Half-price holidays 2015: Cheap oil and strong pound cut costs

The cost of going on holiday is set to get cheaper in 2015 thanks to lower oil prices and the strength of the pound.

According to the Daily Express, airlines have cut the cost of flights for winter and Easter, with travel to popular destinations including Barcelona, Portugal and Prague available for less than £50.

Flights to Florida have fallen 40 per cent and can be found for £330 return, while tickets to Cancun can be bought for £382.

Joel Brandon-Bravo, UK managing director of Travelzoo, told the Daily Express: "With the low air fare prices we are seeing for the new year, early 2015 is set to kick off with some great travel offers."

He added: "While winter sun-seekers can fly to Florida for 40 per cent less this January, Easter will be the perfect time to bag a bargain."

The Daily Mail reports that the strong pound, the Government's decision to cut air passenger duty for children and falling oil prices could mean cheap holidays for summer 2015 too.

The Association for British Travel Agents (Abta) recently estimated that more than 12 million people are due to take a winter holiday. 43 per cent are expected to take a winter sun holiday, while 18 per cent are planning a winter sports getaway.

Earlier this week, it was reported that four million Britons will be going abroad for Christmas.

Abta said the four million figure covers the period from Friday 19 December to Saturday 3 January and is slightly higher than the number going away for Christmas last year.

It added that top winter sun destinations for Britons included the Canary Islands, Tunisia and Morocco, while top long-haul destinations included Dubai, Mexico, Cuba and Egypt.