Thomson, the UK-based holiday company, is set to register the busiest month for child-free holidays, as 190,000 ‘Dinkys’ (Dual Income, No Kids Yet) plan to jet off on holiday this September.
According to a release by the company, September 13 was the busiest day of the ‘Dinky Getaway’ with thousands of couples jetting off for the last of the summer sun. Such holidays are becoming popular with the number of couples jetting off on holidays increasing by ten per cent compared to last year.
In addition to Dinky, Thomson has also seen an increase in those couples who have children but prefer a quieter time by jetting off without their offspring. A recent research by the holiday company has shown that over 34 per cent of parents of children under-18 already take child-free holidays, leaving their kids with ex-partners or other family members.
Luke Gaskins, Head of Product Development & Delivery at Thomson, said: ‘Last year we noticed a significant rise in couples heading off on a Dinky getaway and this year has been no different. As the kids go back to school, September is an ideal time to catch the last of the summer sunshine and take advantage of the quieter beaches, hotels and pools.’
The most popular regional airports for couples departing on Dinky getaways are London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester, while the top destinations include Cyprus, Majorca and Tenerife.
Thomson has seen a 46 per cent increase in bookings at its Thomson Couples properties in the last two years and recently added three new properties into its Couples programme for summer 2015, bringing the collection to 55 hotels.
Holidaymakers looking for a child-free period prefer seven night durations, on an all-inclusive board basis, with an average cost of a holiday at £1,300 per couple.
Thomson’s holiday deals for couples in September include seven nights in Mexico’s Pacific Coast staying at the 5T Secrets Vallarta Bay Thomson Couples Resort, 14 nights in Mauritius staying at the 4T Ambre Resort and Spa Thomson Couples Resort, seven nights in Crete staying at the 5T Atlantica Kalliston Resort and Spa Thomson Couples Resort, and seven nights in Croatia staying at the 4T+ Kalamota Island Resort by Karisma Thomson Couples Resort.