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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
UK tourists choosing Mediterranean rival over Spain with cheaper flights and hotels
Amid sharp price rises when travelling to Spain, more and more British tourists are turning away from the European country in favour of Morocco as they seek more affordable and diverse travel options. Compared to pre-pandemic prices, flights from the UK to Spain have more than doubled in some cases, no longer making it an option for budget-conscious tourists, reports In contrast, flights to Morocco have remained affordable, with recent figures from travel agencies and booking platforms showing the scales have tipped in the African country's favour. READ MORE: UK tourists in Spain urged 'not to drink' as authorities issue major alert Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join Now, Morocco has become a top choice among Brits looking for an affordable while still enriching holiday experience. TUI UK has reported a 30% rise in summer bookings to Egypt compared to 2024, along with double-digit growth for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco, all citing better value for money. Meanwhile, recorded a 68% increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia, with increases in Egypt and Morocco of 64% and 39%, respectively. Morocco has become increasingly popular thanks to its high-quality hotels, which are being advertised at significantly lower prices than similar options in Spain, France and Italy. For example, a week's holiday in Agadir averages around £889 per person, while popular destinations like Santorini and Mykonos in Greece and Marbella in Spain now require travellers to fork out prices ranging from £1,000 up to £2,700 per person, according to EuroWeekly. Meanwhile, recorded a 68% increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia, with rises in Egypt and Morocco of 64% and 39%, respectively. Morocco has become increasingly popular thanks to its high-quality hotels, which are being offered at significantly lower prices than similar options in Spain, France and Italy. For example, a week's holiday in Agadir averages around £889 per person, while popular destinations like Santorini and Mykonos in Greece and Marbella in Spain now require travellers to fork out prices ranging from £1,000 up to £2,700 per person, according to EuroWeekly. While Spain remains a favourite destination for many, the cost of flights and accommodation has sharply increased, especially in hotspots like the Canary Islands and Costa del Sol on the southern coast. These price hikes are a result of both increased demand and new tourist taxes introduced by local governments to fund sustainability projects and improve the lives of locals. However, these additional fees are starting to drive budget-conscious tourists away. Morocco's tourism sector has expanded rapidly, and millions of visitors arrive annually. The country has made considerable investments in infrastructure, safety, and marketing, and it has now become a top holiday destination for British tourists seeking sunny getaways that combine both adventure and relaxation. Tourists can explore vibrant medinas in Marrakech, Fez, and Rabat, discover stunning mosques like the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, trek through the Atlas Mountains, relax on beautiful beaches, and experience the Sahara Desert while hitching a ride on a camel. Meanwhile, Spain continues to tackle overcrowding in its most popular areas and ongoing protests by locals who share concerns about the cost of living, housing and the environmental impact of mass tourism. On Sunday (June 15), thousands of angry Majorcans marched through the capital, Palma, telling tourists to "go home". Morocco's unmatched affordable prices, rich culture, and expanding tourism infrastructure are quickly making it a preferred destination for British holidaymakers, meaning Spain will need to devise a plan to respond.
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
The 6 Google AI and Lens Features I'm Using to Plan My Summer Travel
Even though travel is genuinely one of my favorite things to do (and my favorite thing to spend money on), it can still be overwhelming to plan a dream trip. I have dozens and dozens of trips -- domestic and international -- under my belt and yet, I still find the process of planning and booking stressful. According to a March 2025 survey, nearly half of all Americans (44%) plan to take a trip that requires a flight or hotel this summer. That means millions of Americans are gathering their passports, creating itineraries and gearing up to travel over the summer. If you're one of those people, you may be looking for help planning your trip. That's where AI can help. You can use numerous other AI tools for travel planning, from a general-purpose chatbot like ChatGPT that can answer all of your travel-related queries to AI Trip Planner, which could be your AI-powered travel agent. Usually, though, I use Google tools. Specifically, there are key Google AI and Google Lens features that can assist you with all of your summer travel prep. I've used these tools thoroughly over my many travels. Here is my go-to portfolio of Google apps and services that help me book and navigate my vacation. For more travel advice, see the best time to shop for airline tickets and how to find cheap flights. I also explain how I use Google Maps for stress-free travel. I Used Google's Gemini Gem to Plan My Trip I Used Google's Gemini Gem to Plan My Trip Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 5:19 Loaded : 1.86% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 5:19 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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I Used Google's Gemini Gem to Plan My Trip Let AI make custom travel itineraries Google's AI Overviews in Search can make planning your next trip simpler. This tool was initially announced in March 2024, and I've been using it for more than a year now to generate personalized travel itineraries for the cities I'm visiting. For instance, I asked Google to plan a bookstore-focused tour of Edinburgh when I was there for three days in May. Now the feature is expanding. Google said last week that it plans to broaden the capabilities of AI Overviews in Search so you can now make day-by-day itineraries for more than just cities but for distinct regions or entire countries. Just type in a quick command like "create an itinerary for England with a focus on history" or "create an itinerary for New Zealand with a focus on nature." The AI draws on data from a range of sources, such as reviews, photos and business profiles submitted to Google by people over time. From there, you can export your itinerary to Gmail, Docs or Maps. It's always important to remember not to take AI-generated answers at face value since it makes mistakes and even makes things up. You should diligently fact-check the information with expert sources in case the AI tool is hallucinating, pulling results from dubious sources or generating false information. If you need a case study, explore this piece by CNET's Katie Collins, who tested the accuracy of several AI tools regarding a city she knows inside and out. Get travel inspiration from Gemini Travel planning can be overwhelming, especially in a new city. When that happens, I turn to Gemini, Google's AI chatbot. Since the fall 2024 update to Google Maps, Gemini can suggest activities and dining options for your travels. You can also ask it to find budget-friendly activities in a city or things to do in a country you're visiting when it's raining. Gemini uses Google reviews to curate personalized suggestions and shows them as pins on the map. This feature makes planning easier, helping you discover tailored options and reducing stress. For comparison, I sometimes give other chatbots, like ChatGPT and Claude, the same travel-related queries and I get comparable answers. Did I mention that you should be sure to fact-check what an AI chatbot tells you? Create an AI travel agent You can also try Gemini's Gems feature, which lets you customize Gemini to create your own personal AI expert. Gems are customized versions of Gemini that help you tackle repetitive tasks or insight when researching. That means you can set up a travel planner Gem to help you choose a travel destination, find restaurants in a new city or what to pack for a given vacation. Google is now offering Gems without a subscription. To use this feature, you must be signed in to Gemini Apps, and then you can create a custom Gem through the "Gems manager" on the desktop. When I experimented with this feature, I created a "travel agent" Gem and wrote down instructions for the Gem's main objectives and capabilities and the style and tone of response I wanted from it. Screenshot by Macy Meyer/CNET I asked my Gem to create a 10-day itinerary for island-hopping around the Caribbean with the query, "I've always wanted to island-hop around the Caribbean islands. Please create an itinerary (for about 10 days), hitting the major islands and biggest attractions." My Gem responded by asking me what time of year I wish to travel, my budget and my ideal traveling pace. From my responses, Travel Agent Gem planned a 10-day trip around Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and Barbados, blending my interests in beaches, nature and history. Screenshot by Macy Meyer/CNET You can use Gem free to design your ultimate dream vacation, without booking an expensive travel agent. Even though these AI tools can be helpful, they can't replace the advice and insight of a real expert. Allow AI to organize screenshots of travel ideas If you're anything like me, your Photos app is filled with thousands of images from social media, Pinterest, TikTok and travel blogs. When travel planning, I like to screenshot photos of restaurants, museums, parks and other attractions I am just dying to visit. By the end, I have seemingly endless screenshots to sift through. In March, Google announced it's rolling out a feature to the Maps app that can identify locations in your screenshots and save them to a list, making it easier to organize your travel plans. The feature scans screenshots for text mentioning specific places, displays those locations on the map and lets you review, save or share them. This screenshot list feature is now available for iOS users in the US, with Android support coming soon. Find the cheapest hotels available I have no problem booking flights -- really. No matter what the sticker price is. But booking hotels? Whew, that's an expense that hurts. Especially because lodging is usually the biggest fee of any trip. I use Google Flights every day to find the cheapest flights possible. (No, I literally check it daily and have email notifications set for 15-plus destinations when prices dip.) And now, Google is bringing that magic to booking hotels. At you'll see a new option to track prices for your selected dates and destination. Just like on Google Flights, you can simply toggle the price-tracking option below the search filters and you'll receive an email notification if prices drop significantly for any hotels in your search results. You can even set filters, such as star rating or beach access, as well as the area you're viewing on the map. I have notifications set for hotel prices in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in early May. Screenshot by Macy Meyer/CNET Choose an AI-driven tour guide Easily translate menus or signs with Lens. Google OK, this isn't a new travel feature coming to Google but it's still a good one that can make travel much easier. One of my biggest concerns when traveling to a foreign county is the language barrier. The idea of becoming lost in a strange city and being unable to ask for help is my nightmare. Google's Lens feature can ease these fears. Lens makes it easy to learn more about the city you're visiting, your surroundings and the local language. It can quickly and accurately translate street signs, maps and menus to help you navigate a foreign language. Just point your camera, tap the translate filter and watch the words translate on your screen. Lens can decipher more than just text -- it can also quickly identify objects or buildings. Suppose you see a crowd of people hovering around a statue or a set of doors. In that case, you can simply point your camera and ask something along the lines of "What are these for?" and Lens will generate an AI Overview with information and links to additional resources. AI Overviews in Lens (and Circle to Search) are now available in more than 200 countries and territories, and in more than 40 languages. For more, see our traveler's prep checklist and how to improve your odds of not having your flight canceled or delayed.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- The Sun
Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations
WITH expensive costs and overcrowded attractions, thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for more affordable destinations in Africa. Recent research by TUI has seen a boom in demand for North African holidays. 3 3 Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia are all seeing a boom in demand, with destinations like Marrakech reporting record tourist numbers, TUI's UK commercial director Chris Logan said that the reason for the demand was not because of the "fantastic value for money" compared to pricier places in Europe. He told PA: "There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. "Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel." And according to aviation analysts Cirium, nearly 20,000 flights are set to fly from London to North African destinations. This is up from around 8,600 back in 2019. Some of TUI's new routes include Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir in Morocco. Holidays are extremely cheaply too - we found deals under £300 each when four-star hotels in Morocco. This demand has also been backed by who said they had seen an increase in searches for summer holidays to Tunisia by 64 per cent compared to last year. Searches for Egypt were up 64 per cent while Morocco was up 39 per cent. Inside luxury camping bivouac under the dunes in Morocco's Sahara desert Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel said north Africa was "a region to watch over the next few years". Other new Africa flights from the UK include easyJet's first route to Cape Verde from London Gatwick as well as flights to the Tunisia capital of Djbera. And Norse Airways is increasing its flights from the UK to Cape Town after huge demand following the launch of them last year. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning". She went on: "Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. "This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts." The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor recently visited El Gouna in Egypt. Our Head of Travel (Print) Lisa Minot went to Djerba in Tunisia. And our 3
The Independent
11-06-2025
- The Independent
Why tourists are picking north Africa over traditional holiday hotspots
British tourists are increasingly choosing north Africa for holidays due to the availability of cheaper, high-quality hotels compared to traditional European hotspots like Spain, France, and Italy. Aviation analysts report a significant increase in flights from UK airports to north Africa, with 19,847 flights projected for this year, more than double the 8,653 flights recorded in 2019. Travel company Tui reports a 30 per cent increase in summer bookings to Egypt compared to 2024, with double-digit growth for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco, citing better value for money. recorded a 68 per cent increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia, with Egypt and Morocco seeing rises of 64 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. Travel experts say that north Africa offers "incredible value for money", attracting holidaymakers who previously favoured mainland Europe due to cost of living pressures.
National Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Awin Brings Its Affiliate Platform to Mexico, Connecting Brands With New Audiences
Article content Awin's presence in Mexico strengthens its global footprint and enables it to meet the rising demand for affiliate and partner marketing across the Americas Article content MEXICO CITY — Global affiliate marketing platform Awin today announces its expansion into Mexico, empowering its partners to scale their businesses with new audiences and local partnerships. Article content Article content Since 2000, Awin has steadily expanded its international footprint to meet the rising demand for local affiliate marketing programs. Over the past year alone, the company has seen a 40% surge in brand-to-brand partnerships, as more businesses tap into Awin's 30,000-strong customer base to drive performance-led growth and strike win-win marketing opportunities. Major brands like Sephora, GE Appliances, Warby Parker and Etsy already partner with the platform. Article content With an established presence in Brazil, Awin's move into Mexico further strengthens its footprint in the LATAM market. The expansion will capitalize on the region's fast-growing ecommerce adoption and the opportunity this provides for its customers globally. The company now operates in over 4 continents and 17 countries worldwide. Article content 'Awin's expansion into Mexico is a major milestone in our global growth strategy,' said Adam Ross, CEO at Awin. 'Mexico represents a significant opportunity for us to serve a customer base that is eager for scalable affiliate marketing solutions with proven ROI. Our investment in local infrastructure and partnerships is already driving real results. We're excited to continue to grow our network and impact across the region.' Article content 'Localization has been key for us in Brazil, and we want to replicate our success story in Mexico,' said Rodrigo Genoveze, Regional Managing Director Latin America at Awin. 'Our objective is working with best-in-class advertisers and affiliate partners to develop performance-based advertising in the market. With our global experience we aim to deliver our company vision within the Mexican market, empowering brands of all sizes to partner with a diverse network of over one million publishers.' Article content Capitalizing on Mexico's affiliate opportunity Article content Mexico is rapidly emerging as a thriving hub for affiliate and partner marketing and is increasingly recognized as a significant player in Latin America. Mexico's burgeoning affiliate marketing industry is projected to grow at an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2024 to 2031. This presents significant opportunities for partnerships and makes it an attractive opportunity for brands to drive ROI through performance-based strategies. Article content 'Grupo Xcaret has been a leader in affiliate marketing in Latin America since 2011,' said Michel Cervantes Martínez, Director of Customer Acquisition at Grupo Xcaret. 'In 2024, we partnered with Awin to take that success even further, combining innovative technology with personalized service to expand into key markets like the United States, Canada and Europe. This collaboration ensures strong ROI and supports our broader business goals.' Article content 'As a publisher, Awin has been a great partner growing affiliate marketing in Mexico and helping accelerate the development of the channel in the country. We really value the quality programs, good communication and reliability Awin offers,' said Willy Ojeda, Founder of Promodescuentos. Article content Backed by Awin's recent achievements Article content The news comes on the heels of recent industry accolades, including recognition by G2's 2025 Best Software Awards. Additionally, so far this year, Awin has upgraded more than 400 ShareASale advertisers to its platform and announced a suite of new innovations that underscore its commitment to meeting its customers' evolving needs. Advertisers and publishers now have access to Ava – a fully-integrated intuitive AI-powered assistant. Users also benefit from enhanced commission flexibility and tracking features, as well as advanced real-time performance insights. Article content Got an ecommerce challenge? Awin has the solution. Using Awin's affiliate marketing platform, brands of all sizes can unlock unlimited marketing opportunities that reach consumers everywhere. Choose which affiliate partners best match marketing objectives. Control costs by defining how these partners are paid. And customize affiliate marketing programs using Awin's tech to mirror unique goals, whatever they may be. Article content Article content Article content Article content
