The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) estimates that 2.1 million will go abroad this bank holiday weekend (Friday 26 May to Monday 29 May). As schools' half term falls this weekend, thousands of families will be escaping the cloud and rain at home.

Mainland Spain, the Canary and Balearic Islands and Portugal are the best selling short-haul destinations. Egypt and other North African countries have continued last year's record sales. The USA is booming once more as the dollar falls on the currency markets with old favourites New York and Florida leading the way.

City breaks have been the outstanding success story of the last few years and this week Barcelona, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam top the list, but Eastern Europe is catching up fast with Prague, Talinn and Kracow selling like hot cakes.

Over 1.5 million will be departing from UK airports with 410,000 from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick, 110,000 from Stansted, 62,000 from Birmingham, 160,000 from Manchester, 35,000 from Nottingham East Midlands,65,000 from Luton, 60,000 from Glasgow, 50,000 from Edinburgh and 20,000 from Aberdeen.

For those who don't fancy flying, over 600,000 will be going over and under the Channel to France, Holland, Belgium and Spain including around 65,000 on the Eurostar.

Justin Fleming ABTA President said: "The last few weeks terrible weather has given an even greater incentive to people to head abroad this weekend where they are guaranteed good weather and the first taste of a proper summer."

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Contact: Keith Betton, Frances Tuke or Sean Tipton on tel. 020 7307 1900 or 07850 781 057 out of office hours.