Christmas – A Personal View about going away for Christmas – (maybe a grumpy view !)

Christmas is nearly upon us all and many people will be preparing to go away for the festivities. However, I won’t be one of them. I am staying at home yet again. In fact, I have never been away from home at Christmas and it does not bother me in the slightest ! OK … I know that I am a travel agent and I love selling holidays to anybody who wants to go away, but who would want to go somewhere warm at Christmas ? Christmas should be spent somewhere cold. Eating Turkey on a beach somewhere warm like the Caribbean does not interest me. As I write this, it’s snowing  outside and the temperature is close to freezing, but I like it.

Most of the UK won’t be going away on holiday this Christmas. Like me they will be eating too much on Christmas Day and stuffing themselves with leftover turkey, with pickles, and pork pie and mince pies and the chocolate money that seems to always find its way into the house somehow. But to those of you who are going away I am pleased that the British Airways strike is not going ahead and I hope your holidays are enjoyable.

As 2009 draws to a close and we look forward to 2010 I hope that the economy picks up and the UK starts to gain confidence in its future. I hope that more of us go on holiday in 2010 because we deserve a holiday in the sun. It re-charges our batteries and makes us feel good, for a while at least !

What’s hot for holiday destinations in 2010 ?

Egypt and Turkey will continue to attract holidaymakers looking for a good deal.  These holiday destinations have invested in luxury hotels and improved airports and infrastructure.

Morocco and Tunisia will benefit from a quirk in the changes to APD, which means travelling there will become cheaper. Previously, Tunisia and Morocco were rated outside Europe and the tax was £40 per person. Now the two countries are in Band A and the tax is £11. So if you fancy a holiday to north Africa, Tunisia or Morocco could be the place for you.

Another hot destination for 2010 will be Dubai, as the emirate’s financial difficulties translate to good deals for holidaymakers. According to ABTA, the financial crisis has prompted a price war in hotel room rates to stimulate demand and a currency that is losing its value.

Dubai will also benefit from the opening of the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Dubai, and England fans stopping over on the way to the World Cup in South Africa starting in June 2010.

Naked cruising is also predicted to increase in popularity in 2010.  It is possible to do this at the moment in the  US with Texas-based Bare Necessities first chartering a Costa Cruises vessel to take 2,200 naked passengers around the states in 1991.

A further holiday trend shows demand for areas emerging from troubled times, such as Sri Lanka, which looks set to increase in popularity next year. Iraq is also promoting itself as a holiday destination for 2010 !

Don’t forget, of course, the traditional summer holiday destinations of Greece, Spain and Portugal as they still offer great value for money despite the poor exchange rate here in the UK for the Euro. The destinations are still far cheaper than a weeks holiday in the UK.

Finally, don’t forget that if you want a great holiday in 2010 then please call Global Holidays on 0845 299 4450 for great holiday deals and service from the holiday experts

Best wishes for 2010 – From David – Global Holidays Blog Editor

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