Bring back a souvenir with a difference

Taking a holiday has traditionally been seen as a chance to relax, unwind and do nothing, but recent research from cottages4you suggests that today’s holidaymakers want activity, experience and a chance to learn new skills.

The survey of 1000 people found that one in ten people want a holiday where they can indulge in their favourite hobby. Although beach holidays are still popular, 44 per cent said they got restless after a few days and one in three (37 per cent) said they were keen to try an activity break.

Activity breaks don’t have to be just for adrenalin junkies, although more than a quarter of people said they wanted a thrill. Other popular activities include cooking, languages, art classes and gardening.

The most popular types of activity breaks were:

1. Sports related              
2. Gives an adrenalin rush /thrill
3. Educational
4. Health/beauty related
5. Cooking related

Half of the people questioned said they chose an activity break because it helped them switch off from everyday life and nearly a third said they wanted to experience something new or add to their skill set.

Geoff Cowley, managing director of cottages4you, said: “We have seen an increase in people booking accommodation with activities nearby, such as horse riding, cycling routes and tennis courts. Holidaymakers want to make more of their week off work by getting active, indulging in hobbies or trying new things.

“Taking a self catering break means you have the freedom to come and go as you please, with the space to relax after an energetic day. With more than 15,000 properties throughout the UK and Europe, whatever your preferred activity, there is something to suit everyone.”

cottages4you has a Go Local guide available at cottages4you.co.uk to help find activities to do and places to visit and the booking team can advise on properties with facilities on site.

Most popular skills to learn on an activity holiday:

1. Watersports
2. Cake decorating / sugar craft
3. Pottery
4. Glass blowing
5. Sign language
6. Landscape gardening
7. Singing / dancing
8. Dry stone walling
9. Wild swimming
10. Sand boarding

One in ten people have had a change in their careers because of an activity break – either promotion because of gained confidence or have decided to apply their acquired skill to a new role. A quarter of people also said they were considering a career break to pursue their favourite holiday and one in ten (13 per cent) said they had already done so.