Blue Monday (18th January) is the most depressing day of the year, when New Year's resolutions have failed and the longer sunny days of spring seem an age away. Traditionally it is the time when many of us book our main summer holiday and while sales of those are strong, easyJet holidays are also reporting a rush for last minute city break bookings.  Whatever holidaymakers' reason for feeling gloomy, they seem determined to escape the winter blues, with more than half of easyJet holidays sales this week for short breaks, departing in the next couple of months.

The site offers great value for money year-round and now is no exception. They currently have a large number of city break bargains on offer, but as an extra incentive on that most miserable of days (and over the weekend preceding it), will also be offering £45 off ALL summer package holiday bookings of seven nights or more.

Last minute rush to get away

Amsterdam and Barcelona are currently proving the most popular city break destinations. Reykjavik is hot on their heels - maybe that shouldn't be a surprise at this time of year, given that Iceland appeared in second place in the World Happiness Index 2015*.

Last minute city break bargains include:

Prague: Two nights at the 5 star Grandior Hotel Prague on bed and breakfast basis costs £99 per person including flights from London Stansted on 1 March.

More details: http://bit.ly/1RhWjlJ

Amsterdam: Three nights at the 4 star Memphis Museum Square Hotel on room only basis costs £96 per person including flights from London Southend on 25 January.

More details: bit.ly/1RzY2mR

Barcelona: Three nights at the 3 star Ilunion Auditori Hotel on room only basis costs £105 per person including flights from Liverpool on 26 January.

More details: bit.ly/1ONnJ0F

Reykjavik: Three nights at the 3 star Hotel Island on bed and breakfast basis costs £278 per person including flights from Edinburgh on 24 March.

More details: bit.ly/1J0KSfQ

A traditional summer beach break?

When it comes to summer beach holidays, it looks like recent world events may well be impacting on holidaymakers' choice of destination. Many are opting for more traditional beach destinations with Portugal and Spain taking the top six spots over the last week. The Algarve, which was in 5th place, has hit the number one spot with Costa Del Sol, Tenerife, Madeira, Benidorm and Majorca next in line.

Among the summer holiday bargains currently on offer (based on 2 sharing) are:

Algarve: Seven nights at the 4 star Quinta Pedra Dos Bicos Hotel in Albufeira on half board basis currently costs £642 total (£321 per person) including flights from Bristol on 21 June. With the £45 per booking discount, the price over the weekend will be a total of £597.

More details: bit.ly/1KbkQBq

Tenerife: Seven nights for two people at the 4 star Palm Beach Club in Playa de las Americas on half board basis currently costs  £636 total (£318 per person) including flights from Gatwick on 18 June. With the £45 per booking discount, the price over the weekend will be a total cost of £592.

More details: bit.ly/1UMf3I7 

Malta: Seven nights at the 3 star Blue Sea St George's Park in St Julian's on self-catering basis currently costs a total of £490 (£245 per person) including flights from Manchester on 20 June. With the £45 per booking discount, the total price over the weekend will be £445.

More details: bit.ly/1SMmBMD

Prices have been rounded up to the nearest pound.

Mandy Round, General Manager, easyJet holidays commented “It is interesting that while customers are still clearly keen to have that all important summer holiday to look forward to, it would appear that they can't wait that long and need a short break to see them through the short, dark days of winter.”

The £45 discount is valid per booking made between 14-19 January, for departures between 28 May and 22 September 2016, when using the code HOLIDAY45.

All holidays are financially protected under the ATOL scheme.

To book visit www.easyjet.com/holidays or call tel: 020 3499 5232.

Prices include flights and accommodation and are based on 2 sharing unless otherwise stated but exclude transfers and baggage. Some payment methods attract a handling fee. 

Full terms and conditions of the offer will be available on the easyJet holidays website.

-ENDS- 

*According to the World Happiness Index*, Switzerland is the world's happiest country, followed by Iceland, Denmark and Norway. The index is produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) an initiative of the United Nations.