Cruising is holiday of choice for 2010

Lucy Balding from Trailfinders, who have a branch in Canary Wharf, explained why cruising is attracting young and old alike.

She said: "Cruising has become very popular. People see it as being good value for money because you get to visit a lot of destinations without having to keep unpacking a suitcase.

"It was traditionally for older people but the cruise companies have been encouraging families and younger couples to give it a go. Facilities on board ship are great now, with everything included apart from drinks, while the range of destinations is fantastic. It's a one price holiday and people really go for that."

While 2009 was difficult for the travel industry this year promises to see more people venturing abroad, tempted by the upturn in the economy and the chance to escape from the lingering winter.

"More people are embracing holidays again and we've even got more people booking early to take advantage of the great offers that are available now," said Lucy.

"Hotels have responded well to the fall in demand by offering things like free nights and room upgrades and that's helped bring people back. And airlines have been proactive in having deals to encourage people to travel more.

"I'm expecting 2010 to be a really positive year for the travel industry."

Trailfinders has five offices in London and its Canary Wharf branch in South Colonnade is one of the busiest.

Lucy said: "Canary Wharf is always very busy. All the big businesses based there means there are always plenty of people looking for that two-week break to get away from it all.

"We're also seeing a growth in people doing round-the-world trips, and not just teenage backpackers. Far more people are taking career breaks or six-month sabbaticals to make those trips of a lifetime, and I think that's going to continue."

So, where are people heading for those far-flung holidays?

Lucy said: "Thailand remains one of our top five destinations. Of course, it's got nice relaxing beach holidays but it's also got the culture that attracts people.

"Popular resorts are Phuket and Koh Samui, while the west coast resort of Krabi and some of the other islands are becoming more popular.

"We've seen a lot of interest in South Africa this year, and not just for the World Cup. In fact, people are looking to go there at times when the World Cup isn't on because it won't be so expensive.

"The USA is very popular. People usually opt for the two week fly-drive, but an increasing number are going for four night city breaks to places like Las Vegas and New York, where they can get real value for money."