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The British obsession with holidays is rising
Are you almost unhealthily hooked on holidays? Well, you’re not the only one…
The past few weeks in London have been giving us the first taste of summer. All the best rooftop bars and gardens have been opening and Londoners are filling up the city’s streets, instead of sheltering in pubs and bars.
Summer is on its way and we can’t wait for it to begin.
But who wants to stay in London, where, despite all the amazing locations for afternoon drinks, we can never be 100 percent sure about the weather? Is hitting one of the fake beach clubs in Brixton or Peckham the only way to enjoy summer music and drink fresh coconut cocktails?
Whether it’s fancy exotic locations with palm trees and white sandy beaches, or city breaks around Europe, the British obsession with going on holiday and getting a tan on has grown, a recent study has shown.
According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), carried out in 2015, UK residents made 9.4 % more visits abroad than the previous year.
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That’s not the only thing that’s increased. Brits not only travel more; they also spend more time on holiday. The number of nights spent abroad went up by 10.7 %, and it’s still rising.
Maria Vajda, a 23-year old office manager from South West London goes on holiday at least three times a year. “I usually choose exotic destinations or romantic city breaks in Europe for my trips and I spend at least one week there,” she said.
She’s not the only one. An average Brit goes on holiday four times a year, the study has shown. Forty-three percent choose to travel and spend their free time by the beach, in hot locations such as Spain. The most popular get-away country for the Brits. The reason for this might be the excellent travel links and Spanish lifestyle, which is arguably more relaxed than the one Brits lead.
Considering the recent growth of “staycation” searches and the post-Brexit fear, it is a surprising move from the Brits. It shows that most of the people are not afraid of all the things happening in the world and that they’re still staying true to fulfilling their travel dreams.
Professional travel blogger Ana Silvia O’Reilly (MrsOaroundtheworld), explains that the reason holidays have become more popular each year is the amount of stress and work Brits have to face in their everyday life.
“I think that from travelling quite a fair bit, as Brits do, they now realise that other Southern European countries live life differently and a holiday shouldn’t just be two weeks in the sun,” she says.
But not only Spain, but also countries like France, Italy, Croatia and more exotic destinations such as Bali and Thailand are on the list of the top destinations.
By Dominika Kubinyova
You don’t have to feel guilty for wanting to make more trips and to get away from it all. A change of scenery is always good as travelling and getting to know new places and cultures is a mind-enriching experience.
“Travelling is very affordable and with people working so hard, it is OK to go abroad more often (even if for shorter periods) and enjoy what other cultures have to offer,” O’Reilly added.
So, where are you going to head next?