Holidays to Spain and the USA are the most popular among British travellers new research has shown. Travel comparison site KAYAK examined the searches which took place on their website to identify the top places Britons want to head to. The most searched international holiday destination by Britons for Summer 2019 was found to be New York, USA. American destinations nabbed two spots in the list of top ten while Spain garnered four.
The second most popular holiday destination was Bangkok in Thailand while Alicante in Spain came third.
In fourth place was Orlando in the USA followed by Malaga in Spain in fifth position.
Completing the top ten were Faro, Portugal; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Toronto, Canada.
John-Lee Saez, Managing Director, KAYAK Europe, told Express.co.uk: “We see destinations often topping the list due to their warm temperatures and being easy to reach, with many locations in Europe on the most searched list having been popular for several years.
“UK holidaymakers love the sun, sea and sand offered by nearby European trips to the likes of Spain and Portugal.
“These easy-to-get-to places have regular flights year-round so are really accessible.
“Whether you’re heading off for your annual summer holiday or a mini-break – the summer sun is almost always guaranteed and just a few hours away.
“Searches for cities such as Amsterdam and Barcelona are often highest for long weekends thanks to the short travel time and a range of sights to explore, whilst long-haul trips to locations further afield such as Bangkok, New York and Orlando offer an entirely new experience.
“From idyllic islands around Thailand to the lure of the Big Apple and family-friendly activities in Orlando, these destinations can appeal to a range of holidaymakers including backpackers, city slickers and those with young ones.”
Research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has also shown how holidays to Spain are the number one break of choice for thousands of Britons.
In 2018, over 13,615,245 British tourists headed to Spanish destinations – roughly 11,000,000 more than any other country.
KAYAK also teamed up with online restaurant-reservation service OpenTable to create a tipping etiquette guide for the popular holiday destinations.
“UK holiday-goers travelling to various city and beach locations across sunny Spain this summer should be prepared to do as the Spanish do and leave a national average tip of 5-6 per cent when dining out,” the teams said.
As for America: “With the US being named twice in the top 10 list, UK holiday-goers should be aware of the unique US tipping custom.
“A nation known for its big tipping, the study revealed that 24 per cent of Americans believe a generous 19-20 per cent tip should be left if you have experienced good service when dining out.”
It was a different matter in Portugal, though. “Portuguese people don’t traditionally tip at restaurants. Almost a quarter of Portuguese diners (23 per cent) unveiled that they consider a 1-2 per cent tip an acceptable tip for good service when dining out,” said OpenTable and KAYAK.
Most Searched UK International Holiday Destinations by Brits for Summer 2019
1. New York, United States
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Alicante, Spain
4. Orlando, United States
5. Malaga, Spain
6. Faro, Portugal
7. Amsterdam, Netherlands
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Palma de Mallorca, Spain
10. Toronto, Canada