Tour operators, including ourselves here at Hotelopia are witnessing a surge in bookings from holidaymakers who are keen to escape washout Britain.

When promises of a long hot summer by weathermen failed to materialise, the concept of the “Stay-cation” has sent holidaymakers in search of the sun and flocking to book a last minute vacation.

The fall in the pound and the economic downturn has made holidaying in Britain even more attractive.  But that’s been made virtually impossible with the almost constant rainfall.

Although it is now officially “high season” in the resorts, favourite destinations currently being booked on the Hotelopia website include the Algarve and Ibiza.  And in spite of yesterday’s bombing in Mallorca, this Balearic Island remains one of the most searched for destinations on Hotelopia, with plenty of availability and apartments starting from just £22 per person, per night.

And with news reports stating it’s actually more expensive to holiday at home this summer anyway, one thing’s for certain.  It’s unlikely the British public will ever trust the weather forecaster’s predictions again!

It’s amazing the difference a lunch hour can make.  I wrote this blog post just before I headed into Palma for my lunch and before the car bomb went off down the coast in Palmanova.

Mallorca is now in the news for all the wrong reasons.  And while this is a very sad day here, tourists, rest assured, this is a very small island, and terrorism cannot exist here.

So here it is – blog post updated and uploaded.  Here are my top 10 reasons why you should (still) visit Mallorca this summer (and scr*w the terrorists)! :

1.    It’s hot, hot, hot: That’s right, Mallorca has been sizzling for months now.  Day time temperatures are topping 30 degrees Celsius and I actually can’t remember when it last rained.
2.    You never know who you’ll meet: Mallorca is holiday hotspot for the rich and famous.  Not only does the Spanish Royal family spend their hols here, but you’re likely to bump into the likes of Bob Geldolf + daughters, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Boris Becker…. Oh and I also sat next to Pauline Quirke in a café the other week. How’s that for rubbing shoulders with the glitterati?!
3.    The sea: Cool off and take dip into the turquoise blue waters that surround the island.  Go swimming, try windsurfing, hire a kayak, or just sail.  All of the above are our favourite past-times.
4.    Visit the cool capital city Palma: Palma is surprisingly Spanish and a great way to get an idea of what life is like for us locals. I won’t point you in the direction of the really cool Spanish bars – you’ll have to wander the Old Town streets and discover them for yourself.
5.    Fiestas: Mallorca goes fiesta crazy during the summer months.  The smaller towns each have their annual street party but by far the biggest is the Moros y Cristianos (Moors & Christians) festival in Pollensa in August.  Residents fill the streets in fancy to recreate the moment when the Christians reclaimed the island from the then ruling Moors.  Expect there to be lots of alcohol and general partying.
6.    Es Trenc Beach: You’ll need a car (or the patience of a saint to cope with the busses), but Es Trenc a beach/nature reserve gives the Seychelles a run for its money.  Yes, it really is that beautiful.
7. Great Gastronomy: Molinar, Portixol and Port Andratx serve some of the best paellas on the island.  But don’t stick to the fancy restaurants.  Nip into the tiny Mallorcan restaurants and try the Menu del Día for a real insight into the local food here.
8.    Sultry Sunsets: Pick a coastal point on the south or west side of the island at around 8.30 – 9pm during July / August and watch the sunset.  My favourite point is from the terrace bar El Piñon (C/ Isla de Samos) in Coll d’en Rabassa
9. Nightlife: The Paseo Maritimo is where the party’s at during the summer months as visitors pack out the bars or clubs.  Alternatively, and for an altogether more chilled night out, head for the beach with some mates, a few beers and a picnic.
10.    Cheap Hotels: start from just £17 per person, per night and what’s more, there’s plenty of availability.

How’s that for tempting.  You won’t be disappointed.  So what are you waiting for? Get booking now!

Estrenc Beach by http://fincacanbarret.blogspot.com/

Bagging a sun bed in holiday destinations will get even harder for Brits this winter.

Tour Operator Thomas Cook is giving German customers the opportunity to reserve sun beds when they make their booking.   This is a move to curb the volumes of tourists from hogging loungers at the crack of dawn, then returning to bed, or disappearing to enjoy a lengthy breakfast.

So far nine hotels are offering this service in Egypt, Turkey and the Canary Islands.The cost of a sunbed and umbrella will cost in the region of €3 a day (or £2.60).

And if you think the sun bed wars are an exaggeration, then check out this Youtube video which shows how in just 2 minutes and 26 seconds at 6.30am one morning, the race begins to bag a bed at the Marina Torrenova hotel in Palmanova in Mallorca.

Admittedly this is English territory, which shows that the Germans are not the only nationality guilty of fuelling the sun bed wars.

Wanderlust magazine has launched a campaign – “Put your Brits Away” to encourage British tourists to have more consideration for local cultures when travelling abroad.

Ever since destinations such as Morocco and Turkey have increased in popularity, many visitors forget that going on holiday is not just a change of country, but a change of culture.

The magazine has put together a downloadable guide of global hotspots where it’s wise to cover-up, and avoid drawing unwanted attention, which is particularly useful for women travellers.

Destinations where you need to be clothes aware include Dubai, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Thailand and Catholic Europe (eg. Around the Vatican, and most catholic churches – if you’re not dressed respectively, they won’t let you in!)

But it’s not just a case of covering up in Catholic or Muslim countries as  Simon Reeve, Tropic of Capricorn TV presenter and author recalls:

“On two occasions in Greece I’ve seen Brits wandering around in t-shirts emblazoned with F**K OFF in giant letters. I mean, who would ever think that was acceptable, anywhere?”

So this summer, be patriotic, and have some dignity for your country and think before you dress.  Beachwear is for beaches, and blending in with the locals  is the way forward.  At the very least, save everyone the eye-ache and keep your bits covered.

Airlines, take note; never underestimate the power of Youtube.

Dave Carroll, a passenger on United Airlines took drastic steps to shame the airline via YouTube, after the airline broke his $3,000 guitar when he flew to Chicago’s O’Hare airport last year.

Some people write letters, send emails or complain on blogs, but this Canadian has written a song after his complaint wasn’t taken seriously by the carrier.

His song has since notched up over 3.7million Youtube hits, and is now available via iTunes for download.

After refusing to pay for damages or offer compensation, the United Airlines has now offered the singer airline vouchers and to pay for repairs.

What is most surprising perhaps is that this singer has become an internet sensation, as this hit is also the 20th best selling song on iTunes in Canada.

What’s more, he’s promised a follow-up track which is set to go live soon, detailing his experiences with the airline’s customer service teams.  Watch this space…

There’s not much on the football calendar this summer, however, football fans can still get their football fix and book a break away.

Some of teams playing in fixtures around Spain’s Peace Cup Andalucia 2009 (or as it’s locally known, the Cupa de la Paz)

Teams lined up to play include Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, Juventus, Aston Villa and many more in destinations including Seville, Malaga, Cadiz and Madrid.

To make finding hotel accommodation to ti-in with the football matches, Hotelopia has launched a website dedicated to making Peace Cup bookings.
If you’re planning to go, then click here for the cheapest hotels in destinations where all the matches are being held.

Hi everyone! My name is Benet Darder and I work as a web developer at Hotelopia.

In my free time, I love to travel, and because I live in Majorca, this summer I plan on going somewhere completely different. My idea of a perfect holiday is to take a break away from the beaches, and hit the European cities.

My favourite places include Prague, Krakow and Amsterdam. So it’s just as well Hotelopia this month has slashed hotel rates to these destinations and more! Happy summer everyone!

Now I could get in trouble for putting this on the blog, but….  last week we issued our newsletter, which included details of a Private Sale especially for Hotelopia newsletter subscribers.  I’m now extending this offer to our blog readers.

Here’s the deal.  Every single one of our hotels have been discounted, for dates which can be booked for this year and next, in every destination.

The site will be live for the next week or so, or until they decide to take it down.  So go share the joy and save some cash on your next hotel break!

Here’s the link

This month, we’ve put together an Insider’s Guide to Paris, based on our customer and employee experiences in the city.  We’ve recommended some of the best things to do, sights to see, and places to eat.

Plus visiting Paris this summer doesn’t mean missing out on a trip to the beach.  Until the 20th August, visit Paris Plage as thousands of tonnes of sand and palm trees are shipped in to form a manmade beach on the banks of the River Seine.

Also enjoy the light and firework displays taking place at the Château de Versailles on the 22nd Augus at the Fêtes de Nuit Château de Versailles which  is one of city’s summer event highlights.

The Insider’s Guide was originally sent to all our newsletter subscribers.  If you wish to be the first to receive news about Hotelopia and our Insider’s Guides, then subscribe here.

Website www.360travelguide.com has found a loophole in the Ryanair rulebook allowing airline passengers to claw back some cash.

We’ve reported on Blogtelopia how Ryanair is happily becoming Europe’s most hated airline, due to proposals to charge passengers extra for taking a pee, carrying luggage on the plane or to be issued a sick bag.

But here’s how customers can turn the tables on the airline and get cash back from their flight.

Since Ryanair charge the same in Euros and Pounds for food and drinks from the in-flight kiosk, simply pay for your purchases with a £50 note but request  change in Euros.

The recent rise in the Euro currency means you will get more than the equivalent change back.  So pay £50 for a £3 coffee for example, and request change in Euros, which will give a return of €54, and a tidy €7 profit.  This will more than make up for any in-flight peeing or sick bags used on route.

We’re also guessing that this is one loophole Ryanair will be rapidly revising, so anyone travelling on the airline in coming weeks, make the most of it while it lasts!