New Year holidays at half price

DISCOUNTS Despite the summer is still here, the travel agencies have already started to promote their New Year destinations with 50% off prices. For the exotic vacations, the price cuts are not equally impressive

The summer is not over yet, but this didn’t stop the tourist agencies to launch offers for the New Year break. In some cases, the discounts go up to 50%. The tour-operators revealed they don’t expect too many buyers, as the Romanians are still focused on the seaside holidays, which will probably continue to be sold until 20 September. But they’re also not too pessimistic: those who put aside money for an exotic vacation in the middle of the winter will definitely save some cash if they buy it in this time of year. At least this is what the agencies hope.

Prestige Tour, a member of the Happy Tour Group, has just launched the holiday packages for New Year in Maldives and Sri Lanka. The trip starts from Bucharest by direct flight operated by Fly Dubai. According to the Prestige Tour’s representatives, the Maldives package starts at 3,718 EUR and the vacation will take place between 26 December 2014 and 2 January 2015. Until the end of August, the trip can be bought through early booking, with a 5% discount.

The same discount is offered to the tourists choosing Sri Lanka, where the tariffs start at 1,969 EUR for the 29 December 2014 – 5 January 2014 period. “Sri Lanka is already in the Romanians’ travel agenda all year round”, explained Elena Anghel, Executive Manager within Prestige Tour.

Another exotic destination, very popular among Romanian travelers, is Dubai, where a complete seven-night package starts at 812 EUR. According to Elena Anghel, those who make an early booking for the New Year in Dubai can get up to 30% off.

Over 10,000 Romanians traveled abroad for the 2013-2014 winter holidays, 30% more than in the previous year. They spent there, only for tourist services, about 5.3 million EUR, 70% more than in the anterior winter season, according to studies made by the Romanian Tourism Owners Federation (FPTR). The most popular destinations were Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey.

50% off

Bigger discounts are offered, this time of the year, for the domestic travel. “Until 15 September, the agencies specialized in domestic holidays will give 30% to 50% discounts, and the prices will be affordable for those with average revenues”, revealed the tourist industry consultant Traian Badulescu.

The Bibi Touring agency has launched its second edition of the super-early booking program for winter destinations in Romania. A three-night stay in a three-star hotel in Busteni, with half-board and festive New Year dinner can now be purchased for 829 RON, half of the initial price. A four-night holiday in Predeal, at a three-star hotel, with breakfast, dinner, festive New Year dinner and New Year show costs now 170 EUR instead of 340 EUR. Adrian Voican, the General Manager of Bibi Touring, seems convinced the concept of super-early booking for the winter season will reach its maturity in a couple of years. “The most popular destinations are currently the mountain resorts in the Prahova Valley and Poiana Brasov”, he said.

According to FPTR, 25,000 people chose to spend their winter holidays in the mountain areas, and 30,000 paid for the New Year packages offered by the hotels in the big cities.

I am convinced the concept of super-early booking for the winter season will reach its maturity in a couple of years
Adrian Voican, General Manager Bibi Touring