travelling-blogger

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Think the British public go on holiday to explore new cultures and landscapes, see ancient sites and try new food? Think again.

Travellers to foreign climes are just as likely to go on holiday to escape daily irritations at home, according to a new report which claims that 29 per cent of holidaymakers then document their travels on social media 'to make their lives look more exciting'.  

And there are strict rules for posting the perfect social media updates while on your travels. A holiday needs to be captured in no less than 10 photos and six Facebook updates, as well as four Tweets, four Instagram photos and four Snapchats

No I said post your PICS not your pecs! 29 per cent of holidaymakers document their holidays on social media 'to make their lives look more exciting' according to a new report

What's more, the subsequent holiday album posted online only got the social seal of approval if it received at least seven likes and six comments.

A trip considered the best 'escape' is one in which holidaymakers can avoid cleaning, said 35 per cent of people surveyed, while 29 per cent jetted off to avoid alarm clocks and 28 per cent to avoid cooking.

Others cited annoying colleagues (18 per cent), neighbours (7 per cent) and sometimes even the absence of partners (10 per cent) as reasons to head to the airport. 

The research was carried out by holiday company Secret Escapes, which showed that the daily commute was still the number one reason to escape (40 per cent of respondents) closely followed by being squashed on the tube (33 per cent).

Smug? Moi? Just posting a few tanned selfies on Instagram...

Other reasons given by Londoners hot footing it on holiday include escaping the Big Smoke's hustle and bustle (31 per cent) and the cost of London living (24 per cent), with 18 per cent singling out London's expensive bars.

The research showed that to prolong the afterglow holiday feeling, Brits like to use social media 'to make friends jealous' (16 per cent), show off their tan (15 per cent) and annoy colleagues (13 per cent).

'Going on holiday is the pinnacle of most people's year with more than 1 in 10 (11 per cent) admitting they think about booking another holiday even before they leave for one,' says Rob Day of Secret Escapes, which today launched its 'Secret Escapes' app for customers.

'This isn't surprising when the post-holiday blues set in for 14 per cent of us as soon as we walk through the front door after returning from a break away.'

For 16 per cent, it's the commute to work the next day when the blues really kick in but it's the loathed opening of the work email inbox that gets almost 1 in 5 of us (17 per cent) down in the post-holiday dumps. 

While people often dream of exotic destinations from dawn till dusk, a recent survey by sunshine.co.uk revealing that
Brits spend about 32 hours in total thinking, researching, planning and daydreaming about a trip while in the office.

But Secret Escapes has found that the nation's holiday daydreaming reaches an all-time high after lunch at 2.34pm, the newly dubbed 'holiday hour'.

'Escaping the stresses of everyday life is something we all deserve and this research shows just how much we value having a break to look forward to,' says Day.