Wednesday 21st January 2026
Brits ditch superstition for romance as Friday 13th Valentine’s Day getaways surge
Dublin surprisingly beats Paris and Rome to become Thomas Cook’s most booked Valentine’s Day destination
64% of Friday 13 February departures booked last minute, within three months of travel
Brits appear to be ditching superstition in favour of romance this Valentine’s Day, with new data from online travel agency Thomas Cook revealing a surge in package holiday departures on Friday 13 February 2026 - a date traditionally associated with bad luck.
Rather than opting for classic romantic hotspots such as Paris or Rome, holidaymakers are choosing value-led city breaks and sunshine escapes, with Dublin emerging as the most popular Valentine’s Day getaway of all.
The Irish capital topped Thomas Cook’s list of destinations for Friday 13 February departures, beating traditionally romantic cities including Paris, which ranked last among the top six destinations.
Top six Friday 13 departure destinations in 2026, ranked by booking volume:
- Dublin
- Budapest
- Prague
- Krakow
- Sharm el-Sheikh
- Paris
According to the online travel agency, Brits are rewriting the Valentine’s rulebook, prioritising affordability, short-haul escapes and last-minute flexibility. Last-minute travel is firmly on the rise, with 64% of all Friday 13 February departures booked within the last three months.
Short breaks remain the most popular choice, with 30% booking a three-night city escape, while 23% opted for a longer seven-night holiday.
Jaime Thompson, Head of Inventory and Trading at Thomas Cook, said:
“This Valentine’s Day, customers are throwing superstition out the window and focusing on great-value getaways instead. Friday 13th may have an unlucky reputation, but for many couples it’s proving the perfect date to escape, whether that’s a fun city break in Dublin or some winter sun further afield.”
Customers booking with Thomas Cook can choose from over 20,000 hotels across 71 destinations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, and enjoy flexible travel options with more than 190 airline partners. All package holidays are ATOL protected, giving customers peace of mind and enhanced financial security, as well as the reassurance of ABTA's Code of Conduct.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
For media enquiries please contact the Thomas Cook press office on +44 7457413467 or email pressoffice@thomascook.com.
About Thomas Cook UK
In September 2020, Thomas Cook, one of the most recognisable names in travel, returned as an online-only travel business. It is now part of the Polish-based travel company eSky Group, which owns and operates brands like eSky and eDestinos in 50 markets across the globe.
With ATOL-protected holidays and city breaks, the new Thomas Cook allows customers to design their own trip according to their budget, needs, and specifications. Customers can fly from all major UK airports with direct flights from all major carriers, thousands of hotels to choose from, and add-ons including car hire, insurance, and attractions.