Spain 'will always be more popular than UK'

Despite recent research ranking certain British beaches over Spanish ones, the overseas sunshine destination will always be picked over the UK by holidaymakers, it has been claimed.

Commenting on the survey by Coast magazine, Maxine Harrison, owner of villa rental firm Elysian Holidays, said that factors such as weather, warm seas and cheap meals are more likely to encourage travellers to head to Spain rather than staying in Britain.

She added that her company had seen a rise in queries about overseas breaks from people looking to escape the current bad weather in the UK.

"Quite frankly it's more expensive to stay in the UK on holiday than it is to go abroad these days. That is a major issue," Ms Harrison explained.

She also compared the availability of holidays in Spain and the UK, stating that "unless you book a year in advance to go anywhere in the UK that is particularly good, it's almost impossible".

Last year, a report from research firm Euromonitor revealed that Spain is the second most popular holiday destination in the world, after the USA.

It also stated that the number of UK travellers visiting Spain increased significantly over the course of 2005.

• US connecting flights proving popular at Bristol Airport
• Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Dublin
• Long haul trips 'offer best value this year'
• Budget travellers offered holiday guide
• Spain top for Scots in 2009
• Abta expresses concern over insurance
• Ten reasons for tourists to see Western Australia
• Aer Lingus to launch flights from Gatwick Airport
• Italian trips on the menu for football fans
• More than 3m 'to head overseas this Christmas'