Almost all UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year, though that can include bank holidays. With so little precious time to spare, is it any wonder that the latest survey from Staysure.com has revealed that as a nation we opt for the comfort of a known quantity when it comes to holidaying overseas?
The Staysure research has revealed that 91% of Britons prefer to visit the same holiday destination repeatedly, with one in five returning to the same place within the course of a year.
The known quantities of great weather, good food and convenient travel times were cited as the most common motivations for returning to the same place. This was weighed against the fear that a new destination would not provide as much enjoyment and result in a disappointing holiday.
With so little paid holiday available, this attitude is entirely understandable and is precisely why second homes overseas are so popular. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,
"When it comes to travelling overseas, most holidaymakers have a fixed idea of where they want to go and so a home from home in their favourite spot makes absolute sense."
Taylor Wimpey España offers holiday homes in two of the locations that the survey respondents voted as being the most popular: the Spanish island of Mallorca, which took third position, and the Costa del Sol, which came in sixth.
On Mallorca, key-ready apartments with wide terraces and a fantastic communal pool, all within strolling distance to the beach such as those at Cala Magrana III, can be purchased from €220,000. On the Costa del Sol, a luxury two bedroom apartment near Puerto Banus can be picked up for €310,000, at Avalon.
A third Spanish location made it into the top 10 favourite repeat destinations: the Catalonian capital city of Barcelona. The much-loved city attracts hordes of visitors every year, as Martin Dell, Founder of Spanish property portal Kyero.com, which lists more than 200,000 homes from 3,000 estate agents, observes,
"Barcelona has everything a holidaymaker could want. Its architecture simply cannot be beaten. The weather is amazing throughout the summer months. The restaurants and street food markets are a gourmet paradise. There are countless cultural attractions and the city has a vibe unlike any other."
Second home options in the city abound and the current exchange rate means Brits can get a lot more for their money, such as this five bedroom apartment with spacious roof terrace, available in the central El Eixample area of the city for a cool €1.1 million.
One other Iberian destination also made the top 10 - Portugal's sun-drenched southern Algarve region. Popular with holidaymakers from the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, as well as (seemingly) half the population of Lisbon, which decamps southward for a month every summer, the Algarve offers stunning beaches, family-friendly restaurants, water parks, world-class golf courses and even a mountain of two for those who prefer to holiday at a height.
Ideal Homes Portugal,one of the area's leading estate agencies, has homes across the region, ranging from city centre apartments for under €100,000 to luxury villas with their own pools and unique features. For €335,000 you can even pick up a villa with a pool and its own windmill.
For more information please contact:
Kyero.com: www.kyero.com
Taylor Wimpey España: +44 08000 121 020 | www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. Those residing outside of the UK should call 0034 971 70 69 72.
Ideal Homes Portugal: 0800 133 7644, +351 289 513 434 | www.idealhomesportugal.com.
Many thanks to Staysure.com for use of the survey results: http://www.staysure.co.uk
