Palma.Tenerife and Geneva are shaping up to be the most visited destinations for Britons looking for a winter break, according to leading car hire comparison site carehiremarket.com. Based on car hire bookings to date for December 2011 and January 2012, fly drive holidays look set to be most popular in the largest of the sunny Canary Islands, Tenerife, and with holiday makers on the hunt for snow from the Swiss city of Geneva.
The other destinations in the top five prove that much needed winter sun is rather important to us chilly Britons, with the southern city of Faro in Portugal and Cape Town in South Africa also popular for car hire holidays. In addition, a pint of warming festive Guinness looks to be a draw with Belfast, making it into the top five.
Compared to bookings during the winter months of 2010, it looks like popular destinations such as Spain and Greece are falling off the top of the league table. Palma won first prize with Malaga and Alicante coming second and third in 2010. However, perhaps us Brits are becoming more adventurous with winter trips, leaving the summery Sangria and ancient Greek architecture behind. With forecasters warning of another big freeze this winter with Siberian temperatures and widespread snow, it's no wonder that many Britons are looking to take to the skies and fly off to sunnier climes, commented Andrew Shorrock, Product Manager at leading car rental comparison site carhiremarket.com. Although snowy Geneva is popular, our other top destinations offer hotter temperatures and winter sun and so far it looks like Brits are being a bit more adventurous in their choice of holiday. We've already had lots of bookings from people looking for a winter getaway, who see the benefit of receiving great deals by getting car hire sorted well in advance. As the demand for winter fly-drive holidays starts to pick up, getting online and booking your car hire early will certainly help prevent disappointment, whether you are looking for sun and sand or a week on the slopes.