A lifetime of holidays
Sun-seeking Brits will travel to 17 different countries, fly almost 282,000 miles and spend 90 days lounging by the pool over their lifetime. A study of 2,000 Brits has revealed that 228 books will be read, 456 ice-creams will be eaten and 2,394 alcoholic drinks will be sipped.
Additionally, almost three months will be spent relaxing by the pool or on the beach, while more than 13,500 photos will be snapped.
The figures emerged in a study of 2,000 jet-setting Brits which found they will enjoy 114 exotic holidays between the ages of 18-75 – two every year.
It does comes at a price; we’ll suffer from 57 bouts of sunburn, 342 mosquito bites and spend almost eight days waiting in airports for delayed flights.
A spokesman for Virgin Holidays, which commissioned the research to mark the launch of their 100th retail store, said: ‘’When you’re on holiday, the number of drinks you have or the miles you have to travel to get there can seem like a fairly small amount.
‘’But when you think about how many times you go abroad in your life, it can mean you end up doing things a lot more than you think.
‘’The thought of spending months of your life sitting on a sun-drenched beach sounds great – even if that is in small doses.
‘’Holidays are a highlight of the year for most people – a time when you can really relax and forget about everything at home and work, and few people get to spend days lounging by the pool or sipping a drink on the beach at any other time in their lives so it’s important to make the most of your time abroad.’’
The study revealed that the average Brit will travel just over 2,469 miles each time they go abroad, and with the average adult going on two foreign jaunts a year, that’s a total of around 4,938, or 281,466 miles over a lifetime.
After arriving at their resorts, Brits relax by the pool or on the beach for more than 19 hours on each break – a total of 2,166 hours or more than 90 days of their lifetime.
The average traveller will also, over the course of their life:
Take 570 dips in the swimming pool or sea;
Take in the culture and local sites on 342 excursions or day trips;
Take a staggering 13,566 photos to remember their adventures abroad, while 1,482 minutes – the equivalent of more than a day – of video will be captured;
Bring home 342 gifts and souvenirs for friends and family.
When it comes to food and drink, a lifetime of holidays will see Brits try 456 new foods or flavours, while researchers also found that lucky Brits will enjoy one holiday romance, meet 228 new people and make 114 life-changing decisions.
It’s not all fun and games however, as researchers also found that the average Brit will lose their luggage at least once in their lifetime and suffer 57 illnesses or injuries.
A spokesman for Virgin Holidays added: ‘’With the opening of our hundredth shop, we’re better placed than ever to help Brits have the holidays that’ll create a lifetime of fantastic memories.’’
The 100th Virgin Holidays retail store opens in Sainsbury’s, Maidenhead and the grand opening will take place on 18th August.
It joins the company’s network of outlets which includes its flagship store on High Street Kensington and concessions in Debenhams, House of Fraser, Tesco and Sainsbury’s nationwide.