Airlines and operators are reportedly slashing prices for last minute departures this week as England progresses in the World Cup and the UK summer heatwave continues.
The England team is playing in Moscow against Croatia on Wednesday and again in Russia next weekend after the defeat of Sweden in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday
At one point, Tui was selling a week’s package from Manchester to Marmaris in Turkey for £117, according to prices tracked by The Independent on Saturday.
The deal was for a departure tomorrow (Tuesday), included flights with 15kg of luggage, transfers between Dalaman airport and the resort, and self-catering accommodation.
The holiday to Turkey sold out during the afternoon, but other sub-£200 holidays were found to be available.
Another Tui holiday to Gran Canaria departing today from Norwich was available for £199.
Thomas Cook was selling a week on the Greek island of Zante, departing from Birmingham on Thursday, for £222.
Jamie Rollo, a leisure analyst for Morgan Stanley, is reported to have told investors in a market update: “We spoke to a number of UK tour operators this week, and the consensus was that overseas holiday bookings have weakened in the last few weeks.
“This was put down to a combination of the weather, following the longest heatwave since 1976 and June the driest month on record, and the World Cup.”
Air fares are also tumbling. On the day of England’s semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday, Tui has an early-morning departure from Gatwick to Palma for £49, including a return flight a week later, The Independent found.
However, British Airways is commanding the highest fares on its three daily flights between Heathrow and Moscow and has deployed larger Boeing 777 aircraft on five of its return services to the Russian capital.
Fares fell from a previous level of £1,049, but only to £932 return.
England is guaranteed to be playing at the weekend, either in the final in Moscow on Sunday or the third place play-off in St Petersburg on Saturday.