| With the exception of your friends and family it | | | | To be honest there is no real excuse not to be |
| always seems to be the same type of people | | | | organised when it comes to booking your |
| you speak to about summer holidays. With me it | | | | sunshine holiday these days. Websites such as |
| always seems to be taxi drivers or barbers. After | | | | Superbreak offer fantastic ranges of beach and |
| the invariable discussions of how bad the weather | | | | apartment breaks across the globe and booking |
| is and asking how busy they have been on that | | | | anything from a three week hotel holiday to a |
| particular day the normal silence begins as your | | | | quick short break couldn't be simpler. The |
| mind drifts off on to other things. However, I | | | | advantage you get is you know exactly what you |
| often find the next step in conversation often | | | | are getting - at a competitive price. |
| leads to one party enquiring "Are you going away | | | | To many the thought of going on a beach holiday |
| anywhere nice in the summer this year?". By the | | | | for a short break would break with tradition, |
| time this question has been asked you have now | | | | however growing numbers of savvy travellers |
| encompassed the entire range of British small talk | | | | are discovering the joys of being in work one |
| obsessions - the weather, complaining about work | | | | minute and then basking on a sun kissed beach a |
| and summer holiday's. At least the last topic is fun! | | | | couple of hours later. Traditionally, the British are |
| It is possible to stereotype this conversation | | | | very predictable when it comes to holidaymaking. |
| further. How often for example have you had the | | | | Every year literally thousands of people take |
| following conversation; | | | | there usual two weeks off to find some sunshine |
| You : "Miserable weather today" | | | | in Spain, Greece or Florida. Beach holidays are |
| Service Sector Employee : "Yes very depressing, | | | | seen as the main annual break where people can |
| it is supposed to be like this all week" | | | | switch off for a fortnight, sit in the sun and |
| You : "So are you going anywhere nice on your | | | | unwind. |
| holiday's this year?" | | | | However, many forward thinking companies have |
| Service Sector Employee : "I think I'm just going | | | | started to challenge these traditions and open up |
| to book something last minute" | | | | UK consumers to the idea of beach breaks that |
| It is certainly true that the British love a last | | | | can be enjoyed over a shorter period of time. |
| minute bargain. No planning, no fuss and | | | | Perhaps one of the main reasons why such |
| inexpensive. What could be better? Just jump on | | | | breaks are becoming more accessible are the |
| an Easy Jet ( ) and head off to Costa Del Sunny. | | | | discount airlines such as Aerlingus offering cheap |
| To be honest there is very little harm in this as | | | | return flights to popular sunshine resorts such as |
| there are certainly many good deals to be had, | | | | Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Cyprus. Combining these |
| even if it does mean you are adopting the lucky | | | | discount flights with the abundance of hotel and |
| dip approach to holidaymaking. | | | | accommodation deals that are on offer means |
| However, what is a mistake is the common | | | | that beach breaks are becoming increasingly |
| misconception that the only way to get a real | | | | competitive. |
| discount holiday is to wait until the last minute | | | | Overall, taking 2-3 days to top up your tan is |
| before you book. Indeed often now the opposite | | | | becoming easier to do for the UK traveller and |
| is true with consumers being rewarded for early | | | | the appeal of being on a beach in an exotic |
| bookings. The other advantage of this of course | | | | location a matter of hours after leaving your |
| is it reduces the chances of ending up on | | | | work is strong - just don't always leave it to the |
| Watchdog in early September complaining about | | | | last minute to book - you will have a lot more to |
| the 40 minute walk to the beach and the builders | | | | talk about with your hairdresser as a result! |
| who woke you up every morning at 6.30 am. | | | | |