Travellers replace traditional fortnight holiday with shorter breaks

Research by a leading travel company has revealed that holidaymakers are swapping their annual fortnight in the sun for shorter holidays.

Bookings of two-week breaks fell 14 per cent during the summer while at the same time bookings for weekend breaks and eight and nine night durations grew 191 per cent and 124 per cent respectively.

The poll by Monarch Holidays (www.monarch.co.uk) found that holidaymakers were looking to maximise their time away but minimise the cost of their trip.

Managing director Liz Savage said: The eight and nine night holiday durations enable holidaymakers to take only five days leave from work and incorporate two weekends into their time away meaning the maximum time away for a minimal time off work.""

As low inflation in the UK causes the pound to continue its slide, more holidaymakers are booking all-inclusive packages to minimise the amount they spend in a foreign currency, added Ms Savage.

""The attraction of all-inclusive holidays is mainly due to the decreasing value of the pound and families looking to lock their costs in prior to travel said Ms Savage.

Also, the huge increase in holidays being taken outside of the Eurozone, particularly Egypt, where 90 per cent of all holidays booked are on an all-inclusive basis.""

Sales of self-catering holidays, seen as a cheaper option, are also up though half-board hotel packages are down, according to Monarch.

According to the poll 70 per cent of Monarch customers were planning to take a winter sun holiday this year in spite of the recession and 11 per cent were planning a ski holiday.

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