly keen to maximise every minute of their holiday time a key trend for 2008 is expected to be the increased booking of airport transfers, car hire, city tours and even theatre and attraction tickets online at the same time as hotels and flights, to maximise precious time at the destination.

Expedia.co.uk saw a significant rise in bookings of ‘holiday extras’ in 2007 such as theme park tickets, city tours and ski hire. TNS research for Expedia shows that currently city tours (34 per cent) and excursions (31 per cent) are booked at the same time as a third of holidays, while tickets to cultural events (38 per cent) and additional sport or leisure activities (27 per cent) are also popular at the time of booking.(12)

A fifth (21 per cent) of people also now book a car at the same time as a hotel and flight, showing the increased desire to be independent and mobile at their destination. Almost a third (31 per cent) of travellers book previously organised excursions in order to become very well acquainted with the people and the country.(13)

While the traditional package holiday may be in decline as greater numbers of travellers move to book a flexible holiday online, convenience and ease still play an important role in the type of holiday we choose and the way we book. Holiday-makers are also becoming increasingly savvy about how to get the best deal, looking out for early booking savings, planning trips during the destination’s quieter or ‘down’ times and avoiding key local festivals and conferences.