Sales were 30% up year on year with the average value up 22%. Despite overall industry figures decreasing year on year, Holidaysplease continues to trade strongly despite current economic situations.

It seems holiday makers are favouring the value of expertise rather than low cost holidays in 2012 with many consumers being more careful as to which travel companies to trust. Perhaps this is another reason behind the success experienced by the ABTA approved luxury holiday company, Holidaysplease.

Richard Dixon, senior director of Holidaysplease, said “The fantastic growth in sales reflects general interest and our dedicated sales team have and will continue to respond to customer demands and trends individually. We are lucky to have a team consisting of real travel experts and we look forward to growing our team as well as our sales throughout 2012.”

The January boom has also helped to identify the top destinations for 2012. These include the likes of the Maldives, Mauritius, the USA, Antigua, Malaysia, as well as Thailand, UAE, Sri Lanka and even Mexico.

Hawaii holidays are the way forward this year with so many amazing resort and hotels to choose from. Whether you are looking for a romantic honeymoon, couples retreat or even a well-deserved family break, there is always something for everyone with a Hawaii holiday. With a variety of all-inclusive and half board resorts, you can relax knowing that you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect restaurant or bar.

There are so many things to do and see in Hawaii for travellers of all ages. Hawaii holidays boast endless beaches where you can enjoy a variety of thrilling and relaxing water sports. These include scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, water skiing, parasailing and so much more. Or for those looking for something to do away from the beach then how about exploring the amazing volcanoes, mountains and jungles? Or shop till you drop at the fantastic shopping malls where you will find all the latest trends at the best prices. Hawaii holidays offer so many activities to entertain even the most discerning traveller.

Perhaps the most difficult decision to be made when thinking about Hawaii holidays is which destination to visit. There are 8 beautiful islands that make up Hawaii, 6 of which are open to travellers. These include Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Hawaii (Big Island) itself. Make sure you wind down in the warm evenings at a traditional Luau where you can enjoy Hawaiian hula dancing to your heart’s content, the perfect end you dream Hawaii holiday.
Hawaii holidays would be incomplete without a visit to the Big Island, which is famous for its amazing Volcanoes National Park and 442 foot waterfall at the Akaka Falls State Park. The island itself certainly lives up to its name as it is the biggest island in Hawaii despite being the youngest. The diversity of the terrain means that there are 11 different climatic regions for you to experience.

Hawaii holidays also allow you complete flexibility in that you can combine a US, Caribbean or Mexico stopover in your trip. This type of multi-centre holiday lets you visit two destinations within your Hawaii holiday.

After celebrating last New Year’s in London, myself and a few friends decided we wanted to do something different for 2012. In the end we all agreed to celebrate Christmas in Cambodia and New Years in Vietnam. Hopefully this blog will help share some of our amazing experiences.

Lebua Hotel, Bangkok

Skybar, Lebua

Lebua Hotel, Bangkok – We kicked off our tour in Bangkok at the incredible Lebua Hotel. The first thing we all did was rush to the skybar, while the girls sipped cocktails and snapped skyline photos, the boys were busy rein acting scenes from hangover 2. The Lebua was definitely a luxurious stay and a perfect starter to our holiday. Later we ventured into the city and found ourselves at a ladyboy show. This was probably one of the most entertaining and fun experiences…especially when the star of the show was flirting with my friend Deepan, who was trying so hard to hide.

Thunder Ranch Shooting Range, Phom Phen

Thunder Ranch Shooting Range, Phom Phen  – The next stop was Phom Phen. We jumped in our tuk tuks (local taxis) and headed to Thunder Ranch, run by the Royal Cambodian Army. We all had a go at firing AK47s and M116s. I wasn’t expecting the jolt back and noise but it was a good experience, even if I did miss most of the targets. It was also the part of my trip my brother was most excited about, being an avid Call of Duty fan.

The Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa, housing 8000 of the skulls unearthed at the Killing Fields.

The Killing Fields, Phom Phen  – The Killing fields was a very moving and emotional experience. It was the one place we had to visit in order to fully appreciate and understand a very important part of Cambodian history. It was hard to believe that 3 million people lost their lives in the most horrific circumstances, under the communist Khmer Rouge regime, just a few years before we were born. We all did some prior reading, but nothing could have prepared us for the stories, photos and facts documented at the museum. Despite such tragic events we all felt that the people of Cambodia were extremely friendly, forgiving and brave.

Christmas Day, Siem Reap

Christmas Day, Siem Reap – Celebrating Christmas day in 30 degree heat was a bit surreal. Everywhere we went seemed to play Christmas carols and all the shops and restaurants were decorated in tinsel and fake snow. We thought we’d join in and wear santa hats to get in the Christmas spirit. We exchanged our usual turkey for crocodile, and after a big feast headed to a bar for some local beers and wines. The night ended on the dancefloor singing along to YMCA…as you do! It was just like being back at home. Outside the club was a line of children dancing and selling bracelets. Although we danced with the children and brought their bracelets, we couldn’t believe these kids were dancing out here at 3am, when they should have been in bed.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap – After our all-nighter, we literally freshened up at the hotel and headed straight to Angkor Wat. Sleepy-eyed we sat on the banks and watched the sunrise. Despite the foggy weather it was an amazing view, everyone sat and admired the temple silhouette come to light. Later on we got a closer look at the inscriptions and impressive architecture.

Sheraton Hotel, Hanoi

NYE, Sheraton Hotel, Hanoi  – We had taken quite a few internal flights and long coach journeys so by this stage we were looking forward to relaxing at the Sheraton hotel in Hanoi. After a traditional Thai massage we were invited to a ballroom dance. As none of us could ballroom dance, we decided to join the Sheraton NYE party instead. After a lovely champagne reception, we joined the locals and hotel guests for an unforgettable countdown and night of entertainment.

Ta Phin Village, Sapa

Local Villagers

Ta Phin Village, Sapa  – The next adventure was an overnight train to Ta Phin village in Sapa, Northern Vietnam. On arrival we were greeted by our tour guide. The village itself was set within a valley layered with rice paddies, with towering mountains at one end. The people were from ethnic minorities known as Kinh, Red Dao and Black Hmong. The moment we stepped out of our van an army of kids barricaded us with trekking sticks. It was difficult to choose who to buy from but we did the obvious thing and brought from the youngest. The children all seemed to work hard and play hard. Two girls followed my side most of the walk and were very interested in life in the UK. The girl’s mother was happy they were practicing their English and told me that the village was very poor before tourists began to visit.  But now they get to sell their crafts, make money and meet new people.

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok

Wat Pho, Bangkok

Wat Pho, Bangkok – The very final destination was Wat Pho, aka the reclining Buddha Temple. The main focal point is the 46 metre gold plated buddha, which is pretty impressive from any angle. The temple is extremely busy, so you do have to walk through quite fast. The rest of the grounds feature an array of gardens, temples and statues. Throughout the whole of my holiday I had tried very hard to capture a photo of a monk but failed. This was my last chance, and it turned out to be the best photo from my entire collection. I was told by his senior that he very rarely smiles, so my thumbs up before the photo must have done the trick.

We had an amazing time on our travels and would definitely return in the future.

If you would like to experience Cambodia and Vietnam for yourself simply complete an enquiry form and our travel experts will be delighted to help.

However as most of us search high and low for the ultimate holiday, here’s something to really help lighten that January rush. This Southwest Airlines flight attendant really knows how to get the passengers attention when telling the on-board announcements. Let’s hope more of us experience this kind of customer service on our next flight, other airlines take note! Why not tell us what other quirky and funny things the flight attendant’s on your previous flights have done? Feel free to leave your comments below.

While the UK itself is still finding its way out of economic turmoil, holiday makers will favour value for money as opposed to the cheapest holidays in 2012. A demand in luxury and all-inclusive breaks look set to be popular as the mid-market is predicted to be squeezed. ABTA also reveal that cruising, adventure, exploration, learning and activity holidays will be top of the charts in the New Year as consumers look for new experiences highlighted by a need for value for money.

As several consumers set to reduce their household expenditures and many travel companies continue to fall into administration, this is likely to make holidaymakers more careful as to where they spend their money in 2012. Therefore bookings through traditional yet protected travel agents will increase with travellers seeking reputable and secure companies. As a result, tailored, specialist and authentic local experiences from food to entertainment will be in demand.

The over 55 market looks set to be stronger than ever with around 10% of the market taking over four foreign holidays in the last 12 months. More couples are also expected to tie the knot abroad in 2012 because of budget issues. According to ABTA, 20% of couples who say ‘I do’ overseas save a huge £12,500 compared to marrying in the UK.

And last but not least, it looks as though the favourite holiday destinations for 2012 are once again the ‘tried and tested’ ones. These include the US, Spain, Italy, Greece and France. However, Jordan, Columbia and Cape Verde are set to be hot up and coming spots as well as Poland/Ukraine where Euro 2012 will be hosted next summer.

So let’s see what the next 12 months hold for the travel market, here’s to a fantastic 2012. Happy New Year to you all!

If you’re a serious party animal then this is the trip for you! First join in the celebrations at Auckland’s Viaduct Basin where you will find live music, fireworks and a great range of events in various restaurants and nightclubs. Then having had plenty of time to nurse the hangover, head to the airport on 1^st January 2012 to board your 5.35pm flight to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

You will then arrive in Rarotonga on 31^st December 2012 at 10.30pm local time. The International Date Line allows you to go back one day which means more time to party! Celebrate with the friendly locals as you welcome in 2012 at one of the last places in the world to see in the New Year.

So do you fancy the double celebrations of a lifetime? Holidaysplease are offering you a chance to experience all this with return flights from London to Auckland and Rarotonga. From only £2,600 this great 6-day package also includes one night’s accommodation at the five-star Langham Hotel in Auckland and four-star Sunset Resort in Rarotonga. But you’d better hurry as flights depart from London to Auckland on 29^th December!

Have you ever wondered whether you’re still getting a good deal at airport duty free stores? We were interested to know whether duty free products really were cheaper online or on the high street so we decided to do some mystery shopping to find out. We investigated a selection of 15 electrical products from iPads to netbooks from Dixons and after some careful comparison we found that all the products were cheaper at the airport, with some products costing up to 20% less.

It’s often difficult to beat online retailers but our research just proves that when it comes to buying electrical items you could be in for a pleasant discount the next time you travel.

An estimated 1,000 jobs will be at risk as Thomas Cook review the business and its financial results with those affected being told on Wednesday. This comes after last month’s event which forced the travel group to arrange a new £200 million revolving credit facility with 17 lenders. 

Thomas Cook have described the reports as a speculation and have yet to confirm whether jobs are at risk. Nevertheless Morgan Stanley analysts have commented that restructuring costs and redundancy payments will set the company back £100 million.

HolidaysPlease are always looking for professional travel consultants to join their friendly team. With our homeworking vacancies you can enjoy great flexibility whilst achieving a higher level of reward than working in a high street travel agent. For further information visit our job vacancy section.

A holiday in the sun, lying on a pristine white sandy beach staring out at the warm turquoise waters with a refreshing drink in your hand feels like a dream come true right now for many of us…Why not make this dream into reality? Just think you could be miles away from your winter blues by this time tomorrow!

With so many amazing late winter offers still available for you to take advantage of, it’s a great time to bring some sun into your winter days. Our holiday consultants have access to all the operators in the market and are not owned by any tour operator. This means they can find you the best last minute deals at the best prices especially for you.

We currently have some exotic Maldives holiday deals where you can lap up the luxury in your very own beach villa or water villa. Or how about soaking up the Caribbean sunshine with some of  our not to be missed St Lucia holiday offers. Whatever destination you are after we can find the perfect winter getaway to suit your needs. Take a look at our amazing winter deals at fantastic prices and you too can soon switch off, relax and fully escape the rest of the world.

When a company reaches this tipping point it is virtually impossible to recover. The question is whether Thomas Cook has reached this point.

It has just asked for £100m from its lenders to help with its cash flow which was on top of a further £100m request just 4 weeks ago. It would not be difficult to infer that this further cash request is as a result of poor trading over the last 4 weeks which was on a scale not imagined just 4 weeks previously. If there has been this sort of collapse then it could have been a result of customers and suppliers reacting to the poor financial news.

Now some supplier failure insurance companies are telling their clients not to book with providers within the Thomas Cook group as they will not be covered for bookings from today’s date. If travel agents start to take this advice and withdraw their support for Thomas Cook, then this could easily tip it over the edge.

With debts reported to be as much as £1bn people some people are saying though that surely there is too much at stake for its lenders to allow it to fail? They have the option to support the company with a view to fully recovering their loans in the future or simply ordering a fire sale and cutting their losses.

It is hard to imagine that such a big company with 15,000 staff would dissapear altogether but it is pretty certain that if it survives the current cash crisis it will do so on a much scaled back footing. Plans such as the recent aquisition of the Co-op travel could easily be reversed and many other recent acquisitions may well have to be sold.

Should the worst come to the worst and Thomas Cook does enter administration/receivership then customers should be covered under their ATOL protection. However compensation can often take many many months to materialise. Customers may feel that with so many other travel companies out there wouldn’t it just be eaiser to book with another company rather than run the risk? That’s the problem that Thomas Cook is going to face now.

Thomas Cook going bust would have far reaching implications for other travel companies. While some short sighted competitors may relish it, they have to realise that it would probably produce the biggest possible hit for travel consumer confidence that the industry has ever seen. Consumers could rightly say “I booked with the biggest, they went bust and so who can I trust?” Consumers could easily decide to holiday in the UK, not holiday at all or book the holiday direct with hotels and airlines. All three of these options could have potentially disastrous consequences for other holiday companies.

So there is a pretty strong argument for the travel industry to rally around and do what it can to stop one of its giants entering this terrible death spiral.