With the summer holiday season about to get into full swing, research has shown that British travellers still prefer sun, sea and sand when it comes to booking their annual break.
With city breaks and cruises becoming increasingly popular, research from Virgin Money Travel Insurance found that almost four in 10 (38%) holidaymakers still continue to enjoy the traditional beach holiday. In fact, the other types of holidays still have a long way to go to match the popularity of the sunny coast, with only 12% choosing the city break and just 2% opting for a cruise.

Top holiday destination types:

Beach / resort               38  
City / Short break           12  
Lakes and Mountains         5  
Coach Tour                   4    
Cruise                       2  
Multi-Country                 2  
Disneyland/Disneyworld     2    
Other                       23    
Not specified               12    
Total                       100    

Those in search of sunshine tend to travel away from these shores with only 28% enjoying a beach holiday in the UK.  The majority of holidaymakers (53%) head for the sunnier climes of Europe, with France and Spain being the most popular destinations.

France, followed by Spain, are also the most popular European destinations for young families, who, with the school holidays about to begin, will soon be taking their summer break. Even so, parents with very young children are more inclined to holiday in the UK rather than brave an overseas trip with toddlers and babies in tow.

For those that like to stay on home soil the most popular destination is the West Country, which is a favourite with both young and old. Scotland and the South East are also popular holiday destinations with over 1.8 million people visiting each.

The research also found that the average cost of a holiday is £862. Even so, we Brits are still after a bargain when it comes to holidays with almost half (44%) spending less than £500 on their annual trip.  And 30% of these bargain hunters managed to holiday in Europe, with a further 2% able to travel even further a field.

John Franklin, spokesperson for Virgin Money Travel Insurance said: “We Brits certainly love heading for the sun, sea and sand during the summer.

But, as well as the all important factor 25, holidaymakers should ensure they are fully covered with comprehensive travel insurance.

“The last thing anyone needs when they’re on holiday is to have a mishap or lose their holiday cash.  Should the worst happen having the right travel cover will bring peace of mind so that they can enjoy their break.”

Virgin Money offers European and Worldwide travel insurance for individuals and families. You can spread the cost over 12 months by direct debit at no extra charge and the cover includes emergency cash advances of up to £100 with no excess.
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