Expedia.co.uk, an online travel agent, has said that it has witnessed a significant increase in bookings for some of the UK’s top beach destinations, as Britons headed to the coast to avoid the city heat generated by the recent heat wave.
Bournemouth tops the list of UK beach escapes, with a significant 119 percent increase in bookings for the last 28 days compared to the same period last year. Eastbourne is in second position with a 100 percent increase, and Devon seaside retreat, Torquay, is at number four, with an 81 percent increase in bookings.
Expedia has also recently released its Flip Flop Report, which examined beach habits across the globe. According to the report, the most important priority for British holidaymakers taking a beach holiday is food, from pre-holiday diets to exploring local cuisine. One in five Brits admitted to going on a diet before holidays, but 60 percent confessed to overeating when away. The report also found that by comparison to their European counterparts, Britons do overindulge, with only one-in-four French and only 39 percent of German holidaymakers admitting to overeating.
Andy Washington, managing director of Expedia.co.uk, commented: ‘With the recent heat wave, what better way to take advantage of the sunshine than to head to one of our great British beaches. It’s quicker and easier than ever to book a last-minute break and with the Expedia app now you can book on the way there. There’s no excuse not to take some time for a short break during this great British summer.’
The top 10 beach destinations booked by Brits in the last 28 days are:
1. Bournemouth
2. Cardiff
3. Brighton
4. Blackpool
5. Southampton and south coast region
6. Plymouth
7. St. Helier
8. Torquay
9. Eastbourne
10. Southport
Another survey by Holiday Extras, a UK-based on-line company that provides a pre-booking service for car hire, airport parking and UK airport hotels, said that many holidaymakers do not give themselves enough time to get excited about their holidays. Only 40 percent of Britons feel that they are getting into the holiday mood before heading off.
‘It’s important to start your holiday in the right frame of mind and planning for your holiday may give you a greater chance to experience the positive feelings associated with the lead up to a holiday,’ advises Honey Langcaster-James, psychologist and life coach. ‘The busy, high-pressure lives that people are leading today mean that taking a holiday for a proper break is even more important for your health and well-being.’
