The latest research from the Online Consumer Index survey identified while we would like to visit the USA for a long holiday in the next 12 months, the reality is we’re more likely to have visited Spain. The survey, conducted monthly from a nationally representative UK sample of 9,000 consumers found that the USA, ahead of more exotic locations, stood out as a destination that UK consumers most wished to visit way above all others. The results clearly demonstrate that despite the threat of terror attacks, the US still manages to capture the imagination of the British traveller.  The top 20 international destinations we want to visit in the next 2 years for a trip of 3 or more night are:

1. United States (24%)
2. Spain (including Canary Islands) (19%)
3. Italy (13%)
4. Canada (11%)
5. Australia (11%)
6. Greece (11%)
7. France (11%)
8. New Zealand (10%)
9. Caribbean (9%)
10. Portugal (8%)
11. Egypt (8%)
12. Cyprus (7%)
13. Turkey (6%)
14. Thailand (6%)
15. Malta (6%)
16. Republic of Ireland (5%)
17. South Africa (4%)
18. South America (4%)
19. Germany (4%)
20. Mexico (4%)

However, when asked the international holiday destinations of 3 or more nights in the last 12 months people had visited, it is evident that short haul becomes a more attractive and realistic international destination for many:

1. Spain (including Canary Islands) (20%)
2. United States (10%)
3. France (9%)
4. Italy (6%)
5. Greece (5%)
6. Turkey (4%)
7. Portugal (4%)
8. Caribbean (4%)
9. Egypt (3%)
10. Germany (3%)

“This research, along with our other studies, indicate that of all the long-haul destinations, the USA is still seen as the most accessible and one that many consumers would like to experience much more than other more exotic locations. This may or may not say something about the close relationship that the UK and US have historically enjoyed or indeed the financial or practical limitations of long-haul travel which make that option impractical”, commented Ed Barham, Research Director at iCD Research.

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Travelling can be boring at the best of times. Train delays, engineering works and rises in fares all add to the misery. We all listen to our MP3 players, read books or end up listening to the annoying person in the next carriage shouting on their mobile phone. All these things can be great distractions, however First Great Western rail company are introducing a television service on some of their high speed trains.

The company plans to launch the new service in one carriage per train. Fifty-four in total will run from London’s Paddington Station. Televisions are already a regular occurrence on long haul flights and this service will be much the same. Although passengers will have to pay for the chance to watch television on their journey, the cost is minimal. There will be a flat rate of £3.95 one way, payable by mobile phone, for which travelers can watch as many programmes as they wish.  An hourly charge of £1.50 is also an option.

The screens will be situated in the back of the seat and will show documentaries, sports and TV shows. A map similar to those available on flights will also be shown, allowing passengers to see where they are in their journey.

I for one am quite excited about this, as I’m sure many people will be. Anything that makes long journeys less of a chore and the fact that the service is inexpensive is great. It may also boost the number of visitors to towns around the UK, instead of them going abroad.

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We all like to feel safe, and air travel has become an increasingly scary prospect over the last few years. With disasters and near misses being a very real problem for the UK and worldwide, security measures at airports are being stepped up and changed. Many are not popular with holidaymakers due to the lengthy queues and longer waiting time before fights. However, surely it is better to be safe than sorry?

Thankfully Britons appear to be more responsive to body scanners being introduced in the countries airports than other European nations. A poll taken by security group Unisys shows that 90% of British travelers would be willing to undertake full body scanning at British airports. The attempted bombing in Detroit on 25^th December 2009 prompted Heathrow and Manchester airports to install the machines.

A statement from the Association of British Travel Agents said, “They want to get to their destination quickly and safely and, if scanners will help that to happen, they worry less about whether or not their privacy has been infringed.”

Many objections to the scanners come from people concerned about their privacy, however I’m glad to see that the majority of Britons surveyed are more sensible and realise that the safety of air travel depends on strengthen security. No one likes having his or her privacy invaded, but rather an uncomfortable moment than have another flight end in tragedy.

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The new East London is finally ready to be unleashed on the county. The line will join the Overground network from New Cross Gate, south of the river, to Dalston Junction in the north east. It has taken years of planning and £1 billion to get the project off the ground. It will make accessing the borough of Hackney and the surrounding areas easier, as it currently doesn’t have an underground station (the nearest being Bethnal Green). Although the borough already has train links to various parts of London and no tube, most local people agree that not having an underground station is for the best. It would more than likely push the ever-escalating house prices, even higher and with fantastic bus connections to central and West London; it’s not really a necessity.

Planning to open in mid April with a limited timetable, the new line will incorporate Shoreditch, Haggerston, Hoxton and Dalston.  Currently passengers will have to make the short walk between Dalston Junction and the station already at Dalston Kingsland, which links Richmond and Stratford. The two lines will be connected by 2011.

The whole grand plan is due to be finished in time for the 2012 Olympics that will be held just down the road in Stratford. Post Olympics it will give a new lease of life to the East End borough and no end of opportunities for people commuting in and out of the area.

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It is officially summer, according to the calendar anyway. The weather however is telling us otherwise. It’s raining again, and snowing in some parts of the UK. With train strikes on, then off, then back on again, it’s tough to know what to do and when to do it.

For those of us already living in our fantastic capital city, this may be a great time, to stay at home and explore what’s happening on our doorstep.

Fancy a bit of culture? Then take a trip to an exhibition, a gallery or museum.

The British Museum is one of the worlds oldest museums and houses a mixture of British and foreign art to appeal to all tastes.

The Natural History Museum, the clue is in the name! All things organic. From ancient fossils to the new Darwin Centre.

The Cartoon Museum displays cartoons going as far back as the eighteenth century. It includes work from The Young Artists Gallery, which lays out work designed to appeal to younger audiences. There is also a library of over 3,000 books that can be viewed by appointment.

The Royal Academy Of Arts is famous for it’s galleries. Founded in 1768 this spectacular building is home to paintings from Constable to Hockney. Its central London location makes it a particular favourite.

The Saatchi Gallery offers a platform for contemporary artists to show their work. Opened over twenty years ago, this impressive building sits in the heart of Chelsea. The gallery includes temporary and curated exhibitions.

So, go on. Be a culture vulture and visit one of these, or any of London’s other top attractions this ‘summer’.

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Blackpool has long been a favourite for holidaymakers from all over the British Isles. However, the resort has been in decline over recent years and although visitors are still flowing into the town, they are more likely to be day-trippers than the big spenders the town needs.

The much-loved resort is to receive a greatly needed boost of cash, with a new regenerative initiative. The famous Blackpool tower has been put into public ownership for the first time, since being built 116 years ago, as homage to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The decrepit structure has fallen into disrepair; the new initiative will turn its observation platform into a 4D cinema show.

Merlin Entertainments who operate the London Eye, London Dungeon, Legoland and the Sealife Centre in Blackpool will be brought in to help with the process. Funding for the initiative has come from Europe, the Northwest Regional Development Agency and Blackpool council.

The Winter Gardens will benefit from the £38.9 million deal and a dungeon, similar to London Dungeon will also be built. The money has enabled the local authority to purchase large areas of the seafront from Sir Trevor Hemmings, whose plan to build a super casino were rejected by the government. Currently around 12 million visitors travel to the seafront town per year and it’s hoped that numbers will reach a whopping 800,000 at the tower alone.

Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool said, “We already have the most visited attraction in the country with the Pleasure Beach. The tower is iconic. I think it is justifiable that, although big cities such as Barcelona have positive attractions, the mixture in Blackpool is truly unique and it will deliver us back to the position as No 1 resort.”

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