Online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com has boosted its UK offering in anticipation of a growing demand for domestic holidays and breaks due to the current credit crunch and environmental concerns.

Domestic travel is proving to be very popular this year with bookings up 16% year on year whilst bookings for UK hotel only bookings are up 40%. Cornwall is proving to be particularly popular along with city breaks to 2008’s Capital of Culture Liverpool up 136% and to Edinburgh registering a whopping 69% increase year on year.

Hotel bookings in the UK are also indicating that the British seaside is booming with resorts all up year on year: Brighton is 63% up, Blackpool 88%, Scarborough 37%, Bournemouth 33% and Newquay up a staggering 125%.

Holidaymakers are looking for great value for money deals this summer with Top Secret Hotels up a massive 70% in the UK year on year and serviced apartments across the country are also generating massive interest.

lastminute.com recently launched its new short break destinations including holiday hotspot Newquay, buzzing Leeds, Liverpool and Bristol and relaxing hideaway the Isle of Man. The online retailer is also offering three and four night packages to Center Parcs across all of the UK as well as luxury lodges and barge holidays with Hoseasons.

UK train tickets are also available at lastminute.com this summer through Raileasy, giving customers an even wider choice of options when booking travel.

lastminute.com Managing Director John Bevan commented: “The UK is expected to benefit from the current credit crunch with many customers deciding on a holiday at home as one of their breaks this year. We want to make sure that we offer the best domestic holiday products and have increased our product to meet popular demand. “


Top five short break UK destinations:

1. Edinburgh
2. London
3. Jersey
4. Glasgow
5. Belfast

Hotel only top 5 destinations

1. London
2. Dublin
3. Edinburgh
4. Manchester
5. Brighton