Luxury travellers race to book up Europe's exclusive villas

Well-heeled travellers are rushing to secure secluded villas in Europe for late summer trips, according to one luxury tour operator.

As travel restrictions begin to ease across the Continent, British holidaymakers are eyeing up escapes towards the end of the season, said Kerry Golds, managing director of Abercrombie and Kent and Cox and Kings.

“We anticipate a spike in demand for bookings towards the end of the summer,” she said. “We’re already seeing a big increase in enquiries for our European villas and other holidays closer to home on the continent.”

The Government has said the UK’s quarantine policy will be reviewed on June 29, and with it the possible announcement of bilateral “air bridge” agreements. It then seems likely that the Foreign Office will lift its blanket ban on international travel allowing for the return of overseas holidays.

Research by the firm has found that 57 per cent of 2,500 of its customers will look to Europe above elsewhere for their next holiday, ranking above the UK, with 85 per cent favouring villa holidays.

More than 70 per cent said their holiday budget remains unchanged despite the pandemic.

Golds was speaking to Telegraph Travel to reveal that the sibling tour operators had now refunded 80 per cent of the customers due money after cancellations due to the coronavirus.

At one point the travel industry - both operators and airlines - owed £7billion to travellers in refunds due under consumer law. Not all companies have been able to keep pace and have come under heavy criticism for failing their customers.

“The Package Travel Regulations (PTRs)… were never created with the global crisis we are currently experiencing in mind,” said Golds. “It’s at time like this you know who your friends are; collaboration was key during this period of uncertainty.

“If someone couldn’t go on a holiday with us, they deserved their money back. We’ve been open and honest with our clients regarding delays of funds and we’re pleased with our progress to get monies back in the pockets of the client, where they belong.”

Golds said the PTRs are in need of urgent review to protect both consumer and the industry in a post-pandemic age. “We had hoped that the Government would action the call from the industry to change some of the rules,” she said, suggesting disappointment at inaction from the Government.

She said the company was able to act quickly to rescue guests as the world went into lockdown in March.

“Our country managers are incredibly well connected with local government, embassies and society,” she said, “We often knew about border closures before the Foreign Office so were able to act quickly and get the last seats on planes for our clients.”