lowcostholidays Announce Their Holiday 'Oscars'

Feb. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- With the 83rd annual Academy Awards taking place in Los Angeles on Sunday, lowcostholidays.com, one of the top 10 UK travel websites, has revealed its own ‘Oscar’ winners based on bookings and searches on their website for holidays in 2011.  With overall holiday bookings for the summer already up over 50% year on year, there was plenty of competition in the key categories.

Best Family Destination

The Mediterranean island of Majorca took the award for best family destination with its sandy beaches, fabulous scenery and well kept resorts offering something for all the family.  Bookings to Majorca are up 70% year on year with a wide selection of family friendly hotels and apartments.  Prices at the 3 star Hotel Blue Sea Don Jaime start from £203 per person based on 2 adults and 2 children on a self catering basis in August for 7 nights including flights.

Best Value for Money this Summer

Whilst Greece and Turkey proved the hits of last summer, the award for great value for money for summer 2011 holidays goes to Portugal with good value accommodation and low cost flights ensuring great value holidays.  Bookings to the Algarve are up 100% year on year with searches up 123%.  Prices at the 3 star all inclusive Aparthotel Monica Isabel Beach Club in Albufeira start from £289 per person in May including flights.  

Best Long Haul Destination

British holiday makers are heading back to Florida more than ever before ensuring the Sunshine State took the top spot in the long haul category.  With a more favourable exchange rate, bookings to this theme park and shopping haven are up 100% year on year.  Prices for 14 nights at the Champions World Resort start from just £479 per person in April including flights.

Best City Break

The award for best City break goes to the enchanting romantic Italian city of Venice with its gondolas along the Venetian canals and cobbled streets lined with boutiques.  Bookings to Venice are up a massive 253% year on year with searches up 205%.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The lifetime achievement award goes to Tenerife which continues to outperform other destinations with its dramatic volcanic landscapes, year round sunshine and great value.  Prices for 7 nights at the 4 star all-inclusive Catalonia Punta Del Rey start from just £251 per person in April including flights.

Best Newcomer Award

The award for best newcomer destination goes to Malta which is in the limelight as a popular holiday destination this summer with its unique history and striking scenery surrounded by the warm Mediterranean Sea.

Commenting on the awards, Matt Hall, Product Director at lowcostholidays.com said, “Well done to all this year’s winners but if it’s true LA glamour and glitz that you want, then head to Los Angeles, home of the Oscars, with prices in March starting from £539 per person for 7 nights at a 3 star hotel including flights.”

Prices based on 2 adults sharing a room unless specified and include return flights and accommodation.  Prices subject to availability and change.

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About lowcostholidays.com:

• lowcostholidays.com is the consumer facing travel business of the lowcostravelgroup.com selling directly through its advanced website and call centre
• The website was launched in 2009 and is listed in the top 10 travel agency websites in the UK by Hitwise
• Using the latest technology it creates millions of holidays every day, combining the best priced airline seats from over 150 airlines with over 120,000 hotels
• The fastest website for dynamically packaging consumer holidays – faster than 95% of all other web sites in the UK
• lowcostholidays.com holds an Air Transport Organisers License from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is a member of the Association of British Travel Agents
• Winners of the Travolution Rising Brand of the Year – 2010 and Number 20 in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track League Table