British spa seekers are flocking to foreign spas, which offer spa breaks at a fraction of the cost
Figures released this week by spa booking agency Spabreaks.com show a 125% increase in overseas bookings, 98% of which are in Europe, for the first quarter of 2017.
This trend is linked to significant prices differences. In addition to possessing unique facilities, many top European spas also offer better deals than their UK counterparts – despite the exchange rate. Portugal, in particular, offers exceptional value, with a spa package costing almost half the price of a comparable package in the UK. For example, a three-night spa break at a five-star resort and spa in the Algarve starts from £150 per person, whereas a comparable package in the UK would come in at around £350.
Other European destinations offering superb value include Ireland and Italy, with the latter offering particularly strong all-inclusive packages.
Abi Wright, founder of Spabreaks.com, which works with more than 700 venues in the UK and overseas, says: ‘While the UK has some exceptional destination spas, overall it is still lagging behind many European destinations both in terms of outlook and facilities. Many European countries have a long tradition of spa therapies and, as such, they view it as a necessity rather than a luxury – and prices reflect this.’
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