This summer season has seen a notable increase in last minute bookings for villas in Greece by British tourists, according to figures published by CV Villas. Specifically, there has been a 37% increase in last-minute bookings, reflecting a general trend of UK tourists opting for spontaneous holidays in Mediterranean destinations.
In which destinations the British are looking for villas
CV Villas has a strong presence in the Greek market with villas in popular islands and areas such as Corfu, Rhodes, Crete, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Paxos and the Peloponnese. Among the destinations with the most searches on the company’s website for the last 30 days, Corfu stands out, confirming that the British like European short-haul destinations.
European destinations are preferred
Despite offering villas in exotic destinations such as the Caribbean and Sri Lanka, CV Villas’ clients seem to prefer European destinations for their summer holidays. This trend is highlighted by the many searches for destinations such as the Algarve in Portugal, Puglia in Italy, and Mallorca in Spain.
Flexibility during your stay
The need for flexibility is another major trend that is being recorded this year. Tourists are demanding more variety in the length of their holidays, which has prompted CV Villas to offer five, six and ten-day stays in specific destinations such as Greece, Croatia, Turkey and the Caribbean.
Increase in demand for villas by British people
Another notable trend is the increase in demand for luxury accommodation. CV Villas’ luxury ‘Above’ villas are seeing a 23% increase in bookings, with high-balance British clients requesting additional services such as private chefs, local authentic experiences and nanny services.
New experiences and activities
In response to customer demand, CV Villas has introduced a new range of experiences in areas such as Corfu, Paxos and Lefkada. A popular request is boat rental, with a 24% increase in bookings for sea excursions in the Ionian Islands. In addition, wellness and fitness are high on the list of customer preferences, with customers requesting e-bikes and exercise equipment such as Pilates Reformer machines, treadmills and bikes, as well as private yoga classes.
“This year seemed unpredictable for the travel sector due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, however, this did not stop our customers. We have also noticed that our customers are leaving their holiday booking for later. Events such as the UK General Election, Euro football and the Olympics have contributed to some consumers postponing their holiday plans.” – Pete Brudenell, CEO CV Villas
The increased trend for last-minute bookings and changes in tourist preferences show the flexibility and adaptability of the tourism market, with Greece being one of the top destinations for the British public.
