Buy to let holiday home rentals will continue to grow in popularity in the coming year, according to HomeAway UK, the holiday rentals specialist.
In its latest Marketplace Report the company found that 89 percent of travellers surveyed plan to stay in a rental in 2010, a significant increase from the 62 percent who said they had stayed, or plan on staying in a rental in 2009.
Of those travellers who stayed or will stay in a rental last year, 81 percent had previously stayed in a holiday home and 19 percent will be first-time renters.
Almost 40 percent of holiday home owners surveyed reported that their level of bookings in the third quarter of 2009 was around the same as last year and 28 percent reported a higher level of bookings.
However, it seems travellers this year were driving a harder deal and also waiting until the last moment to get away in the hope of securing the best price. Of those owners questioned, 36 percent said they had noticed more people haggling for a discount and over a quarter said more travellers were booking last-minute.
According to HomeAway UK the top 10 summer destinations in the UK last year were:
1. London
2. Cornwall
3. Devon
4. Lake District
5. Norfolk
6. Dorset
7. Edinburgh & Lothians
8. Scottish Highlands & Islands
9. Derbyshire (Peak District)
10. Isle of Wight
“The fact that our report reveals a high level of both repeat and first-time use of rentals demonstrates the strong traveller satisfaction and growth levels within this industry,” said Courtney Wylie, General Manager for HomeAway Holiday-Rentals.
