Top summer hotspots for shivering Scots revealed as travel agent eyes ‘Sunshine Saturday’ booking boom
“We’ve noticed that people have already been booking earlier than usual this year” – Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, Barrhead Travel
Scotland’s most famous travel business is bracing itself for a “booking boom” this weekend as shivering Scots plan their summer break.
Barrhead Travel, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and has a retail network spanning more than 90 locations across the UK, said demand for summer getaways had been gaining momentum since the Christmas break with the most popular destinations so far for 2026 including Canada, Dubai, Majorca, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The first Saturday of January after people return to work is typically the most popular day of the year for travel bookings as families look ahead and start planning holidays. Many will be hoping to lock-in travel deals for the school summer, Easter and October holidays periods and take advantage of low deposits and offers such as “kids go free”, Barrhead noted.
Bosses said they were anticipating high demand over the coming weekend, of January 10 and 11. Last year, so-called Sunshine Saturday resulted in a record-breaking performance for the iconic travel firm, resulting in the most successful January in its history.
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director of Barrhead Travel, said: “With 2025 in the rear-view mirror, many people have already started thinking about making their holiday dreams a reality. January remains one of the best times of year to book a holiday - and we expect this year to be no different.
“We’ve noticed that people have already been booking earlier than usual this year; at the close of 2025, bookings for summer 2026 were already up compared to the same period last year. There’s definitely an appetite for spreading the cost over monthly payments as well as people being keen to secure their first choice of accommodation or destination rather than leave it to the last-minute.
“Ultimately, holidaymakers want value-for-money and to make sure their trips are fully financially protected which is why we continue to see a return to high street travel agents.”
Last month, Barrhead said it had rounded off its 50th anniversary with a third consecutive record-breaking year of sales.
The holidays firm said its booking growth during 2025 was, in-part, driven by consumer appetite to enjoy “experiences”. Touring and adventure holidays were up by some 27 per cent compared with the year before.
Cruise was also a major driver of growth, it noted, particularly in the river cruise market with the company reporting record bookings, up by more than 40 per cent. Top destinations for travel during 2025 included Tenerife, Mallorca, Alicante, Antalya and Lanzarote for short-haul with New York, Orlando, Barbados, Dubai and Cancun topping the list for long-haul trips.
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: “Demand for trusted, knowledgeable travel experts is stronger than ever. Holidays continue to be a priority for consumers, and we are seeing increasing numbers choosing to book in-store for reassurance, expertise and personalised service.
“That’s why our commitment to investing in the high street remains unwavering, and why we’re pressing ahead with further expansion, job creation and local investment in our store network across the UK.”
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