The big BILD update for last-minute vacations!
Summer is still in full swing, Germany is in vacation mode. But many have to forego a vacation trip due to the expensive crisis – or spontaneously hope for a bargain.
The fact is: Holidays in 2022 will cost travelers around 20 percent more on average this year than in 2019. A current data analysis by the Online travel portal “weg.de” shows that many people who are hungry for travel booked their summer vacation this year a few months ago.
And yet there are still many spontaneous people who are looking for a last-minute offer.
► BILD shows where things are getting tight this summer, where there is still availability and where the cheapest prices for holiday apartments and rental cars can be found.
Where will it be tight in the last weeks of summer?
Spain, Greece and Turkey are the most popular travel destinations for summer holidays in 2022. Nothing has changed since the pre-corona year 2019.
Especially Crete and Rhodes are enjoying increasing popularity. The booking share here increased by 37 percent compared to 2019. However, the comparison of availability shows that Crete and Mallorca are among the most booked travel destinations.
With the result: Many accommodations are already fully booked. Around a third fewer trips are available for the Greek island in August than in October. Even if things are looking a little better on the Balearic island, there are still almost 20 percent fewer offers available this month than in autumn.
Conclusion for the last-minute vacation: it is best to target less popular vacation destinations.
► 4-star hotels are the most popular for summer vacations, so things get particularly tight in this hotel category. Many last-minute vacationers will therefore have to switch to 3-star hotels – travel experts see increased demand here.
Where are there still cheap offers in August?
While things are getting tight in the most popular holiday destinations, these countries still have enough availability for spontaneous summer holidaymakers:
► Malta
The island state between Sicily and the North African coast convinces with wonderful beaches and pure culture. Numerous golden sandy coves and rocky beaches invite you to relax, while historic sites and temples tell the story of Malta’s history.
Price check: A week including flights and 4-star hotel, all inclusive from 589 Euro.
Vacationers enjoy the Black Sea in Bulgaria
► Bulgaria
The Balkan country enchants travelers with the lively capital Sofia, fine sandy beaches, dreamy mountain villages and untouched mountain ranges. Bulgaria promises numerous sightseeing opportunities as well as a relaxing break on the seemingly endless stretches of sand.
Price check: A week including flights and 4-star hotel, all inclusive from 549 Euro.
► Cyprus
In addition to cultural treasures, Cyprus awaits holidaymakers with dreamy sandy beaches, idyllic bays and azure sea. Whether swimming, sunbathing, extensive sightseeing or hiking in the Troodos Mountains – everyone will find the right holiday activity on the Mediterranean island.
Price check: A week including flights and 4-star hotel, all inclusive from 739 Euro.
Another tip: the early bird catches the worm – this also applies to flight bookings. Weg.de recommends travelers to look for flights early in the morning to get better prices. Because flight systems are usually reloaded around one o’clock in the morning, so that flights that were released overnight are then visible to consumers for the first time.
Where else can you find cheap rental cars?
The fact is: Since the Corona crisis, rental cars have become almost unaffordable.
The travel experts from “Urlaubpiraten.de” have now examined for the summer at which popular destinations travelers can get the set of wheels at the cheapest price.
“The big winners compared to our last sample over Easter are many destinations in Spain in the summer. Here the prices have recently almost halved,” explains travel expert Tobias Knaut from the holiday pirates.
► Six of the ten cheapest destinations are on the Spanish mainland or the Canary Islands. At the end of August, holidaymakers can get a car with good insurance and no excess for around the 200 Euro the week. Malta and Cyprus, as well as Turkey, are also cheap on the Mediterranean.
| Platz | holiday destination | price per week |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barcelona | 176 Euro |
| 2. | Andalusia | 185 Euro |
| 3. | Malta | 200 Euro |
| 4. | Gran Canaria | 205 Euro |
| 5. | Copenhagen | 217 Euro |
| 6. | Tenerife | 219 Euro |
| 7. | Turkish riviera | 222 Euro |
| 8. | The Palm | 245 Euro |
| 9. | Lanzarote | 258 Euro |
| 10. | Cyprus | 259 Euro |
Last-Minute-Camper?
Der Münchner Camper Rental “Roadsurfer” has increased its own fleet to almost 5000 vehicles due to the great demand.
Consequently, even in the high season there are still isolated booking gaps – and bargains at individual rental stations and for special models.
► Last minute offer: from 85 Euro per night.
BILD tip: Matching the campervan, the landlord offers a European network of unusual pitches with “roadsurfer spots”, which are one thing for sure: away from the overcrowded and common campsites – and mostly cheaper!
Camper vacation: just drive off and stop where you want
The currently cheapest holiday apartments in Germany
Die Vacation rental search engine “hometogo” checked the average prices per night per accommodation in Germany – BILD lists 10 cheap travel destinations:
► Bavarian Forest: 85 euros
► Saarland: 85 Euro
► Thuringia: 85 euros
► Altmark: 90 Euro
► Lower Rhine: 90 euros
► Lower Franconia: 90 euros
► Resin: 93 euros
► Teutoburg Forest: 94 euros
► Odenwald: 95 euros
► Lüneburg Heath: 97 euros
