Half term sees holiday prices double

If you’re planning on taking a break with the family this half term, be warned: breaks taken next week will be 104% more expensive on average than holidays taken a week later, with some families facing a premium of up to 249%.

Travelling from outside the capital in the week commencing 24 October will also cost you more, with those travelling from Manchester paying 22% more on package holiday costs that those flying from London, according to the latest study from Santander Cards.

Santander Cards looked at prices for a family of four in the run up to half term across five popular autumn sun destinations – Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Florida, Sharm el Sheikh, and Crete. It found that the average family holiday abroad taken over the half term break will be 104% more expensive than holidays taken a week later.

Families travelling to Lanzarote from London Gatwick face some of the biggest premium hikes, with a family of four having to pay £5,485.62 for a holiday package between 24 and 31 October, compared to £1,572.46 a week later. That makes it three and half times more expensive during term time and equates to a premium of 249%.

Families flying from Manchester to the guaranteed sunshine of Sharma el Sheikh will find a similar story, with a holiday package costing them £6,544.58 during half term, compared to a more palatable £2,433.08 the following week.

The biggest half term ‘bargain’ can be found in Crete, where a family flying from London to Chania during half term faces a premium of just 18%, significantly lower than the other destinations.

Emma Roberts, Director at Santander Cards, said:

“Our research shows that parents with children of school age face a massive premium if they want to take their children away during the half term break. It’s not surprising therefore that some families would rather take their children out of school during term time and risk censure from their children’s school than be hit by such staggering premiums.”

“For those parents who are worried about the ever mounting costs of going abroad during the school holidays, the Santander Zero card is a great way to avoid paying additional and sometimes unexpected fees. With no foreign exchange fee on spending abroad, it’s the ideal credit card for families looking for the best deal on their holiday spending.”

To compare the Santander Zero card against other deals, visit http://www.totallymoney.com/credit-cards/.

(Photo by Joseph Robertson.)