This is a very interesting piece from the Majorca Bulletin .................. http://majorcadailybulletin.com/first.dba?3997+0+0

Palma.—In fact, the situation appears to be so serious that yesterday, the President of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, Juan Molas, called on central government to adopt urgent measures to help the hotel sector through this coming Easter period and what he described as a “complicated” Spring.
The biggest problem is that Easter is falling so early and winter sun seekers are in destinations such as the Canary Islands or North Africa and, for many Europeans, including the Spanish, the ski season is still in full flow.

Molas said yesterday that the results of market surveys the confederation has commissioned by the likes of PricewaterhouseCoopers have revealed that, apart from Easter falling early, the increase in airport taxes, the Iberia strike and the ongoing tendency for people to book their holidays later and later in the hope of a last minute deal have all had a negative affect on the market.

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My take on this is yes the extra airport tax is going to hammer them so what the governments say is wrong and what the ordinary folk on the street say is correct. Also with the added increase in hotel prices over the last 2 years what do they expect. I know that Spanish hotels are still cheaper than most UK hotels but this is why us Brits have always gone to Spain, this is why Spain prospered and made the UK suffer, your money went further then you had the addition of sunshine and warmth that killed the UK holiday resorts.

I think this year more than any other that the trend could reverse, I believe the likes of the Lake District will be full of tourists this year as more and more families turn there back on rip of priced holidays. I was talking about this with my wife on Thursday, I was looking through the prices of holidays for families in school holiday times and they are just too much to pay for, its ridiculous the cost for 10/14 days away and that money can go a lot further back at home now.

Maybe Graham can let us know what Alison is finding at Hays, has there been many bookings this year or is it down compared to the last 2 years, looking at these other holiday companies that have downsized or just closed down recently I think I might be right.

There's still a good few deals about if you go out of season, but now it's a case of wait for a good deal, if there ain't one, don't go, to most people.

But Easter in the UK this year is going to be a no-no

Yeah Mark your right but the money is mostly in the Summer time for Spanish to make cash, I remember the trend of waiting until the last minute for deals, they managed to reverse this trend by increasing the price of a flight the longer you waited and never dropping them, it worked but now they are soooooooooooooooooooooo expensive people are willing to wait or just say f$*"^ it and stay here.

There is no budget airlines now

Try Ireland. Once you leave Dublin behind, prices are about 20% cheaper everywhere else. We found eating a la carte in Edinburgh to be very expensive. You'll get a decent 2 course meal here with tea/coffee for @ 12/13 euro.

Always wanted to look around Ireland but to be honest by the time you pay for a flight you land with the weather being just the same as here in England may as well save that money and go to the lake district or Scotland, Wales etc, its the weather that's the big problem.

Im sick of looking now, paying £2800 on average A/I for 10/14 nights just seems a waste of money to me, I know S/C is a lot cheaper but by the time you pay for meals,drinks ice cream etc its cheaper for a family to go A/I although even so we still go out at night.

Its getting very unaffordable now for families but only another 2 years then we can go off season with our daughter, CHEAP TIMES HERE WE COME hehehe

yes it becomes a value you no longer consider it worthwhile and you don't go, like sunbeds at 11 euro's

Will the Tour Companies/Airlines, do something about their prices before it is too late though?

easter is too early this year

Still a rip off though mate, whether it be early or later, the greedy gits.

The wife says people are still booking hols i think with the weather people are more determined to get away were going away at easter for 5 nights to tossa de mar staying at the golden bahia which is a 4 star superior hotel and weve paid £318.00 for 5 nights full board with drinks for 3 of us and the flights came in at £204 for 3 flights which i think is still good value.

I think i've just trumped you then Graham, £343 each Flamingo Playa Benidorm all inc 7 nights 4 star £343 each