In recent years, during the winter, more and more Romanians have started to choose destinations with a mild climate to spend their vacation or an extended stay.
Romanians have already made their reservations for Holidays in warm areas. Pixabay photo
The desire to escape the cold temperatures, the increasing accessibility of low-cost flights, the expansion of the airline route portfolio, as well as the flexibility of remote work are the factors that have turned winter travel into an increasingly popular phenomenon.
Moreover, many Romanians have relatives working abroad, so they can go on an extended visit, especially since the largest communities are in Italy and Spain, Mediterranean countries known for warmer temperatures, including in the months of winter. On the other hand, tourists are increasingly turning to exotic destinations in Africa and Asia, with Thailand, Bali and the United Arab Emirates being at the top of their preferences.
Where Romanians spend their Holidays
According to the online travel agency Vola.ro, in the top of the most booked destinations of Romanians for December are: Milan, Rome, Brussels, Paris, London, Madrid, Vienna, Memmingen and Dortmund, cities recognized for the large number of Romanians who have residence in the area, but also for the Christmas markets.
And if there are no major changes in European cities, specialists have noticed a growing interest in exotic destinations in the cold season. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the most popular destinations throughout the cold months, known for warm temperatures of around 30 degrees even in December. Next comes Tenerife and Gran Canaria from Spain, preferred by Romanians both for the warm weather and for the direct flights and the short duration of these compared to flights to other exotic destinations.
Bali, Bangkok, Cairo, Hurghada, Male, Manila and Phuket are also on the list of destinations to which tourists will fly this winter, islands or cities where it is warm all year round.
Up to 22 days of hot vacation: how Romanians travel
Tourists have been prudent this year and have booked their winter holidays well in advance to ensure they escape the chilly temperatures of this time. According to the data recorded by Vola.ro, October is the month in which the most reservations were made for exotic destinations. Regarding European destinations, most Romanians booked flights 45-90 days before departure, so as to get affordable prices, considering that the rates fluctuate quite a bit during periods of increased demand.
Regarding the number of days spent on vacation, Romanians allocate between 7 and 22 days for exotic winter stays, trying to take advantage of the warm temperatures as much as possible. In Thailand, for example, they spend an average of 21 days, in the Philippines – 16 days, in Bali – 12 days.
In the case of European destinations, the average length of stay is still 4-5 days, a sign that Romanians have organized short escapades, of the city-break type, to take advantage of the Christmas markets of this period, but also of a last vacation on 2024.
In December, most Romanians booked their outbound flight on Friday, the second favorite day being Saturday, which is also the most expensive departure day. This option of theirs is further proof that they prefer short city-breaks, which they try to combine with weekend days.
How much will Romanians pay for the winter vacation
Average Christmas and New Year flight prices are similar, so those looking to travel over the holidays should budget between €150 and €300 for flights. Among the most booked European cities are Brussels, London, Vienna Milan, Rome, Dublin, Paris and Madrid. In other words, in the following, the most sought-after cities are either those for city-breaks, or those where there is a large community of Romanians settled abroad. The most affordable of these destinations is Rome, with prices from 119 euros, followed by Brussels, with prices from 128 euros, while to Dublin the fares do not fall below 200 euros, the cheapest flight being 203 euros.
At the same time, the cheapest destination of the season is Tirana, with rates from 63 euros, while the most expensive offers are for Male (Maldives), with prices starting from 1,607 euros.
However, there are also flights to warm destinations under 1000 euros: Manila, with rates from 952 euros, Phuket, with rates from 929 euros, Bangkok, from 805 euros, Dubai, from 508 euros, Hurghada, from at 324 euros, Cairo, from 254 euros, Tenerife, from 218 euros, and Gran Canaria, from 200 euros.
An interesting aspect related to the Romanians’ travels in December is related to the Christmas markets organized in the big cities in Europe, which will be open from the end of November. Among the most affordable flights in December are those to: Brussels, with tickets starting from 95 euros, London, from 123 euros, Krakow, from 153 euros, Prague, from 176 euros, Edinburgh, from 179 euros, and Vienna, from 216 euros.
