Brits plan to get away as BBQ summer called off

A survey for insurance comparison site Gocompare.com has revealed that the majority of Brits plan to holiday abroad to escape the doom and gloom of the recession and the dismal summer weather, with 76 per cent either planning or considering taking a foreign holiday before the end of the year.

The ‘Brits Abroad Study', which questioned 1,600 individuals, confirmed that despite the current economic downturn, 56 per cent of people are planning a trip abroad in the next six months, and a further 20% are contemplating a foreign holiday. Only 19 per cent dismissed the idea of going abroad altogether.

When they get away, the majority of people surveyed (59 per cent) said they like to explore the real country beyond their holiday resort or accommodation, while nearly a third (29 per cent) mainly stay within the confines of their hotel but make organised excursions or visit local museums and historical sites. Only 12 per cent preferred not to venture further than their resort.

‘Brits abroad' are also pretty adventurous in their tastes. Most people surveyed expressed an appetite for the local cuisine with 56 per cent saying that they would eat the local food as much as possible and 42 per cent being happy to try it. Only two per cent said that they would only eat ‘English-style' food.

However, when visiting a country with different religions or customs to the UK, only half of travellers say that they make any effort to read up on these before their visit, in order to avoid causing offence to local people or breaking the law. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of people plan to learn about the culture and customs of their destination during their stay. One in ten holidaymakers rely on in-flight magazines to provide them with information on the country they are visiting, while another ten per cent have no interest in their holiday destination other than in the sun and beaches.

Worse still, Gocompare.com's ‘Brits Abroad Study' revealed that when it comes to foreign languages a quarter of holidaymakers rely on the locals' knowledge of English and don't bother to learn a word of the language. But, the majority (69 per cent) try to learn a few simple words or phrases, or invest in a phrase book to help them get by.

The majority (67 per cent) of Brits abroad like to use public transport or taxis while on holiday. Hire cars are also popular with 36 per cent of travellers hiring a vehicle for some or all of their stay. Only eight per cent of holidaymakers take their own vehicle abroad.

Lee Griffin, Business Development Director for Gocompare.com said, "Our ‘Brits Abroad' survey suggests that not even the recession can dampen our love of foreign travel with the majority of people planning to jet-off before the end of the year. The weak sterling is making foreign travel more expensive, but there are some simple ways to cut the cost of your holiday - without compromising the quality of your trip.

"Significant savings could be made by shopping around for the best deals and by planning ahead. For example by comparing prices on travel insurance policies or considering an annual travel insurance policy rather than a single trip policy if you are planning more than one trip a year. Significant savings could also be made by pre-booking airport car parking, investigating the ‘stay and park' rates at airport hotels and by arranging car-hire in advance of your holiday."