Residents of the UAE will enjoy their first long weekend of the year during Eid Al Fitr, the end of Ramadan's holy month.
As a result of astronomical calculations, Eid Al Fitr is likely to begin on Friday, April 21 - which means residents could have a four-day weekend from Thursday, April 20, to Sunday, April 23.
Travel bookings from the UAE to popular destinations have already increased by about 15 percent, experts told Khaleej Times.
Schools' spring break falls during Ramadan, so more families are planning overseas vacations. There has been a 30 per cent spike in queries for travel packages, according to online travel agency Musafir.com.
The number of UAE travellers planning to travel internationally is significantly higher than last year. Nearly 65 per cent are choosing leisure travel and 35 per cent are opting to celebrate with family, either in their home countries or locally,” it added.
Data is based on website traffic and inquiries received by their customer service agents.
The best places to go
Budget-friendly and visa-friendly destinations are in demand. “Countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia are quite popular, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are gaining momentum alongside Singapore, Kenya, Thailand, and Malaysia,” said Musafir.
The "huge surge in demand" has caused holiday package rates to fluctuate, according to Bharath Aidasani, managing partner at Pluto Travels.
According to him, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are among the most popular destinations for UAE travellers.
Due to their popularity and the number of tourists travelling from the UAE, I can always bet on countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. However, places like Albania, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are also emerging as popular destinations,” said Libin Varghese, sales director at Rooh Travel and Tourism.
Prices for packages
The price of a three-night, four-day package to Caucasian countries is Dh1,499 until the second week of April, Varghese said. But during the expected Eid holiday dates, rates will double.
According to the expert, Eid break vacation packages start at Dh2,999 and are sold out in most agencies.
The Eid break has resulted in higher package prices due to skyrocketing airfares.
In addition to visa-free destinations, the most popular holiday packages fall within the range of Dh3,000 to Dh4,000.
A four-night trip to Georgia starts at Dh3,200, while a trip to Kyrgyzstan costs Dh3,800. Five-night packages to Singapore and Malaysia start at Dh5,300, according to Musafir.
Seven-night packages to Paris and Switzerland start at Dh8,800, while four-night trips to Phuket and Krabi cost Dh4,000. There are four-night trips to Bangkok and Pattaya that start at Dh3,700, and five-night trips to Kenya that start at Dh4,800.