2008 News Archive - Holidays - Brits schedule long-haul mini-breaks

14 03 2008

A growing number of Britons intend to take short breaks to far-flung destinations this year, according to new research.

Halifax reports that 4.9 million "speed tourists" have booked, or are due to book, long-haul mini-break holidays in 2008.

And in 2007, more than 3.7 million holidaymakers travelled in excess of 5.5 billion miles in order to enjoy a long-haul mini-break, flying for at least seven hours for a holiday that lasted under one week.

"Better airline quality, the lure of winter sun, favourable exchange rates and cheaper long haul flights has created a boom in demand for long haul mini breaks, with millions of us enduring long flights for a weekend break on the other side of the globe," Paul Birkhead, a senior manager at Halifax Travel Insurance, said.

The most popular destinations for long-haul short-term travel were North America, the Far East, Australia, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and South America.

The study also showed that those living in the south-east are more prone to take more long haul mini breaks than those living in any other region in the UK.