More Brits to spend Christmas abroad

christmas abroad

More Brits are to spend Christmas abroad in 2014 than last year – and holidays are cheaper this festive season too.

The claim comes from leading online travel agent On the Beach which claims that as temperatures in the UK plummet, more of us than ever are heading to sun-kissed  Spain and its islands – the most popular destinations for Brits this Christmas.

The Canary Island of Tenerife is the most popular hot spot for festive getaways this year, with Lanzarote the second most popular. However, Lanzarote is also showing the biggest year on year increase in bookings, up a massive 84 per cent on last year’s festive season.

The Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh is the third favourite destination this December, with sales up 67 per cent on the previous year.

Yet another Canary Island, Fuerteventura and the Portuguese Algarve region make up the top-five most popular destinations for Brits this Christmas.

The research also found that many of the most popular hot spots for Brits are cheaper this Christmas compared to last.

Agadir, Morocco’s premier holiday destination, is showing the greatest savings with the average cost of a holiday down a whopping 53 per cent on last year.

Even holidays to the number one island of choice – Tenerife – are proving cheaper, down 23 per cent. The average price of a break on the Portuguese garden island of Madeira also costs up to 21 per cent less year on year.

Bookings at On the Beach reveal that December 23 is set to be the busiest day of travel, as families jet off in time to settle into beach life for Christmas Day.

However, On the Beach predicts airports will still be busier than usual on the December 25, with bookings for those leaving on Christmas Day up 69 per cent on the previous year.

The company’s Alistair Daly said: “Our bookings show that this year more Brits than ever before are packing up for Christmas and chasing the sun. Spain and its islands have always been a popular choice for families, couples and friends offering great value holidays, all just a short flight away.

“Other beach hot spots such as Agadir and Madeira which have experienced a decrease in costs making holidays even more affordable, are set to see an influx in holidaymakers over the next 12 months.”