Local Co-op Travel has busiest week since pandemic

Your Co-op Travel, which has 76 travel agency branches across England, including one in Guildhall Street, Grantham,  has enjoyed its busiest week of trading since the pandemic began, after the government announced the lifting of Covid-19 testing requirements for travellers.

Holiday bookings for Your Co-op Travel, part of The Midcounties Co-operative, have soared following the relaxation of the government’s stringent travel testing measures, with bookings in the period 9 – 12 January (Sun – Weds) up more than 100 per cent versus the same period the week before the announcement.

Natalie Turner, Head of Branches for Your Co-op Travel, said: “We’re delighted to see that the significant change to the travel testing rules from our own government, coupled with the news that holiday hotspots such France are planning to ease entry requirements for Brits, has inspired confidence in our members and customers and given a welcome boost to bookings.

“30 per cent of the holidays booked since Sunday are for departures between now and March, as many of our members and customers look for instant getaways. More than half (55 per cent) of bookings are for summer 2022, and the most popular week is currently 28 May – 4 June, as sunseekers look to take advantage of the two extra bank holidays for the Queen’s Jubilee and the school half-term break.

“The biggest-selling destinations for this summer are the Canaries and the Balearics, Turkey, Greece and Croatia. For winter ‘22/23, it’s the Canaries, Sri Lanka, New York and Barbados.

“Our Your Co-op Travel January sale is running until 11 February 2022, offering members and customers up to £200 off new bookings, so there’s never been a better time to book that long-awaited, dream holiday.”

With testing still part of the travel process, depending on the destination and vaccination status of the holidaymaker, Your Co-op Travel is offering Covid-19 tests to members and customers at cost price. The tests are supplied by government-approved, UKAS-accredited providers, Randox and C19 Testing, and can be ordered directly from the Your Co-op Pharmacy website, with a discount code provided on booking.

Your Co-op Travel has branches in Oakham (Inside Your Co-op Food, Burley Road) and Market Deeping (7 The Precincts), as well as a Carrick Travel shop in Grantham (14 Guildhall Street), which joined the Your Co-op family in October 2020 but continues to trade as Carrick Travel.

Your Co-op Travel offers one of the widest selections of holidays on the high street, including financially protected, flexible holiday deals to the top destinations. For added peace of mind, Your Co-op Travel is offering members and customers booking package holidays with its own tour operator, Co-op Holidays, low deposits, flexible payment options, free changes and cancellations and cash refunds within 10 days, as part of the Co-op Holidays Promise.

For more information on Your Co-op Travel, please go to a local branch, visit www.cooptravel.co.uk or call 01922 908 389.