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As many as 77% of UK holidaymakers are planning to travel somewhere new in the next 12 months, with even more hoping to visit one of their dream travel destinations. Research, commissioned by Post Office, revealed a definitive travel bucket list.
More than eight in 10 UK tourists want to see the Northern Lights (44%), marvelling at Niagara Falls (40%) and staying in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives (34%), topping the list of dream holidays.
It comes as peak viewing season for the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere approaches – running from September to March – with the longer and darker nights creating stronger displays. Many want to walk through the Rome Colosseum (29%) built in 70AD by the emperor Vespasian, enjoy the best beaches of Bali (29%) and experience the cherry blossom season in Japan (30%).
Also on the ultimate bucket list, according to Post Office, is Greek island-hopping (31%), visiting the Amalfi coast in Italy (30%) and soaking up the atmosphere in the middle of New York’s Times Square (29%). And for the more adventurous, there’s flying through the Grand Canyon in a helicopter (27%) and ticking off the “Big Five” animals on safari in Kenya (24%).
According to the poll, Australia is the country most UK travellers would love to visit next (45%), followed by Italy (43%) and the USA (43%). Eighty-five percent of those surveyed reckon they are better travelled than their parent’s generation, with Gen Z (16 – 24-year-olds) the most likely to be planning the trip of a lifetime (60%), compared to just 32% of Britons over the age of forty.
Yet despite wanting to head off on a wanderlust adventure, more than a quarter of tourists (26%) don’t bother taking out travel insurance, with those over 55 more likely to put holiday insurance cover in place (83%) compared to just two-thirds of 16 – 24-year-olds. In fact, of those who said they didn’t take out travel insurance, 24% said it was too expensive, while 16% insisted they’d never needed it, and 15% said they were prepared to “take their chances” and save the cash.
It comes as Post Office is urging UK travellers to check what their travel insurance covers and when to buy it to ensure their trips are protected in the case of any unexpected turn of events. Paul Paddock, Head of Travel and Protection insurance at Post Office said: “With Brits intending to travel further and to new travel destinations, it’s essential to have holiday protection and ensure this is purchased at the right time so that you’re covered financially if things go wrong while you’re away, or even before you leave.
“It’s also important to check exactly what your travel insurance covers to avoid any nasty surprises. Not everything is included as standard. For example, trip disruption cover caused by extreme weather can often be added but for an additional premium – and sports travel insurance may not include activities like jet skiing.”
Over half of us fail to purchase travel insurance whilst booking travel and accommodation, and 7% even leave it until the day before or even the day of their departure. Paul continued: “A bucket list holiday is typically a once in a lifetime experience so don’t risk ruining it by not taking out the right travel insurance policy and reading exactly what it includes. Policies are there to protect you and they could save you thousands of pounds and prevent your dream trip turning into a nightmare.”
BRITS TOP 40 TRAVEL BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
Experience the Northern lights in Iceland – 44%
See Niagara Falls – 40%
Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland – 35%
Stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives – 34%
Go island hopping in Greece – 31%
Visit the Amalfi coast, Italy – 30%
See the cherry blossom in Japan – 30%
Go to the Colosseum, Rome – 29%
Stand in the middle of Times Square NY – 29%
Enjoy the best beaches in Bali – 29%
Walk the Las Vegas strip – 28%
See a Santorini sunset – 28%
Fly in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon – 27%
Walk across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – 25%
See turtles in Cape Verde – 25%
Safari in Kenya to see the “Big Five” – 24%
Swim with dolphins off the coast of Mexico – 24%
Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef – 24%
Enjoy the view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower – 24%
Visit a Costa Rican rainforest – 23%
Visit historic Lucca, Italy – 23%
See the wildlife in Galapagos – 22%
Take a boat trip down the Amazon River – 22%
Enjoy tapas in Barcelona – 22%
Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, Rome – 21%
Visit the Taj Mahal, India – 21%
Island-hopping in Croatia – 21%
Climb up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio – 21%
Party at Mardi Gras, New Orleans – 20%
Accomplish a Machu Picchu Trek, Peru – 20%
Go wine tasting in the Napa Valley – 20%
Go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany – 20%
Arrive in Venice by speedboat – 19%
Travel to the Golden Triangle in Thailand – 18%
Visit the Karnak Temple Complex, Egypt – 17%
Tiger spotting in Bandhavgarh, India – 16%
Visit Jerusalem – 16%
Visit Iguazu Falls, Argentina, and Brazil – 16%
Wander the old town of Montenegro – 15%
Go to a Michelin-star restaurant in Copenhagen – 15%
