SUN-SEEKERS from Bolton are expected to make a record number of holiday bookings today.

Travel agents in the town say they are expecting a flurry of customers on so-called ‘Sunshine Saturday'.

Nicola Hodgson, store manager at the Thomas Cook store at Bolton Middlebrook, said: “We are expecting to take more than double normal bookings this weekend.

“A holiday is the largest annual purchase and many of our customers want to sit down with an agent who can provide inspiration and personal recommendations.

“We have more than 120 years of experience within the team and have travelled to many countries between us so are all set to find every customer their perfect holiday.”

The store has also revealed the most popular destinations for travel, with Turkey topping the list.

In second place comes Greece, while the long-haul destinations of Mexico and Florida make third and fourth.

The full list of the most popular holiday hotspots is as follows:

  • Turkey
  • Greece
  • Mexico
  • Florida
  • Balearic Islands (Spain)
  • Cuba
  • Canary Islands (Spain)
  • USA
  • Mainland Spain
  • Cyprus

The store, which opened in Middlebrook Retail Park last October, is offering customers a ‘try before you buy’ virtual reality experience so they can experience the sights and sounds of the holiday hotspots before they jet off.

Travel bosses say Turkey continues to be popular as the Lira remains relatively weak.

They also say they believe all-inclusive packages are set to become even more popular due to uncertainty around exchange rates as customers wants to ‘lock in’ costs for food and drink when they book.

Today is referred to in the travel industry as 'Sunshine Saturday' as people respond to the post-Christmas return to work by booking a holiday.

Nationally, millions of people are expected to browse holiday websites and brochures while the country is hit by a blast of freezing weather.

Thomas Cook’s sales and e-commerce director Phil Gardner said: “With Christmas all wrapped up this is traditionally the weekend when the nation turns its attention to its next holiday and with a cold snap apparently on the way, we expect getting a sunshine break in the diary will feature on the weekend to-do list along with taking the tree down.

"Uncertainty about exchange rates is sure to be on holidaymakers' minds more than ever this year so we think all-inclusive packages will prove popular as customers take advantage of being able to lock in costs for food and drink at the time of booking.

"In fact all-inclusive bookings for this winter are already up 11 per cent compared to this time last year.

"Value for money will influence where people book and for this reason we predict Turkey will be popular thanks to the Turkish lira still being relatively weak.

"The destination was Thomas Cook's second most popular last year and since Christmas Eve online bookings are up 57 per cent year-on-year.

"The other destination to watch on Sunshine Saturday is Tunisia. February marks a year since we were the first tour operator to return to the country.

"So far families account for two-thirds of this summer's bookings and we have increased our weekly flights to 17, up from 11 last year, to meet demand."

Meanwhile, the store will be hosting a family weekend on January 19 and 20 where Thomas Cook kids’ club mascots Lollo the giraffe and Bernie the bear will greet customers.