January is always the busiest month for booking holidays.
People want to escape the long dark days of winter and there’s a flurry of advertising, marketing and sale activities from the airlines and travel companies.
However, this year a slow start after the Christmas holidays and two weather events impacted trading, according to Paul Hackett, CEO and founder of Click&Go holidays and Vice President of the Irish Travel Agents Association.
“January has been impacted by a later return to work for most people to Monday 6 January and that coincided with snow, ice and extreme cold weather for most of the week which meant many schools in the southern half of the country were closed for some or all of the week.
“That was followed by storm Éowyn on 24 Jan which impacted sales from 23 Jan and continues to impact sales in some parts of the country without power,” said Mr Hackett.
Research by Click&Go found that Sun Holidays are the most popular type booked for 2025, followed by Cruises and City Breaks
The online travel company’s recent Travel Sentiment Surveys found that 89% of Irish people took at least one holiday last Summer, and 59% took two to three trips.
Overall prices for holidays in 2024 increased by just 4% compared to 2023.
While almost two-thirds of parents surveyed said they would take their children out of school, if it meant saving on holiday prices.
What are the top destinations for 2025?
Mr Hackett says the top destinations are always those with the largest flight and ferry capacity which for the leisure market means it is as follows:
1) Spain
2) France
3) Portugal
4) Italy
5) Greece
“In addition, the USA with over 20 direct gateways from Ireland is performing very well in spite of a strong US dollar,” he said.
How can you save money when booking a holiday?
Be flexible on your destination and departure date.
Mr Hackett says travelling out on a Tuesday will always be cheaper than a Friday or Saturday.
“For City breaks start them on a Saturday and it will be cheaper than travelling out on a Friday.”
He also recommends using your local Irish based travel agent and one who’s a member of the Irish Travel Agents Association.
“They have access to more offers and suppliers. It will save you time and money plus you get the convenience of getting all elements of the holiday booked in one place.
“And you get all the financial security and consumer protection that comes with booking a holiday package.”
So, are last minute deals really deals?
Mr Hackett says its more about highlighting where the deals are.
“People may want one particular destination but if they are any way flexible, they may find a significant price difference for that sun or city destination.”
When is the best time to book?
Booking early gives you more choice and should give you better prices as there are sales and early booking discounts.
If you have to travel during school holidays or on a set date for a particular event, then you are better booking early.
If you book early, Travel Agents have low deposit and monthly payment options so booking early doesn’t tie up your money, according to Mr Hackett.
“Cost of living / inflation rates fell in 2024 so price increases for 2025 will be minimal.
“In addition, with the summer cap at Dublin Airport for 2025 on hold thanks to the High Court we are not going to see limits on capacity which would drive prices up for consumers.”
Has the cost of living impacted on demand for holidays?
Prices increased in 2023 and to a lesser extent in 2024.
This was across the board and was similar in the holiday destinations to what it was in Ireland with staff and input costs increasing.
That has stabilised and Mr Hackett says they are not seeing price increases to any significant extent for 2025.
Photo credit – John Galligan Travel
Are Cruise Holidays projected to continue growth?
82% of Irish and UK holidaymakers said they would take a cruise again.
Holidaymakers from Ireland and the UK took 2.3 million cruises in 2023, according to the latest data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The popularity of cruise holidays has increased in recent years and is expected to continue being a favourite for holidaymakers out of Ireland and worldwide.
One of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide, it’s expected to grow 11% from 2022 to 2028.
Why have cruises become more popular?
Last year was the first year that cruises surpassed the 2019 levels from Ireland.
Cruising has become accepted as a mainstream holiday option and is no longer viewed as a niche interest, says John Galligan, owner of John Galligan Travel.
“The diversity of cruise types on offer has exploded in the last 10 years and the quality of the ship at the top-end has become outstanding.
“You can basically get a gig ship, mass-market cruise for half nothing or you can do a really, really swanky, pampering cruise if you have the budget.”
Mr Galligan describes cruising as ‘touring made easy’ visiting a different location every day without the daily packing.
“Expeditions are booming as well-travelled people are now looking for experiences, learning and activities rather than flop n drop holidays.
“The consciousness of our environment is feeding into a curiosity about nature that the expedition cruises cater to. “
Photo Credit – John Galligan Travel
What are the top cruise destinations?
The Med will always be the most popular destination from Ireland.
The proximity, the range of low-cost flight options from Ireland is super and the prices tend to be very competitive, even in the 5-star category.
“Our Antarctica, Arctic and Galapagos groups are always a great seller.
“Also popular this year is Northern Europe.
“Caribbean for 25/26 is showing signs of a resurgence, with a lot of people now booking out as far as 2027, which is very unusual for a nation of late bookers.”
Looking to the year ahead Mr Galligan said the trending destinations are: Med, Caribbbean, Northern Europe, River cruises on the Rhine, Rhone, Danube, Duoro, and Iceland because of the Dublin departures.
Is a cruise an expensive holiday or are there a range of options?
“We are seeing high pricing at the top end but no price-resistance by the consumer,” said Mr Galligan.
“Having said that, our mission is to seek out deals and offer our clients the best value that can get.”
“Cruising generally is getting more expensive with some cruise operators at the top end quoting very high prices that surprise me.”
What age range are cruises most popular with?
The average of age cruisers is dropping all the time.
Northern Europe and river cruises tend to have an older profile but Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises have an age profile in the mid-40’s and dropping.
“There has been a boom in multi-generational bookings which is dropping the average age rapidly, when the kids are included.
“Long haul expeditions like Antarctica are in the 60’s but shorter sun cruises on value “fun” ships can be a slow as in the 30’s.”
What about river cruising in Ireland?
Over the past few years the Irish Boat Rental Association found there has been a steady increase in the number of domestic market customers taking this holiday.
“It has risen from the approx 12% to 35% of our total market,” said Steve Conlon, Executive Secretary of the IBRA.
“Our main customers in the past have been the culturally curious group of over 55’s .
“But this has changed in the past few years to energised families and this has become our main customer segmentation.
What are the trends in Irish cruising
“We are seeing more groups of younger people, the ‘Great Escapers’booking holidays,” said Mr Conlon.
“Soft adventure, getting close to nature, exploratory holidays that enable you to unwind and go at your own pace in your own boat.”
Mr Conlon said referred to the Kantor research for Failte Ireland 2022 which found they have one of the highest repeat business rate within the tourism sector at over 80% repeat business.
“We have held our prices as much as we can and compete with our main competition which is in France, German, Holland and Poland.”
Is growth forecast for cruising in Ireland
Some small percentage growth is expected in 2026.
“Each tourism year is different to the last. We are back at 2019 pre-covid levels but we need to look for new overseas markets,” said Mr Conlon.
“The domestic market continues to recover and grow too.”
Where do Irish people choose for a Sun Holiday?
Spain remains the most favoured destination by Sunway clients, followed by Portugal.
Lanzarote and the Costa Del Sol are the most popular destinations in Spain, and the Algarve is the number one destination in Portugal.
“Both counties have a lot to offer Irish tourists and so they continue to draw a substantial number of Irish holidaymakers each year,” said Mary Denton, CEO of Sunway.
Active holidays are also on the rise with cycling holidays becoming increasingly popular.
“Irish cyclists travel abroad for better weather, challenging routes, and scenic landscapes.
“Yoga holidays are also new this year for us as Irish people are more focused on relaxation, mental well-being, and physical health,” said Ms Denton.
Holidays to less frequented cities and at off-peak times are also continuing to grow.
The travel agency noted that Cavtat a town near Dubrovnik, which has been named the most exclusive destination in Europe by the European Best Destinations portal, is becoming a popular alternative to busier Dubrovnik.
What are the new destinations for 2025?
Sunway is seeing a lot of interest in Rabat, Morocco’s capital.
The city has experienced notable growth in tourism and with Ryanair flying twice a week from the 31st of March.
“It’s an underrated gem for a holiday, offering a mix of history and culture from UNESCO sites to great souks.
“Nashville is becoming really popular across age groups too maybe owing to its new direct flight,” said Ms Denton.
Another destination with a new direct flight from Shannon is Madeira.
“Its an island renowned for its year round mild climate , making it a perfect destination for Irish holidaymakers.”
When is the best time to book a sun holiday?
The earlier you book, the better.
Sunway is seeing strong bookings for 2025 already.
“This far in advance is your best option for securing the best deals and availability.
“Airlines didn’t increase capacity as much as they would have liked for this summer , so supply and demand will determine the prices.
According to Ms Denton summer prices are good currently, but they will only go up.
“In 2024, people were disappointed when the last minute bargains failed to materialise.”
Where can you go to get the best value?
Morocco and Turkey always offer great value with great year-round weather.
“You can stay in beautiful, boutique hotels or luxury resorts at a fraction of the price you’d pay for similar accommodation in places like Spain or Portugal.”
like Machu Picchu
Are Adventure holidays on the rise?
Some people like to fly and flop for sun, sea and maybe some sangria.
Others prefer to be a little more active, many of whom discovered walking and hiking in their local areas during the Covid 19 pandemic
And it instilled a spirit of adventure in them when they were free to travel again, according to Pat Falvey, founder of Irish and Worldwide Adventures.
“We’ve seen about, I suppose, about a 200% increase in adventure travel,” said Mr Falvey.
“Movement is the new health panacea.”
He says over the last two to three years he’s seen people taking walking holidays and retreats that they do in Ireland to the next level abroad.
“We’ve had about 150% increase on the likes of cultural treks, cultural adventures in Nepal, Machu Picchu, African safaris, and even Antarctica for active cruises.
“We find people have moved away from sitting in the sun tanning themselves because they got more active during those years, and some mix in events and walking with that sun holiday as well.
“So people are moving into the area of experiences and adventure.”
What adventure destinations are trending this year?
Mr Falvey says active and cultural holidays are in demand with places like Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, safaris and tropical islands proving popular as well as Nepal, Peru and Machu Picchu.
But it is their holidays for older age groups that are increasing in popularity in these areas.
“I have a club called The Forever Young Club which is for 50- to 90-year-olds.
“We’re finding that the older ages are probably becoming more active than the younger ages.
“When people are between 30 and 45, they’ve all the pressures of life, the family, the mortgages, the cars.
“Whereas with the disposable income for the over 50s, they’re using it now to create events and experiences”.
Are guided or self guided trips more popular?
Most holidaymakers are time poor and have a limited amount of time for their trips.
“We find more and more people are going guided because they get a better experience for their money,” said Mr Falvey.
“We see a huge amount of change in Ireland where people are increasing their activity to want more elements and challenges.
And as they’re moving towards that, they’re beginning to realize from a safety point of view, they’re better off on an organized guided treks and retreats.”
