A recent survey of 2,000 adults revealed that the top ways people feel like they’re on holiday are stepping off the plane in warmer climates to soak up some sun and experiencing a different culture.
More than 71% of adults believe that you can only achieve the ‘holiday feeling’ with a trip abroad, with the main deterrent for being put off by staycations in the UK is the unpredictable weather.
But in an interesting twist, UK destinations came out on top in a blind selection process.
For many people the prospect of less-than-stellar weather is enough to put them off, despite temperatures reaching 33C in July – hotter than many European destinations such as Marbella and Mykonos.
But when respondents were asked to select images of holidays destinations which evoked that ‘holiday feeling’, the results told a different story.
Respondents were shown four locations – two from home and two from abroad.
According to the survey, 56% of those surveyed were surprised when they found out that their favorite looking holiday destination was actually in the United Kingdom.
Out of 4 possible destinations, respondents chose Kynance Cove in Cornwall as number one with Praia do Camilo in Portugal 2nd and Lake Trasimeno in Italy coming in third.
The stats emerged in a study commissioned by holiday cottage company Original Cottages who enlisted creative neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis to explain what creates that ‘holiday feeling’ and how it can be achieved on home soil.
She said, “From the study, we can see that one of the most stressful and counterproductive parts of a holiday is the travel itself”.
“Staying closer to home cuts down on that stress and allows you to fully embrace that holiday feeling and reap the positive benefits of a holiday”.
“After a holiday, we can often see a reduction of cortisol the chemical associated with stress and an elevation of serotonin – the happiness hormone. This state can only be achieved if you can capture that holiday feeling,” she added.
The study also revealed that the ideal trip needs to be between 101-500 miles away for a third of adults to consider it an escape.
When holidaying in the UK, Devon and Cornwall were named as staycation destinations most likely to give you feelings similar to those experienced-on holidays abroad.
It emerged 67% of people will be holidaying in the UK this year, while one in five plan to mix it up and head abroad as well as taking a break closer to home.
Being able to drive and not have to fly long-haul flights are just some of the benefits staying in Britain has over going abroad.
The study, carried out via OnePoll shows that four in 10 people think they are more likely to enjoy a holiday within the United Kingdom.
The research reveals that many of these travelers have not explored what’s on offer- their knowledge is uncertain or lacking entirely!
Sonia Holman, from Original Cottages, said: “We’ve always had a loyal customer base who find that ‘holiday feeling’ in the UK, and over the last 18 months, we’ve seen a broader group of people discover it too”.
“The results of our research highlight how perceptions of the UK as a holiday destination have changed and with our truly local experts on the ground, we are uniquely positioned to provide tips for an incredible staycation – packed with holiday feels”.
