here in Ireland and UK cheap package holidays to the coast of Portugal, Spain, Spanish Islands and Canary Islands are sooooo popular, for all ages. The usual package is cheap charter flights and accommodation in a purpose built resort at the coast. Most times the resorts are at the edge or outside the town or village. Most places have food and drinks included and there is very little contact with the locals. Everyone just stays in the resort bars and restaurants. In alot of the resorts there is a large "ex pat " community of English speakers from UK and Ireland. They would be similar to the snowbirds who move to Florida. They run many of the bars and restaurants, serving food and drink from UK and Ireland.
For the 20 somethings its a 10 day beach holiday with the friends, out all night in bars and clubs, sleep all day at the pool and beach, repeat for 10 days.
For the families, its all day at the beach and pool, afternoons evenings in the bars and restaurants, then once the kids are in bed, late nights drinking at the apartment with other parents. Repeat for 10 days
This type of holiday has never appealed to me. When I tell people I have never been on a beach holiday they are amazed. I cant think of anything more boring. To fly to a different country but never interact with the locals and never leave the purpose built resort and eat the same food as you would at home and spent every night in a bar , drinking the same brands of alcohol as you would at home, and getting mad drunk every night and then sleeping off the hangover the next day by the pool is just so ugh to me.
But right now thousand of UK and Irish people are doing just that. And thats the highlight of their year. For me no way would you ever see me on that type of a holiday.