British people love to travel, with a reported 86 per cent of residents going on some form of holiday each year according to Complete Holiday Homes. Meanwhile, the most recent statistics from the National Travel Survey revealed that 12 per cent of Britons take to the skies three or more times a year. With all of that travel, its no surprise the nation know exactly what they like when it comes to a holiday. Unexpectedly though, it seems the traditional beach holiday is on the decline.
According to research from Rentalcars.com British people are growing weary of the traditional beach holiday. Where once upon a time the nation was keen to sun it up on the sand, now 80 per cent of tourists say the beach “annoys” them.
Instead, travellers are looking for brand new ways to entertain themselves on their annual trip abroad.
The survey gathered the opinions of 2,000 UK holidaymakers to discover how we’re holidaying in 2019.
It turns out that the sand is the biggest issue, with 41 per cent of those surveyed saying getting sand everywhere is their “biggest bugbear”.
Meanwhile third claimed other tourists are “irritating” and a fifth point the finger at “noisy kids”.
A further thirteen per cent just get restless, saying there isn’t enough to do to pass the time on lazy beach days.
The surprising news has also made way for a rise in different ways to travel, many of which are a lot more active than traditional sunbathing.
Topping the list of favourite actives was exploring nearby towns, spending time with family or friends, and sampling the local cuisine.
According to Rentalcars.com this is because British travellers “want to get out-and-about on holiday, with 38 per cent saying they like to explore and would travel for an hour to do so, and a third taking on trips of two hours or more.”
With that said, this means traditional holiday hotspots could be in for a decline.
With winter right around the corner, Nigel Wolstenholme, head of consumer brand at Rentalcars.com spoke with Express.co.uk to reveal the new holiday havens that could fulfill all of British traveller’s desires and provide a temperature boost during the long winter months.
If you’re an adventure seeker, the experts recommend The Caribbean, Australia, The Canary Islands, New Zealand and The Maldives.
Nigel said: “It’s unsurprising that the Caribbean tops the list – this beautiful group of islands really does have something for everyone, from the nightlife of Barbados to revolutionary Cuba.
“For a week-long road-trip, we’d recommend the Dominican Republic, where you can drive along the Larimar Coast, stop off at Jaragua National Park, take a boat tour to the Bahía de las Aguilas Beach and finish in the bustling capital of Santo Domingo.”
She continued: “Australia is a classic bucket-list destination, and it’s number two for Brits this winter.”
While Australia certainly has an endless supply of long, sandy stretches, there are also plenty of opportunities for road trips, wildlife spotting and exploring nature.
“Like Australia, New Zealand is well-known for its beautiful weather over the winter months. The North and South islands both offer stunning scenery, but our favourite route to explore is the South Island Circuit. Not many islands have a continuous road all around the edge, and the beautify of doing a complete lap means it’s hard to miss anything out!”
Nigel also highlights adventure-seeking activities such as forest hikes, glacier walking and scuba diving.
Nigel added: “Far from just switching off and stretching out on the sand, this research shows that Brits today are looking for adventures and new experiences on holiday.
“They’re ditching their sun loungers to see new sights, taste new foods and try new things.
“That means getting out and about, whether on foot or on the road, to get under the skin of their destination.”
