“Half-term holidays are next on the horizon for many families here – and people are continuing to secure their getaways”
The most popular destinations for the October break are sunshine favourites such as Mallorca(Image: Barrhead Travel)
With autumn officially here and October just around the corner, there’s already a noticeable chill in the air.
With colder weather on the horizon, there are several destinations abroad that continue to enjoy higher temperatures and longer sunshine hours if you’re in search of an autumn getaway.
Barrhead Travel, which just opened its third store in Northern Ireland, has revealed some of the most popular destinations for an October break that are also sunshine favourites.
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Lisa Hamill, NI Regional Sales Manager told Belfast Live: “Half-term holidays are next on the horizon for many families here – and people are continuing to secure their getaways. All-inclusive is by far the standout trend, accounting for more than one third of bookings over this period. The most popular destinations for the October break are sunshine favourites such as Mallorca, Alicante, and Lanzarote.
“However, we’re also noticing demand for city breaks to places such as Istanbul, Paris and New York. Cruise is also still proving extremely popular – particularly for sailings out of Belfast.”
Barrhead Travel has initially created five new jobs at its newest branch in Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon – one of Northern Ireland’s largest shopping destinations – with plans to hire additional colleagues in the future.
The travel company said its third Northern Ireland shop, which opens following a £1.1m investment, reinforces its commitment to the region.
Placing focus on the quality of locations, Barrhead Travel is an advocate for investment on the high street with its strategy centring on retail locations that provide memorable experiences for its customers.
Barrhead Travel first announced its intention to continue expanding here following the success of its Newtownabbey store, which launched at the end of 2024. The outlet exceeded its annual target for 2025 during the first quarter and has since expanded its team to meet demand.
Barrhead Travel has continued its commitment to its Northern Ireland expansion with a third store in Craigavon
Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, Managing Director of Barrhead Travel, said; “It’s a very exciting time for Barrhead Travel as we open our third branded retail location in Northern Ireland. Rushmere Shopping Centre is a phenomenal retail location with high quality footfall and we’re expecting it to be a busy store.
“This year, we’re set to achieve another record-breaking year as we continue to see people returning to the high street to book with a reputable local travel agent.
“Northern Irish holidaymakers want to book their holidays with someone they really trust, and we’ve had wonderful support from the communities. We’re delighted the Rushmere store will join our branches in Belfast and Newtownabbey, alongside a call centre in Coleraine.”
The Glasgow-headquartered travel agency group first opened in Northern Ireland in 2017, when they unveiled a flagship store in Victoria Square Shopping Centre, Belfast. In 2022, before opening its Newtownabbey store in 2024.
Barrhead Travel’s retail network is open seven days a week until late as well as offering evening support through their online service, call centres and social media channels. Find your nearest Barrhead Travel store by visiting https://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/storelocator.
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