TODAY'S snowy weather will have undoubtedly turned the public's thoughts towards summer holidays - and a Wirral travel agency has revealed the top destination trends for holidaymakers this year.

Barrhead Travel say January is typically the most popular month to book a holiday as people look to secure their trips for the year. The company is predicting this month will be one of its busiest on record as customers take advantage of early booking discounts and deals.

The top destinations booked for 2024 so far include:

  • Tenerife 
  • Barbados
  • Mallorca
  • Lanzarote
  • Alicante
  • Dubai
  • Med cruising from Southampton
  • Barcelona
  • Canada
  • Turkey

The favourite destinations for Barrhead Travel’s customers in 2024 include European hotspots such as Tenerife and Alicante, while cruising holidays from Southampton are also amongst the most popular choice this year.

All-inclusive holidays remain the most popular type of holidays for summer 2024, accounting for more than 35% of bookings.

Alongside demand for the all-inclusive holiday, there is a noticeable growth in cruising particularly amongst families and couples, which the travel agent firm says points to interest in seeking great value-for-money, as well as an expanding cruise market.

It notes that the number of holidaymakers aged under 40 choosing to cruise has grown by over 30% since 2019.

The travel firm has revealed that other types of holidays on the rise include touring and adventure, up 110% from 2023, as well as solo travel (up 19% in 2023) and multi-generational bookings (up by 29% in 2023).

Booking data from Barrhead Travel indicates that holidaymakers are seeking out longer breaks, with the average length of stay now at ten days – up from nine in 2023.

Jacqueline Dobson, President of Barrhead Travel, said: "This time of year remains the most popular time to book a holiday. Cold weather, dark nights, and the festivities behind us, it’s clear that many people want something to look forward to.

"There has been a gradual trend of customers booking earlier – both to take advantage of early booking deals and discounts as well as to secure availability for their preferred date and destination.

"Getting the best value-for-money is top priority for people and we’re seeing a move towards all-inclusive breaks as well as cruising and escorted touring which have so much included in the price.

"We know how important holidays are to people, and we are seeing demand for multigenerational holidays continue to rise as people go away as part of a large family group to make the most of spending time together.

"From taking advantage of these early deals, to financial protection and general peace of mind, we’re seeing a mass return to reputable travel agents.

"This demonstrates just how important high street retail culture is and we hope it will continue to grow in 2024."