One Spanish island is set to see a surge of Brits this May half-term, with bookings doubling as holidaymakers choose classic Mediterranean beach destinations amid a summer of uncertainty
Bookings to the island have doubled for May half-term(Image: Getty Images)
A travel operator has revealed the Spanish destination that’s going to be a lot more crowded this year, as bookings to the island double amid global uncertainty.
New data from lastminute.com has shown that Brits are increasingly booking short-haul destinations they see as ‘safe’ and Spain is set to be a huge destination for summer 2026. It has listed the top six Mediterranean beach holiday destinations for British families during May half-term, and revealed that one island has seen its bookings double year-on-year.
Ibiza, which already welcomes around three million visitors a year including around 800,000 Brits, is set to be a major destination for May half-term. Bookings have increased 100% compared to this time last year, according to lastminute.com’s data, meaning Brits heading to the Balearic island may find the beaches more crowded than usual.
The island is just two-and-a-half hours from the UK making it popular with families(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The increase in bookings is likely due to a number of factors, including Ibiza’s proximity to the UK, just a two-and-a-half hour flight on average, sunny weather in May, and growing uncertainty around destinations such as Cyprus and Turkey.
While Ibiza has a reputation as a party island, it’s also a family-friendly destination. Holidaymakers with kids will enjoy the beaches with coves where little ones can paddle in the shallow, turquoise waters, and there’s plenty to do from boat trips on the calm sea to gentle hikes. It has waterparks such as Sirenis Aquagames Ibiza where you’ll find a variety of colourful slides, and Slingshot Ibiza, a beachfront attraction that has rides for all ages.
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However, a fresh surge of Brits could see an increase in anti-tourism sentiment on the island. In 2024, Ibiza was one of the Spanish destinations that held mass protests calling on the government to tackle the issue of overtourism in destinations such as the Balearics and Canaries.
The island isn’t the only short-haul hotspot to see a surge in bookings. Tenerife, which already sees a whopping seven million visitors a year has seen bookings surge 48%, while Malta has seen a 51% increase in bookings year-on-year.
Costa Blanca, which includes destinations such as Benidorm, Alicante, and Calpe, has seen bookings rise by a third compared to 2025, and the island of Majorca, another site of major anti-tourism protests has seen a 28% boost.
Rounding off the list of top Mediterranean destinations for half-term was the Algarve in Portugal, including tourist hotspots such as Faro and Lagos. Lastminute.com claim that bookings are up 21% year-on-year.
Zoe Fidler, head of brand and PR at lastminute.com said: “British families are prioritising easy, sun-soaked escapes for the May half term break, with classic Mediterranean beach holidays in the sun leading the way. We’re seeing particularly strong demand for short-haul destinations, as families look for reliable sunshine, short flight times and great value packages.
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