Valentines couples swap city breaks for fun in the sun

Research conducted by On the Beach, UK beach holiday specialists, has revealed a significant rise in bookings to beach destinations this Valentines, with Spain and its islands the most popular destination for loved up couples.

With the hotly anticipated release of Fifty Shades of Grey hitting the big screen tomorrow, frisky couples are treating themselves to a few days of fun in the sun on the Canary Islands, with Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura all featuring in the top five.

The Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh is the third most popular beach destination, followed by the Algarve coast in Portugal.

Top five destinations for couples this Valentines:

1. Tenerife
2. Lanzarote
3. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt)
4. Fuerteventura
5. Algarve (Portugal)

The research has also revealed Cyprus and Morocco as the fastest growing hot spots for loved up couples.

Sales of holidays to Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite are up a massive 200% on last year, with Valentines holidays to Morocco, experiencing a similar boost.

Spain's Costa Brava coast is also proving popular amongst sun seeking lovers this Valentines, with bookings up 180%.

Hurghada, one of Egypt's premier beach destinations is the biggest fourth fastest growing Valentines destination this year (up 109%), whilst the garden island of Madeira completes the top five (up 20%).

Top five fastest growing destinations this Valentines:

1. Cyprus (up 200%)
2. Morocco (up 198%)
3. Costa Brava (up 180%)
4. Hurghada (up 109%)
5. Madeira (up 20%)

Alistair Daly, Chief Marketing Officer at On the Beach comments: "It would appear that British couples are longing for a bit of sunshine this year and are choosing to head to the sun, instead of the usual Paris and Rome. Spain is the clear winner this Valentines but with the cold snap here in Britain, couples are heading to destinations which offer guaranteed sun such as the Canary Islands, Morocco and Egypt."