Easter holiday travel bookings have surged by 15% compared to last year, driven primarily by increased demand from families, according to The Advantage Travel Partnership. The trend suggests that more families are opting for spring getaways to secure better prices and avoid peak summer crowds.
Family Travel on the Rise
The family travel market has seen significant growth, with bookings including at least one child rising from 21% in 2024 to 25% this year. Popular winter sun destinations for Easter include Tenerife, Antalya, and Costa Blanca, while long-haul favorites include Orlando, Mexico, and New York.
Despite strong Easter demand, family bookings for summer 2025 remain slower, mirroring a trend from last year. This suggests that families are increasingly shifting their vacations to alternative times of the year to benefit from better pricing and more favorable weather conditions.
Long-Haul Destinations Gain Popularity
Advantage reports a steady rise in long-haul travel, particularly from January into February, as families recognize that further destinations can offer better value during school holidays than European hotspots. Countries like Thailand and regions in the Far East remain attractive due to their lower local costs.
For instance, a two-week holiday for a family of four in a four-star self-catering property in the Balearics during August costs around £4,500—the same price as a trip to Thailand, where resort costs are significantly lower. This cost advantage has led to a 5% shift from short-haul to long-haul bookings for summer 2025.
Top Destinations and Emerging Travel Trends
Kelly Cookes, Chief Commercial Officer at Advantage, highlights that Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Costa Blanca continue to be top choices for Easter due to their reliability in sunshine, affordability, and family-friendly amenities.
Travelers are also choosing long-haul destinations like Orlando earlier in the year to avoid summer crowds and high temperatures. Cookes anticipates that Orlando’s popularity will grow even further with the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in May 2025.
The U.S. market remains strong, with Orlando and New York leading demand. An interesting trend is the rising interest in Nashville, fueled by the increasing global appeal of country music.
Pop Culture and Cruise Boom Influence Future Travel
Pop culture is also shaping travel trends. Cookes points out that TV shows like White Lotus (set in Thailand) and Love Island All Stars (filmed in South Africa) are boosting interest in these destinations for 2025.
Another sector gaining momentum is cruising, as the industry expands its fleet capacity. Major cruise lines, including MSC, Uniworld, NCL, Celebrity Cruise, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages, are set to introduce new ships across ocean, river, and expedition cruising in 2025.
As family travel patterns evolve, more people are booking Easter getaways to secure better deals and avoid peak summer congestion. With a growing shift toward long-haul travel, increased interest in culturally influential destinations, and the rise of cruise vacations, the travel industry is set for a dynamic year ahead.
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