Mediterranean
its Simpson Exclusive range of properties in destinations such as Andalucia and Ibiza. “The couples market has seen significant
improvement on last year while we have also seen some guests spending big money on high-quality properties in our Exclusive portfolio,” adds Matthew Simpson. Prestige Holidays says there has been a trend
for clients to travel with their extended families, as well as increased demand for “experience- style” holidays in destinations such as Croatia and Sicily, where hiking and other non-resort activities are a major attraction. Skillicorn adds: “Travelling as a group and
likely to be “even
more of a squeeze” on hotel availability in the key Med destinations this summer. “If clients leave it too late to book they
will struggle for availability, especially for families wanting interconnecting rooms and considering the firm favourites and most sought-after hotels or resorts, such as The Ritz-Carlton Abama and Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque in Tenerife,” she adds. Matthew Simpson, of Simpson Travel, says that increased demand can push up flight prices to Majorca but this is not discouraging clients from booking holidays to the island. Flights to the French Riviera can also suffer from the same issue but “not to the same severity”. While geopolitical events may have changed
the destinations being booked, the kind of holidays upmarket clients are looking for this year hasn’t seen that much change.
ITC Luxury Travel’s Gabrielle Cowley says that clients are interested in staying in villas within a resort complex so they also have access to more facilities such as a spa, restaurants and childcare. “We are getting a number of special-occasion enquiries which involve a ‘wow’ hotel or experience for groups or families. We also find some clients are picking particular hotels due to the activities they offer, such as windsurfing or golf,” adds Cowley. Simpson Travel says villa holidays have
“performed slightly better” than the hotels it features, and there has been more demand for
Mediterranean magic no expense spared – or more of a bargain The cost of luxury
Italian job
Those wanting to splash out on a Mediterranean island resort holiday may be interested in Sardinia’s Forte Village. Classic Collection has seven nights at the resort’s Hotel Bouganville from £2,266pp, with half- board, flights from Gatwick to Cagliari, and transfers, classic-
collection.co.uk
Family bargain
Families looking for a school holiday luxury bargain in August could scoop up a deal at Pine Cliffs in the Algarve; Western & Oriental offers seven nights from £2,199 for a family of two adults and one child sharing a premium deluxe room, including flights, breakfast and transfers,
westernoriental.com
Tranquil retreat Try the activities and spa facilities at the Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas near Agios Nikolaos in Crete; Simply Luxury by Travel 2 offers seven nights’ half-board in a sea-view room with flights from Gatwick to Heraklion, plus transfers from £1,299pp,
travel2.com
sharing rooms or villas can save on costs. Also, grandparents often foot the bill and, as those of us with grown-up children know, kids are happy to travel with their parents if they pay for the holidays – whatever their age.”
Making a splash Being predominantly a mature market, the main Med destinations do not enjoy the benefit of having a raft of new luxury hotels opening every summer, but there are some significant arrivals this year, such as Hyatt’s first property in Majorca, the 142-room Park Hyatt. Instead most of the buzz within the region
is created by the major refurbishment of existing properties or by addition of new facilities or services. Among those properties unveiling major
refurbishments for the summer are Forte Village in Sardinia, Crete’s St Nicolas Bay Resort, Grace Santorini, Four Seasons Cyprus and the Anassa in Cyprus. New ocean-view suites have also been added at both Pine Cliffs on Portugal’s Algarve coastline and at Crete’s Daios Cove Luxury Resort. In terms of new hotels over the next few
years, it will be worth keeping an eye on the Balkan states with One&Only set to open its first European property on the Montenegro coastline in 2018, while Four Seasons is planning a resort on the Croatian island of Hvar, which is scheduled to make its debut in 2019. New airline routes also help to open up the
possibilities for luxury travel. British Airways is adding a series of new routes in the Med for summer 2016, including Heathrow services to Menorca, Palermo (Sicily), Chania (Crete) and Kalamata (Peloponnese, Greece). BA is also introducing a summer service from London City to Alicante, as well as four routes from Stansted: Ibiza, Malaga, Palma (Majorca) and Faro. For those who can live without a business-
class cabin on a short-haul flight, easyJet is adding flights from Gatwick to Tivat in Montenegro, as well as Manchester to Olbia in Sardinia.
Pictured 1. Canaves Oia, Santorini 2. Four Seasons, Hvar, Croatia 3. The Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife 4. Gran Melia de Mar, Majorca 5. Park Hyatt Mallorca
64
TTGLUXURY.COM SUMMER 2016 DESTINATIONS
Splurge £2,266
Steal £2,199 Deal £1,299
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