20 of the best January sales for summer holidays

This will be the strangest ever January for the holiday sales. Normally it is a time when families start thinking about their summer break and tour operators and agents try to tempt us with discounts and special offers. That is still happening -–we’ve listed some of the better deals below. But this year it is harder than ever to work out whether we are being offered a bargain which we should snap up, or whether  prices may drop further if we wait a little longer.

Certainly – after a disastrous year in 2020 – the travel industry is desperate for bookings and some cash to refill their coffers. And my sense is that there is also a lot of pent up demand from people desperate to have something to look forward to. Perhaps too, stuck at home during lockdown, many of us have more time than usual to do our research.

But, before you do jump in and book, there are a few things worth considering. First, remember that airfares and package holiday prices are not fixed. They vary according to demand. There may be a notional price, but with traditional sun and sand holidays this is usually set well above the expected selling price. So a “discount”  is often a way of seducing you into thinking that you are getting a better deal than you really are. The same is true of “free” added extras or “free” child places.

The latter generally represent a saving on the child's airfare and meals, since to qualify for the deal, children will be expected to share their parents' room. They can be good value, but be very wary of holidays in self-catering apartments. Such “free” places do not usually count towards room occupancy – so if, as a family of four booking an apartment and opt for a free place for one of your children, the other three in the family will have to pay extra "under-occupancy supplements". In some cases this can make your overall holiday price more expensive than if you were to pay an ordinary adult fare for the child. So check both pricing mechanisms before booking.

Be cautious too about “low deposit” offers which allow you to book with only a very small deposit. They can be useful, especially if cash is short in the aftermath of Christmas, but they should not be seen as something which you could cancel later without taking too much of a loss. The small print on these offers nearly always requires you to pay the full deposit a few weeks later, and the contract will stipulate that this extra money is payable even if you decide to cancel.

Despite these cautionary notes, do remember that by booking now you will certainly get the best choice of peak season holidays and that is worth something when the best accommodation in the most popular destinations, and flights at peak times, will surely book up quickly, despite the current uncertainties. These destinations – the main holiday islands in Greece, the Spanish Costas, Balearics and Canaries in particular – are also the safest bets to book since they are most dependent on British holidaymakers and will be keenest on tempting us back when the lockdowns lift.

Finally, in the current climate we all have to accept that certainty is in short supply. Who knows what the situation will be with regard to the pandemic come summer. So make sure that you book with a bonded tour operator so that your money is protected if the company goes out of business. And I would recommend going with an Abta (abta.com) or Aito (aito.co.uk) member – the two organisations have a code of conduct and a dispute resolution service if things go wrong.

1. The Algarve

Ryanair (ryanair.com), unsurprisingly, has come out with some of the cheapest flights this summer – though beware its incredibly strict new baggage allowance rules. Flights to Faro are some of their most tempting, going for £14.99 one way. Besides, if your sole plan is to laze on a beautiful beach on the Algarve, you hardly need to pack much anyway.

Those looking for a bit more structure should take advantage of a Hays Travel (haystravel.co.uk) offer on a seven-night stay in the self-catered Pinheiros da Balaia Villas, starting from £292 per person. Flights included.

2. Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol has long been a popular choice with holidaymakers, with Marbella becoming a mecca for sunseekers each year. Look outside the usual line-up of beach resorts to Malaga, however, and you’ll be rewarded – this once slightly dowdy beach city has had a huge cultural revival in recent years. A seven night stay in the Santos Gran Hotel Miramar with easyJet Holidays (easyjet.com) costs from £946 per person, with an additional £150 discount in the January sale. Flights, breakfast and private transfers included.

3. Costa Brava

For those who like to go a little more off the beaten track, the Costa Brava is a rugged but no less beautiful alternative to the Costa del Sol. A seven night stay in the Salles Hotel & SPA Cala del Pi resort with EasyJet Holidays (easyjet.com) costs from £1,049 per person, with an additional £150 January sale discount. Flights, breakfast and private transfers included.

4. Crete

Greece’s largest island has plenty of room for social distancing, and plenty of summer 2021 travel offers. The best we’ve seen is Scott Dunn’s holidays to Daios Cove (scottdunn.com), with bookings done before January 11 coming with up to £300 flight credit a discount of up to 40 per cent. Prices start from £1600 per person for a seven night all-inclusive stay. Flights and private transfers included.

5. Mallorca

You can holiday on the Balearic island of Mallorca this year for less than £500 a head – Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com) are running a seven night trip to Sun Club Eldorado, El Arenal, a three star all-inclusive, starting from £239 per person. Flights included.

6. Costa Blanca

The most famed of all Spain’s costas, the Costa Blanca holds a glut of white, sandy shores to relax on. Ryanair (ryanair.com) is currently selling flights to Alicante, the costa’s best known city for £18.99 one way this summer.

7. Amalfi Coast

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is a deliciously beautiful summer proposition, marred only by the frequently premium prices hotels along the coastline command. Thankfully, some of the area’s most swish properties are currently available to book, if not for a song, then at least for significantly less than usual. British Airways (britishairways.com) is running trips to the Bellevue Syrene, a five star hotel in Sorrento, from £1600 for seven nights bed and breakfast. Flights included.

8. Rhodes

Known for both beach resorts and ancient ruins, a summer holiday in Rhodes this year is looking incredibly affordable: Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) are running a week’s all-inclusive package holiday to Evita Bay this summer, starting from £180 per person (for two adults and two children). Flights included.

9. Ibiza

Ibiza, usually known as something of a party island, should be returning with a slightly calmer look this year thanks to a number of Covid rules cracking down on the island’s more hedonistic offerings. Take advantage of the peace with Scott Dunn’s (scottdunn.com) seven-day holiday to the luxury Nobu Hotel, starting from £1900 per person – a further 20 per cent discount and a complimentary three-course lunch will be added to this rate. Flights, breakfast and private transfers included.

10. Sicily

The largest island in the Med, Sicily, is awash in azure blue waters that should hopefully be back open to Britons this summer. Better still, Belmond, one of the last words in luxury hotels, has not one, but two of its Sicilian properties on sale at the minute. A seven-night holiday with British Airways (britishairways.com) to the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Sicily starts from £1825 per person, while the same length of stay to the Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea (offer here) starts from £1681 per person. Breakfast and flights included.

11. Malta

The historic, sun-lashed archipelago of Malta is an ideal choice for both a cultural break and a beach focused holiday. British Airways Holidays (britishairways.com) are offering a seven night stay in the five-star Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, starting from an incredible £517 per person. Flights included.

12. Tenerife

The Canary Islands look like a good bet for a summer holiday this year, with the islands no doubt champing at the bit to get tourism up and running again. Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) are offering a seven-night trip to the five star Ritz Carlton in sunny Tenerife, with prices starting from £599 per person. Breakfast and flights included.

13. Costa Dorada

Get a taste of Spain’s Catalonia region on the Costa Dorada – the golden coast – an area known for its calm waters and family-friendly appeal. Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com) are offering a seven night all-inclusive stay in the four star Hotel Oasis Park hotel, from from £292 per person. Flights included.

14. Mykonos

Have a five-star stay on the glamorous island of Mykonos, without the five-star price: British Airways (britishairways.com) are offering a seven-night stay at the Ammos Hotel for £552 per person. Flights and breakfast included.

15. Florida

Those angling for a long-haul trip might want to chance a holiday to Florida, to be some of the first international visitors back into Disney World. Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.co.uk) are offering a seven-night trip to the five-star Rosen Shingle Creek hotel in Orlando from £690 per person. Flights included.

In general, there are some incredible Orlando offers to be snapped up this month. Tui (tui.com) has several generously discounted trips available: a seven-night trip to Disney’s Beach Club Resort starts from £1512 per person, one to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge starts from £1649 and one to Disney’s Yact Club Resort starts from £1503. All prices will have a further £300 knocked off the price with code ‘sale’.

16. Dubrovnik

Holidaymakers’ hopes of a Croatian holiday never came to fruition last year, but this year may see the country open up its borders again to tourists. If so, Dubrovnik will be one of the top destinations for visitors – steal a march on the inevitable competition for hotels, with Scott Dunn’s seven night trip to Sun Gardens Dubrovnik (scottdunn.com). Prices start from £1400 per person, but those booking before January 31 will get a 20 per cent discount. Flights and private transfers included.

17. Turkey

As always, some of the best deals to be had can be found in Turkey, which should have a speedy summer opening to tourists this year, if last year was anything to go by. One of the best deals we’ve seen comes from Thomas Cook (thomascook.com), which is offering a week, all-inclusive for adults and two children in Bitez Garden Life – a family run hotel on the Turquoise Coast – for £190 per person.

For something more luxurious, a seven-night all-inclusive stay in the five star Labranda TMT Bodrum is also available from Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com) from £279 per person. Flights included.

18. Corfu

Verdant Corfu is as rich with offers as it is olive trees. EasyJet Holidays (easyjet.com) are offering a seven-night all-inclusive stay in the Roda Beach Resort & Spa, from £617 per person with an extra £100 off in the January sale. Flights included.

Don’t fancy all-inclusive? Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) has a deal going on a week’s stay at the Ccb Bruskos Hotel, with seven nights room-only going for £111 per person.

19. Santorini

Pricey Santorini – the Greek island with reputably the best sunset in the world – is ever so slightly more affordable if booked this month. British Airways Holidays (britishairways.com) are offering a seven-night stay in the Canaves Oia Epitome in their honeymoon suite, which comes with its own plunge pool and prime view of the aforementioned sunset. Prices from £2104 per person, with flights and breakfast included.

20. New York

A travel corridor with New York was said to be coming late last year, but has been postponed due to the UK’s recent surges in infections. This may still happen in time for a summer holiday however, and in anticipation Travel Supermarket (travelsupermarket.com) are offering a seven-night stay in the Hotel Riu Plaza in New York Times Square from £659 per person. Flights and breakfast included.