Half Term Long Haul Flights Increase Despite Recession, Finds Carrentals.co.uk

February 21, 2011 – Despite an rise in Air Passenger Duty and cutbacks from the Government, UK holidaymakers are still booking overseas holidays this February half term. Long haul destinations have seen an 8% rise in bookings, according to the findings from Carrentals.co.uk, the leading car hire comparator.

Holidays to popular locations including Cape Town, Auckland, Los Angeles, Sydney and Jamaica have seen a marked increase in demand for bookings. The findings are a comparison from February 2010 half term and this year's half term bookings.

Speaking on behalf of Carrentals.co.uk, Managing Director Gareth Robinson, commented: "The travel industry has had an eventful year, with many companies trying to increase customer numbers by offering low cost holidays abroad, and the British public have been able to capitalise on that.

"More and more people are trying to get away this winter, especially as the UK has seen dramatic temperatures and extreme conditions, and with the great deals that have been on offer holidays have been extended. There are still the usual winter sunshine breaks to Portugal, southern Spain and the Canary Islands, but there has been a rise in South African, Mexican and US holidays."

Alongside the sunny holidays, Carrentals.co.uk has noticed a increase in demand for skiing trips and ski car hire, with half term bookings having a 30% year on year rise to Salzburg, Munich and Geneva.

"In order to have a wider choice of vehicle and secure the best car hire deal, customers should book their half term car hire now" added Gareth. "If you miss your chance with airport car hire, look to the downtown location of where you're staying as demand is lower and there will be more choice."

To hire a car for a week over half term will cost from £19* per day at Salzburg Airport, from £9* per day at Malaga Airport, from £11* per day at Abu Dhabi Airport, from £12* per day at Cape Town Airport, and car hire at Orlando Airport starts as low as £13* per day.

By comparing the very best car hire brands including Budget, Sixt, Alamo, Holiday Autos and Auto Europe, the UK's leading car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk brings the best prices to customers. For more information and to find out the latest offers visit www.carrentals.co.uk
/ends.

*Prices based on a one-week rental from 19 February 2011 and are subject to change.

About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK's leading online car hire companies by 2006.

In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 50 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 10,000 locations.

Websites searched include Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.

The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.

In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards, and in 2010 it was Highly Commended in the Best Meta-search/Price Comparison category. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk

Media Contact
Rachel Builder, Debbie Williams & Jenny White
Context
T: 01625 511966
F: 01625 511967
carrentals@contextpr.co.uk
www.contextpr.co.uk