Enjoy the long summer of 2021


The summer of 2021 is set to be the longest yet. With international travel showing no signs of slowing down at the end of August and instead looking to span into September, holidaymakers are prepared to jet abroad much later in the year to guarantee a sunshine fix.

If you've not been away yet this year, why not join them by extending your summer and fitting in a holiday before winter closes back in? For families, there's the two-week half-term this October; for people travelling child-free, the end of the school holidays means prices are dropping from the start of September while more places open up and regardless of the British weather places like the Canaries, Madeira, Greece and Cyprus will still be enjoying sunbathing temperatures for weeks or months to come.

Extend your summer


Our latest travel research, put out in anticipation of the government travel update on Thursday 26 August, shows a huge surge in September holiday plans. We asked more than 330,000 holidaymakers when they next planned to go away via a weekly email campaign, and while 39,000 planned an August holiday the most popular month this year was September with more than 45,000 respondents planning to fly away.

Showcasing just how crucial a holiday abroad can be, a whopping 58% of those who have already been abroad this year are planning to do so again before the end of 2021. And out of those who travelled in 2020, half intend to venture abroad in the last remaining months of this year.

The extended summer holiday trend looks set to continue for the rest of 2021, with 16% of those questioned planning to escape the UK in November and December.



Where we recommed this September

  • Malta
  • Madeira
  • Barbados
  • The Canaries
  • The Greek islands
Picture of Greece

Where's open for a holiday?

Keep up to date with where you can travel this year



Holiday Extras' view

Seamus McCauley at Holiday Extras, said:

"With the nation waiting for yet another travel announcement this Thursday, it's interesting to get an up-close view of the country's holiday booking plans for the rest of 2021. With many holidaymakers waiting until next month to travel internationally, we're now expecting September to be the main event of the year!"

"The start of this year was lost to lockdown and confusing travel restrictions. uncertainty and travel has been at the centre of this. But as we go into September and October, more destinations are on the green or amber list, most people are double-jabbed so able to get away hassle-free, and we're expecting the "summer" to extend well into the end of the year as people who've been putting their trips off take themselves on a well-earned break."