Greece is the word for late holiday deals

late holiday deals

Debt-stricken Greece is seeing a surge in holiday bookings this year. The country and its islands are among the most popular destinations for holidaymakers seeking late deals.

Bookings are up 58% on last year, according to beach holiday specialist On The Beach.

The online travel agent compared bookings made between April 20 and June 15, for departures after June 1 and found the sun drenched island of Zante (Zakynthos, above) is leading the way for last-minute holidays, with sales up 115% on the previous year.

Other Greek islands performing particularly well in the lates market include Crete (+62%), Corfu (+47%), Kos, (+42%) and Rhodes (+30%).

Last minute holiday bookings to Spain are also performing well this year, up on average 54% on the previous year.

The ever popular Costa Brava region is set to be the overall Spanish winner, with bookings up a massive 199% on the previous year.

Resorts across the Costa Blanca region are also outselling last year’s late deal market, with bookings up 72%.

Other destinations proving popular for last minute holiday include the Turkish resort of Bodrum (+75%), the Balearic island of Menorca (+67%) and the Cypriot resort of Paphos (+35%).

Alistair Daly, Chief Marketing Officer at On the Beach said: “Our booking data shows that 2015 is set to be a bumper year for last-minute holidays, as holidaymakers take advantage of the fantastic last-minute savings.

“After a difficult couple of years, Greece looks set to prosper this summer as British holidaymaker’s book last-minute deals in their droves.”