Despite remaining a popular pick with holidaymakers, Greece and Portugal have fallen out of favour with some, experiencing 7% and 5% drops in preference, respectively, according to Virgin Media O2.
However, call it the Trump Effect, the United States has emerged as one of the biggest risers in terms of holiday choice for Brits, now outranking France as a more popular escape.
The U.S. was picked as the ideal vacation spot for 17% of Brits, despite 70% of the country disliking President Trump according to YouGov, as we swap siestas for stateside visits. Meanwhile, just 14% elected our European neighbours, France, as their dream holiday destination.
A sunnier‑than‑usual summer in Blighty could be to blame for there being less urgency for Brits to flock to warmer pastures, with 40% polled saying the UK weather doesn’t influence whether they jet abroad or not.
Long-haul travel for adventure and sightseeing holidays to nations such as the U.S., Canada (9%), Thailand and Australia (both 5%) have seen a steady increase in the latest data.
“As Brits explore new holiday spots beyond Europe, we’re proud to keep them connected wherever they may roam,” explained Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2.
“O2 remains the only major mobile network to offer inclusive EU roaming as standard, and for those venturing further afield, our updated Volt offering gives customers the freedom to choose their plan and enjoy inclusive roaming in up to 123 destinations worldwide, including the US and Thailand.”