After a dark and dreary start to 2019, booking a holiday is providing some much needed escapism for Brits, as 'Sunshine Saturday' weekend booking data reveals many holidaymakers are choosing to extend their main holiday of the year; with increases in ten nights and two weeks holidays across European beach destinations.

Year round destination, Cyprus, has recorded the biggest growth year on year in long stay holidays at 18%* in figures released by leading online travel agent (OTA) Travel Republic, with popular value for money destination Turkey seeing a 16% increase and Spain achieving 6%.

These results come after the annual Holiday Habits survey by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) [i] revealed holidaymakers have focused on preserving and investing in their longer overseas break, in particular with foreign holidays of seven nights or more increasing in the year to August 2018.

Holidaymakers are also taking advantage of the UK bank holidays to make their annual leave stretch further. As the OTA reveals a similar increase** in long stay holidays to Spain, Turkey and Cyprus departing at Easter, as savvy bookers take advantage of 18 days holiday for just nine days annual leave.

Travel Republic's sale continues until 5th February 2019, with thousands of holidays available, including long stays over the Easter and May Bank Holidays for those wanting to make the most of their annual leave.

One example is two weeks in Tenerife on a self-catering basis at 4* Coral California, Playa de las Americas, for £438pp (a 10% saving of £42pp) based on two sharing when flying from Stansted on April 20 2019.

For a taste of luxury, two weeks in Turkey on an all inclusive basis at 5* Asteria Bodrum Resort, is available from £719pp (a 29% saving of £206pp) based on two adults sharing when flying from Gatwick on April 20 2019.

And for those looking to travel further from home, 17 nights in Phuket on a room only basis at 3* Ashlee Hub Hotel, Patong is available from £934pp (a 45% saving of £423pp) when flying from Heathrow on April 18 2019.

For further information, visit www.travelrepublic.co.uk

ENDS

* Comparison of bookings for holidays of ten nights and more, made between 26th December 2018 and 7th January 2010 with the same period the previous year, travelling throughout 2019.
** Comparison of bookings for holidays of ten nights and more, made between 26th December 2018 and 7th January 2010 with the same period the previous year, travelling from 18th to 21st April 2019.

[i] https://www.abta.com/industry-zone/reports-and-publications/abta-holiday-habits-reports/holiday-habits-report-2018 

Notes to Editors:

Press Contacts:
Vanessa Newland
0208 974 7201
PR and Social Media Manager Travel Republic
vnewland@travelrepublic.co.uk 

About Travel Republic:
www.travelrepublic.co.uk 
With more than two million holidaymakers booking through their websites in the UK and Ireland, Travel Republic is one of the largest and most well-established online travel agents in Europe. With access to over 300,000 hotels, 200 airlines and over 1,000 destinations, Travel Republic offers a breadth of choice for holiday makers. They have been successfully helping people book their hotels, flights and other travel arrangements since 2003.