UK October Half-Term Bookings Up 8%, Spain Leads

UK October half-term holiday bookings rose 8% year-on-year, with a clear contrast in booking timing between those who planned early and those who waited until the last minute, according to the Advantage Travel Partnership.

Data showed that 15% of holiday bookings were made in the last 30 days before travel, and 35% were made within 60 days, while a third of customers booked their trip more than six months in advance.

Spain, Turkey, and Greece led the demand for short-haul trips, while the United States, Japan, Singapore, the Maldives, and the UAE were the most prominent long-haul destinations. Dubai recorded the highest demand among UAE destinations following a remarkable improvement since summer, supported by the UK lifting its advice against non-essential travel there since June.

All-inclusive offers accounted for 33% of bookings, followed by half-board at 24%, indicating that travelers prefer cost clarity. Seven-day durations remained the most requested at 36%, followed by short stays of four nights. The CEO of the alliance said October has become a preferred travel month for Britons, calling for more flexibility in school holidays to spread demand outside the summer peak.

What do these terms mean?

Half-term: A short school holiday in the middle of a school term in Britain, taking place in October, February, and May.

Late booking: Booking a trip shortly before the departure date, measured here by bookings within 30 days.

All-inclusive: A travel offer that includes flight tickets, accommodation, meals, and drinks in a single price.