Holiday Hotlist: Why Malta has climbed the rankings and Egypt is the new #1

Value and winter sun make Egypt a tempting choice

Since we launched the Holiday Hotlist in June, there has been a new top destination every month as trends shift and prices fall. Egypt is the new #1 right now, with a huge spike in TravelSupermarket search interest helping it climb all the way up from #10.

As the Holiday Hotlist algorithm rewards trending destinations, a 290% increase in searches in September compared to August went some way to driving Egypt’s rise to the summit of the rankings.

This interest makes complete sense when you consider that the winter months, which are fast approaching, are a fantastic time to visit Egypt. Across its Red Sea resorts, temperatures drop from absolutely scorching to just upwards of 20°C, a welcome change from the British weather but not too hot to get out exploring, like it can be in summer.

And it’s not just the weather that’s tempting holidaymakers. The other key factor in Egypt’s ascent to the top of the Holiday Hotlist was a 16.7% drop in holiday price. A seven-night getaway departing over the next six months costs £602 per person on average. Just avoid October - last-minute prices were one area where Egypt certainly didn’t excel in the latest ranking update, with departures this month coming in at a hefty £1,258 per person on average.

One final factor in Egypt’s crown of #1 holiday destination right now was that upgrading from bed and breakfast to all-inclusive will actually save you £9 per person on average.

Bargain Malta prices fall further

It was the second time in three months that Malta has claimed #2 on the Holiday Hotlist, and its return to the top end of the rankings was driven by exceptionally low prices.

While a 44.7% increase in TravelSupermarket searches helped the Mediterranean island’s rise from #9, its status as the cheapest beach holiday destination right now was the primary driving force.

Average seven-night holiday prices fell once again in September, dropping 9% to just £439 per person. Combine that with the fact that an all-inclusive upgrade can save you £47 per person compared to bed and breakfast, and you’ve got a destination that’s king of bargain getaways at the moment.

Canary Islands and Antalya still great options

The Canary Islands may have slipped down the rankings slightly in the latest Holiday Hotlist update, but Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Lanzarote all still remain firmly in the top 10.

The year-round sun means these destinations are always attractive, as reflected in TravelSupermarket searches, and it can often just be a case of waiting for the dates and prices to be right for you.

Right now, #4 Fuerteventura is the cheapest of the three, with average seven-night holiday prices down 5.5% to £570 per person. Prices have also fallen for Lanzarote holidays, but you’ll typically pay over £600 per person. Likewise for Tenerife, where prices rose very slightly from August to September. Gran Canaria is the least attractive of the Canary Islands right now, with declining search interest and no major price drops leaving it well outside the Holiday Hotlist top 10.

The Antalya area has been another regular towards the top of the Holiday Hotlist and is in at #3 in the latest update. While the winter months don’t offer the warmth of the Canary Islands, you can still enjoy temperatures upwards of 20°C into November, so the £440 per person average price right now is not to be sniffed at.

Antalya is also among the cheapest last-minute destinations right now, which also contributed to its lofty Holiday Hotlist position. Jet off in October and you’ll pay an average of £531 per person - and get even warmer average temperatures of 26°C.

Agadir makes a first Holiday Hotlist appearance

Winter sun destinations pepper this month’s Holiday Hotlist rankings, and there was a new arrival in that department as Agadir made a debut appearance in the top 10.

Morocco’s premier all-inclusive destination offers a tantalising cocktail of bargain prices, warm winters and swanky beachfront resorts.

With average daytime temperatures never dipping below 20°C, it’s no surprise that TravelSupermarket searches were up 134% in September. Especially with seven-night holidays costing just £546 per person on average.

What else happened in the latest Holiday Hotlist update?

There were a few other key takeaways from the recent Holiday Hotlist update, all of which could be useful to know if you’re weighing up a holiday booking.

Santorini saw one of the most significant drops in average seven-night holiday prices in September, falling over 35% to £488 per person.

Majorca and Rhodes remain popular among TravelSupermarket users, though drops in searches from August to September saw them both slide down a few places in the rankings this month.

Kefalonia and the Dalaman area were among the biggest losers in this update, with both seeing searches fall dramatically in September while average holiday prices only dropped marginally.

Interestingly, long-haul hotspots are beginning to appear among the top 20 most searched-for destinations, which we analyse each month to create the Holiday Hotlist. Searches for Las Vegas and Cancun were up significantly in September and average holiday prices were down - but the cost of their last-minute deals saw them just miss out on the rankings this month.

*Please note: The data for the Holiday Hotlist is based on TravelSupermarket clicks for seven-night holidays for two people departing over the next six months. We analyse the top 20 most searched-for destinations on TravelSupermarket each month to create this leaderboard. Find out more about how the rankings are decided.