Travel column with Katie Butler, Total Travel: Etna eases, Turkey temptations and peak holiday season is here
You may have seen on the news that Mount Etna decided to put on one of its spectacular displays, causing a fair bit of disruption for anyone heading to Sicily.
Catania Airport, the island’s busiest airport has now reopened after volcanic ash forced flights to be suspended for two days. A number of airlines were affected, including Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways. The good news is that flights are now operating again. Palermo Airport remained open throughout, so it wasn’t all bad news for visitors to this beautiful Italian island.
It is a reminder that nature sometimes has other ideas, especially in destinations with active volcanoes. Cast your mind back to the notorious 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull(yes-it was that long ago) which produced a massive ash cloud grounding thousands of flights. Thankfully, these events are relatively rare, and the safety of passengers always comes first.
Meanwhile, much closer to home, it is that time of year when suitcases are being dusted off and airports are filling up with excited holidaymakers. Peak summer is well and truly underway, and it’s not just customers heading abroad – our own team are clocking up plenty of air miles too. Over the next few week, we have staff enjoying sunshine in Cyprus, others setting sail on cruises, and a couple heading off to different parts of Turkey. Safe to say there will be plenty of first-hand holiday stories to share when everyone gets back.
Talking of Turkey, Karen has recently returned from her latest visit and, believe it or not, there was a time when she had absolutely no interest in going there. Fast forward a few years and she has just enjoyed her fourth consecutive holiday in Turkey – and already has next year booked as well. So, what changed her mind?
According to Karen, pretty much everything! The guaranteed sunshine, the stunning coastline, fantastic food and the incredibly warm welcome from the local people all helped win her over. Then, of course, there’s the shopping. Anyone who has visited a Turkish resort will know that shopkeepers are never shy about inviting you in for a browse. Their enthusiasm is all part of the experience, and before you know it you’ve picked up a few bargains you never knew you needed. Karen’s top tip is simple: pack light on the way out and leave plenty of room for the journey home.
As always, it’s interesting to look at what people have been booking. The final week of July continues to be the busiest departure period, accounting for 16 per cent of bookings made last week. August followed with 14 per cent, while September claimed 12 per cent, showing that plenty of people are still looking to enjoy some late summer sunshine.
Late bookings remain incredibly popular, making up 41 per cent of all holidays booked last week. It just goes to show that there are still plenty of people thinking, "Go on then, let’s get away," even at the last minute.
Looking at destinations, Majorca once again took the top spot, with Antalya in Turkey close behind, while Tenerife rounded off the top three.