Cheap flights to Crete on rise to escape British summer

UK holidaymakers are increasingly trying to escape the British summer by booking cheap flights to Crete and other destinations.

Greece is one of the top destinations for travellers this year, according to the Association of Independent Travel Operators (AITO).

Ian Bradley, spokesperson for the group, explained that destinations such as Greece and Cyprus offer "great value" and have drawn in more bookings as a result.

Mr Bradley pointed out that the summer started off well, but Met Office predictions of poor weather prompted Britons to change their plans for July and August.

He commented: "In the last week or two [the Met Office] said that the weather was going to be [poor], there was a flurry of activity as people wanted late bookings.

"People are panicking and thinking: 'I thought it was going to be great, its not, get me out of here'."

According to research from Wanderlust and AITO, 77 per cent of people claimed they are planning to travel as much as they did last year, with many expecting to spend the same amount on their holiday.

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