Research by Abbey Credit Cards has revealed that this year’s dissappointing British summer has prompted UK travellers to head abroad in the search for sunnier climbs.

Despite the current economic uncertainties, more than 15 million Britons intend to jet off abroad spending a collective £8bn.

The research also revealed that just over 1 million UK holidaymakers were so disappointed by the poor summer weather that they are opting for a holiday abroad for the first time in three years.

Among the most popular sunspots this winter are the western European destinations such as southern Spain and the Canary Islands, which are expecting almost 8 million visitors over the next few months. Other more exotic destinations include the Middle East, Latin America and Asia.

A report by the Telegraph has revealed that short- and medium-haul destinations are becoming increasingly popular with British holidaymakers as increased fuel charges continue to push up the prices of flights to destinations further a field.

Morocco is enjoying increased popularity this winter and is served by a number of low-cost airlines. Marrakesh and the beaches of Essaouria will be popular destinations in the coming months as well as Tunisia.

Only a six hour flight from London, the islands of Cape Verde offer the white sands of the Seychelles and Maldivian waters but at a much cheaper rate.

The game parks and beach resorts of Gambia offer a less crowded and cheaper alternative to the wildlife safaris in Kenya and South Africa.

Mexico and Brazil are also excellent, affordable winter holiday destinations with British Airways offering direct flights to Rio de Janiero and the pound still strong against the Mexican Peso.

Cruises are also proving to be good value this season, with many lines including Ocean Village, offering week-long Caribbean cruises for under £700 including return flight.

A study by the private bank Cater Allen has show that British travellers are increasingly choosing holidays which offer them new and exciting activities.

The research showed that only one in five British tourists were planning to spend their next holiday relaxing by “doing nothing”.

One of the most popular activities is said to be trekking, with popular holiday destinations including Africa and the Alps. According to the study over a quarter of those questioned said they planned to go walking on their next holiday.

Other popular activities are scuba diving in hotspots such as Sharm el Sheikh or Australia, and snowboarding or even sandboarding.

The research shows that increasingly British travellers are looking for alternatives to the traditional family holiday destinations, and are becoming more adventurous in their choice of holidays.

Despite the credit crunch and soaring fuel prices it seems that the predicted crash of the holiday market has not come to fruition.

Many holidaymakers are reaping the benefits of the current offers and price-cuts being offered by holiday companies.

The cost of long haul flights to some of the more exotic locations has fallen, resulting in destinations such as Asia, Africa and South America becoming increasingly affordable for tighter budgets.

Travel Agents are suggesting that last-minute holidaymakers could make huge savings, but that shopping around is still advisable.

Holidays in Turkey, Bulgaria and other non-Euro holiday destinations have become the new holiday trend, as Brits try to find the best holiday deals by avoiding the Euro-countries on their holidays, according to experts at online travel agency Holidays-Direct.co.uk.

The need to avoid the Euro on holidays has lead to a boost in the number of holidays in Turkey and Bulgaria among other non-Euro holiday destinations. There countries offer the best holiday deals not only because the holiday packages are excellent value, but also because pounds go further in non-Euro countries like Turkey and Bulgaria.

There are still great holiday deals to Spain and other traditionally popular holiday destinations available, but holidaymakers worry that using the Euro on holiday is going to cost more while on holiday.

“The best holiday deals can now more often be found in non-Euro countries as the pound doesn’t buy so many Euros anymore. Holidays in Turkey have especially become more popular.

“But holidays in Bulgaria, for example, are also offer great holiday deals as the general prices are lower there than in Turkey. In Bulgaria people can enjoy a beach holiday by the Black Sea at Sunny Beach or Varna, which have both become very popular in recent years,” says Jon Pearce from Holidays-Direct.co.uk.

The online travel agency http://www.holidays-direct.co.uk sells cheap holiday deals to the most popular holiday destinations around the world.

Many people have left their summer holiday bookings last minute this year, as they have been waiting to see where the best holiday deals will be. Holidays-Direct is expecting a surge in last minute bookings for summer holidays, as people will have made up their minds where to go on holiday.

Holidays in Turkey - there are a wide range of choices for a holiday in Turkey, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. It’s not just a great beach holiday destination, but has plenty of historical and archaeological sites to explore.

Holidays in Bulgaria - the popular resorts in Bulgaria are located by the Black Sea (Sunny Beach, Varna, Golden Sands, Nessebur, Sandanski). Main attraction is for a beach holiday due to sunny weather, sandy beaches and the inexpensive prices. The country is also largely located on a mountainous area, attracting skiers in the winter season.

The Grand Canyon and the Pyramids in Egypt are the top of the list of places people would like to visit before they die, a new survey has found.

The survey was conducted to mark the DVD release of the Hollywood film “Bucket List”, where the characters of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman find out they are terminally ill and do all the things they want to before the kick the bucket.

“Which places in the world do you want to visit before you ‘Kick the Bucket’?”
1. The Grand Canyon
2. The Pyramids in Egypt
3. The Great Barrier Reef
4. Niagara Falls
5. Canadian Rockies
6. Great Wall of China
7. New York
8. Sydney
9. Rome
10. Venice

When the results were split between women and men the lists looks slightly different. Women have more interest in romantic holiday destinations.

Women:

1. The Pyramids in Egypt
2. The Grand Canyon
3. Niagara Falls
4. The Great Barrier Reef
5. Canadian Rockies
6. New York
7. Rome
8. The Great Wall of China
9. Venice
10. Tour of America

Men:

1. The Grand Canyon
2. Great Wall of China
3. The Great Barrier Reef
4. The Pyramids in Egypt
5. Canadian Rockies
6. Niagara Falls
7. Machu Picchu
8. Sydney
9. The Taj Mahal
10. Tour of America

There are thousands of choices for a beach holiday, and to narrow down the list for some Concierge.com has compiled a list of the sexiest beaches in the world.

Kaş, Turkey
Malibu, California
Paros, Greece
Loreto, Mexico
Pemba Island, Tanzania
Providencia - Caribbean islands
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Oahu, HawaiiSt. Lucia, Caribbean
Perth, Australia
St. Philip, Barbados
Gotland, Sweden
Natal, Brazil
Lake Nyasa, Mozambique
Fire Island, New York
Peter Island, British Virgin Islands
Krabi, Thailand

Concierge.com is an independent travel information source.

Later this year, Egypt is offering a unique chance of getting married in Pharaoh-style ceremony. Egypt has been attracting holidaymakers for years with its incredible history as well as great weather and beautiful scenery.

Now, Egypt is offering a little bit more with a holiday with the chance of being married there, in a traditional ceremony.

The Pharaonic Wedding Festival in October will allow 40 couples the chance to be married in the same style as Egyptian Pharaohs were married thousands of years ago.

Holidays in Bulgaria are the cheapest option for British holidaymakers. According to a new value-for-money survey a pint of beer costs only 49p in Bulgaria, while a three course meal will hardly break the bank at £7.

Flights to Bulgaria are also available on bargain prices, the average cost being £58.

Holidays in Morocco also offer great value for money – the North African country came second in the survey with a pint price of 51p. Morocco was followed by Tunisia, Egypt, the Czech Republic and India.

Spain, which is the most popular holiday destination for Brits, only came 17th on the list of best value-for-money countries in the survey.

Tanzania is hoping to attract more sports tourists to take a holiday in Tanzania, as it opens a new ultra-modern sports stadium. The $56 million stadium can hold 60,000 people and has been built to FIFA and Olympic standards.

It is expected that sports tourists will be heading to Africa in 2010 as South Africa hosts the World Cup Tournament. The whole region is expecting to benefit from people travelling down for the football. There are daily flights from South Africa to Tanzania.

Much of the funding for the new Dar Es Salaam Stadium came from the Chinese government.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the best Exotic Adventure holiday according to Hottest Travel Trends by USA Today. The US newspaper announces the top travel destinations each year, and it’s one of the most prestigious travel lists in the world.

Many people are saying they wish to climb Mt Kilimanjaro while it still has glaciers. The growing concerns of the affects of global warming are driving people to take holidays to see the natural wonders of the world while they still exist.

As the tallest mountain in Africa Mt Kilimanjaro is 19,336 feet high and it’s still covered by ice on the top.

Gerald Bigurube, Director General of the Tanzania National Parks, says:“At the moment, between 30-35,000 people climb Mt. Kilimanjaro annually… The best time of year for the climb is January through February and mid-June through mid-October.”

The prestigious Globe Travel Awards have been handed out. Here are some of the winners:

Air travel
Scheduled Airline to US/Canada - Virgin Atlantic
Scheduled Airline to Africa - South African Airways
Scheduled Airline to Europe - British Airways
Scheduled Airline to Middle East and Asia - Emirates
Scheduled Airline to Pacific/NZ/Australia - Qantas
Regional UK Airport - Manchester

Cruise and ferries
Ferry Company - P&O Ferries
Cruise Company, 3 star plus - Ocean Village
Cruise Company, 4 star plus - Royal Caribbean International
Cruise Company, Luxury - Silversea Cruises
Specialist Cruise Company - Star Clippers

Accommodation and resorts
Business Hotel - Hilton
Leisure Hotel - Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
All Inclusive Resort - Sandals
Accommodation Only Provider - Hotels4U.com

Tourism
Tourist Board - Australia

Consumer Awards - Sponsored by associated newspapers
Favourite Cruise Company - P&O Cruises
Favourite Airline - Virgin Atlantic
Best Rail Operator - Virgin Trains
Favourite European Short Break Provider - Lastminute.com
Best Online Booking Website - Expedia
Favourite Hotel Chain - Hilton
Favourite Long Haul Operator - Sovereign
Favourite Package Holiday Provider - Kuoni
Outstanding Achievement Award
Oustanding Achievement Award: Sue Biggs
More Globe Travel Awards

Swiss luxury hotel company Mövenpick is returning to the Egyptian holiday paradise Sharm El Sheikh this year. The 5 star Mövenpick Resort & Spa Sharm El Sheikh is due to open in summer 2008, and next year another resort will open just outside the holiday town. Both resorts are already under construction.

The first resort to open includes 30 luxury apartments, and over 300 rooms and suites. Josef Kufer, Senior Vice President Africa Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts says: “We are delighted to be returning to this key Egyptian destination in 2008 thanks to Integrated Development and Tourism Investment, and to be able once again to offer our loyal clientele a high quality of service and products.”

A record high number of Brits are heading abroad for Christmas and New Year starting on Friday December 21, according to Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). The busiest day of travel will Saturday December 22 when people head for their holidays to escape Christmas.

For holidays in the sun, the Canary Islands, Egypt and Goa are number one choices. For city breaks, Dubai is attracting more Brits than before due to the great shopping facilities in the city.

For New Year people are taking city breaks in European cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin.

Many people are taking advantage of the great early snow conditions and are taking ski breaks in France, Austria and Italy. The weak dollar is attracting some to take a ski holiday in America.

ABTA president Justin Fleming said: “This is always a peak time for travel as people make the most of the bank holidays and once again there are a record number travelling.”

Tunisia is trying to attract more holidaymakers to the country, by promoting alternative holiday types. Tunisia holidays are known for the sun and sea, but now Tunisian tourism officials want to attract holidaymakers to the Sahara desert, golf courses and thalassotherapy.

Tunisia is trying to market those areas that separates it from other North African holiday destinations. Tunisia doesn’t have any cheap airlines operating to the country, as there is no open skies policy yet. But Tunisia is looking into the area, and is negotiating with Ryanair at the moment.

Mr. Khelil Lajimi, Tunisia’s Minister of Tourism said at the UN WTO assembly in Colombia: “Our 6.8 million arrivals that we expect until the end of 2007 is a great number for a county with a population of 10 million.”

Tanzania is planning to open a new national park, after pressure from environmental organizations to preserve the African wildlife. If a new park will be opened, Tanzania would have 15 national parks, the newest one covering 1,390 sq miles.

Protecting the wildlife of Tanzania would also benefit the country by drawing even more tourists to see the big five – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. Holidays in Tanzania are very popular as the country has such sights as Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park.