TUI Launches New Budget Holiday Brand – And Lanzarote Is Already Included
Holidaymakers looking for a cheaper way to visit the Canary Islands have a new option, with travel giant TUI launching a new budget holiday brand aimed at travellers who are focused on finding the best possible deal.
Called Sundeals, the new digital-first brand is initially targeting the UK market and already features Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura among its Canary Islands destinations.
The launch could give British holidaymakers another way to find cheap holidays to Lanzarote, particularly for those willing to be flexible with their travel dates, departure airport and accommodation.
What is TUI’s Sundeals?
Sundeals is a new standalone holiday brand from the TUI Group, designed specifically for people who shop online and compare prices before booking.
Rather than relying solely on TUI’s own flights and hotels, the platform brings together accommodation and flight options from TUI and third-party suppliers. This means a holiday package could combine a TUI-related hotel booking with a flight operated by another airline, including carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet.
The new platform launched with access to approximately 20,000 hotels across more than 100 destinations, with Spain, Greece and Turkey among its main markets.
Sundeals is being positioned as a straightforward online option for so-called “deal hunters”, rather than another traditional high-street travel agency proposition.
Lanzarote already part of the Sundeals offering
For Lanzarote, the development is particularly interesting because the island is already available to search and book through the new platform.
Current listings show a range of accommodation in popular parts of the island, including Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Arrecife, with different UK departure airports and travel dates available.
At the time of writing, Sundeals was showing examples including a seven-night stay at Hostal San Ginés in Arrecife from £258 per person, based on two people travelling from Manchester, while another seven-night option at Apartamentos Lanzarote Paradise in Costa Teguise was showing from £298 per person from Bristol.
A seven-night stay at BelleVue Aquarius in Puerto del Carmen was also listed from £311 per person for selected October dates when departing from London Stansted. (sundeals.com)
(These prices should be treated as examples rather than guaranteed rates. Holiday prices can change according to dates, departure airport, availability, accommodation and what is included in the booking)
Could this mean cheaper holidays to Lanzarote?
Potentially, particularly for travellers who are prepared to shop around.
One of the main differences with Sundeals is the ability to combine accommodation and flights from different suppliers. That gives the platform more options when putting together a low-cost holiday package.
For anyone searching for cheap Lanzarote holidays, this could be useful because travellers are not necessarily restricted to a traditional TUI flight and hotel combination.
The cheapest advertised price also does not necessarily mean everything is included. Extras such as luggage and transfers can be added separately, so holidaymakers should compare the final price rather than simply looking at the headline figure.
What does it mean for Lanzarote tourism?
The launch comes at a time when the Canary Islands remain hugely popular with British visitors.
Lanzarote has long been a favourite for UK holidaymakers thanks to its year-round appeal, beaches, volcanic scenery, resorts and wide choice of accommodation.
Adding the island to a new budget-focused platform could potentially make Lanzarote even more visible to travellers who are actively searching for cheap Canary Islands holidays and budget holidays in Spain.
For local businesses, more ways of reaching price-conscious British travellers could also be significant. Visitors who book inexpensive accommodation may still spend money locally on restaurants, excursions, car hire, attractions, shopping and other activities once they arrive on the island.
It is too early, however, to know what overall effect Sundeals will have on visitor numbers or local tourism.
Why has TUI launched Sundeals?
TUI says the new brand has been developed in response to consumer research and changing booking habits.
The idea is to make the process of finding a holiday deal simpler for people who spend considerable time comparing different websites and prices.
The company has described the target customer as a “savvy deal hunter” and intends Sundeals to operate as a digital, direct-to-consumer proposition.
The brand is separate from TUI’s traditional holiday offering, although it sits within the wider TUI Group.
Is Sundeals only for cheap holidays?
Although the brand is clearly focused on value, the concept isn’t simply about finding the absolute cheapest hotel available.
The platform currently covers a very large selection of accommodation, meaning travellers can search different destinations, board options and types of accommodation.
For someone visiting Lanzarote, that could mean anything from a basic room-only stay to more comprehensive holiday options.
The important thing is to check exactly what is included before booking – particularly flights, baggage, airport transfers, meals and cancellation or flexibility options.
What could it mean for holidaymakers visiting Lanzarote?
For British travellers, having another platform specifically designed around price could make it easier to compare different combinations of flights and accommodation.
It may be particularly attractive to people who:
- Want a cheap holiday to Lanzarote
- Are flexible about their travel dates
- Can travel from more than one UK airport
- Are happy with room-only or self-catering accommodation
- Don’t necessarily need an all-inclusive resort
- Want to compare several accommodation options before booking
- Are looking for a last-minute Lanzarote break
Lanzarote’s relatively compact size also means visitors can choose between the island’s main resorts while still being within reasonable reach of many of its attractions.
For residents and tourism businesses in Lanzarote, the bigger question will be whether this new budget-focused approach encourages even more British travellers to choose the island for their next holiday.
