Helston-based specialist holiday lettings agency Classic Cottages is expecting its busiest ever half-term, thanks to the extra bank holiday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Classic Cottages, which markets over 700 properties across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, is already reporting that it is 92% full for the half term, with a week still remaining to take further bookings.
This compares to an 82% occupancy level at the same point in 2011, which allowing for an increase in properties in the agency’s portfolio this year means a net increase of 14% more bookings.
The Helston-based company believes that the increase in bookings is thanks to the decision to move the half-term back a week to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee bank holidays in June.
MD Anthony Skitt said: “The half term always returns very high rates of occupancy for us, but with the extra bank holiday people are able to book three days off work to take a nine day break, making it very attractive.
“The trend for ‘staycationers’ is continuing with more people choosing to take their holidays in the UK due to financial constraints, and as ever the south west is one of the most popular destinations. We are hoping that the current spell of hot weather will prompt some last minute bookings this week, so we could be seeing record occupancy levels by the time half-term arrives.”
