News Centre

Five Spanish cities made it to the top ten most searched for travel destinations in the latest search rankings, while Faro in Portugal and Dalaman in Turkey are also on the list. This goes to show that British travelers still have a strong preference for seaside holidays. France is the European country that does not appeal strongly for UK air travelers, likely because most travelers would prefer to opt for the cheaper option, the Eurostar train.

Skyscanner co-founder and business director Barry Smith said: "Following a year of economic stress in 2009, we're waiting to see which locations rise from the ashes of recession in 2010. Spain is still the top dog by a long shot, but Portugal, Italy and Cyprus have a significant slice of the market and Turkey and Thailand are nipping at its heels. Orlando should do well this year due to the opening of Harry Potter's Wizarding World, and South Africa will also see a spike due to the World Cup.

Skyscanner also finds that searches for New York and Amsterdam going strong. For holidays beyond Europe, British travelers favour cities such as Bangkok, Orlando, Sharm el Sheikh, Dubai, Sydney, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, Delhi and Hong Kong.

Moreover, the latest research findings by Thomson indicates that Britons still place great emphasis on holiday traveling, despite the economic recession and their income levels. As many as 80% plan to take at least one holiday this year. Director of product management for online travel site, Jonathan Cudworth, mentions that value and exchange rates have become important factors for UK travelers when deciding their holiday destinations.

"By booking flights and hotels together, visiting destinations that offer the best currency exchange rates and ensuring additional hotel costs are kept to a minimum, customers can make their money go further," advised Mr Cudworth.

While more UK travelers are booking their travel packages or air tickets through travel websites, there is also a trend that travel insurance plans are bought online.