Brits are Europe’s most courteous drivers...but aren’t so courteous to each other

British travellers take out holiday driving stress on their partners

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, has polled* European travellers on the perils and pleasures of driving on holiday and found that Brits are Europe’s most courteous – and most argumentative – drivers on the road.

The survey of over 3,000 European travellers tagged Brits as Europe’s most courteous drivers. The situation inside the car, however, is entirely different: a whopping 42% of Brits have argued with their partner as a direct result of driving on holiday, compared to just 15% of passive Spanish drivers.

“Although Brits may appear courteous to other drivers, it seems we don’t continue this politeness to our partners,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “Driving on holiday, particularly abroad, can be a stressful experience so mitigate against the most obvious argument triggers by planning your route in advance and making regular stops to avoid getting over-tired and irritable.”

Italians were voted Europe’s worst drivers, while Greek roads were voted the most unsafe and Germany’s voted the safest.

*Survey carried out on 3,339 European travellers in July 2011

Burning Brits

TripAdvisor survey reveals Brits yet to heed sun damage warnings

Despite extensive warnings about the risks of sun damage, British travellers are still failing to adequately protect themselves on holiday.  In a large-scale poll of over 9,000* travellers by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, nearly half of respondents  – 45%  - claim to have experienced sunburn at least once while on holiday in the last year, with a fifth (20%) admitting their sunburn was severe or moderate.

“These results clearly demonstrate that Brits still aren’t taking sun protection seriously enough,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “With nearly half of us getting burnt on holiday and one-fifth being badly or moderately burnt, we need to heed the warnings – wear high factor sun cream, apply it often and try to avoid the midday sun as much as possible.”

The NHS recommends wearing at least SPF 15 or higher, but many other experts suggest SPF 30.   A wide-brimmed hat will help keep sun off the face – one of the most common areas afflicted by skin cancer – while good quality sunglasses are necessary to protect the eyes from UVA and UVB rays.  The NHS also suggests reapplying sun cream every two-three hours and after going in the water.

*Poll carried out on 9,096 TripAdvisor.co.uk users between 1-13 July 2011

Live it up like a lottery winner

As Colin and Chris Weir from Scotland celebrate their record-breaking Euromillions win, no doubt a holiday of a lifetime will be somewhere on their to-do list.

“If you’re not a lucky lottery winner, these hotels are some of the top-rated, top-dollar properties listed on TripAdvisor,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “For those of us not expecting tens of thousands of pounds extra in our pay packet next month, TripAdvisor also lists some much more affordable hotels, such as our best bargain hotels at www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice”

Below are some of the world’s most luxurious hotels for all types of holidays. 

Beach bling in St. Bart’s: Up to £2,400

Le Toiny in St. Barts, with suites starting from over a thousand pounds per night, is TripAdvisor’s top-rated hotel on the famously luxurious island favoured by A-listers.  With a focus on privacy, Le Toiny offers secluded villas with spectacular ocean views and some with private pools.  As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Of all the most luxurious places all over the world that my husband and I have been fortunate enough to stay at, no place compares to LeToiny.”

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g147338-d149811-Reviews-Hotel_Le_Toiny-St_Barthelemy.html

Sumptuous skiing in St. Moritz: up to £2,000 per night

Chic, elegant and exclusive, St. Moritz has long been associated with luxury ski holidays.  The Carlton Hotel, one of TripAdvisor’s top-rated hotels in St. Moritz, lives up to its legendary reputation. With outstanding service and beautiful views from all over the hotel, The Carlton is as it’s best in the spa – enjoy the incomparable panoramic views of St. Moritz while relaxing in the pool.  With average room rates ranging between about £1K and £2K, this hotel is not for the faint of heart, but as one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Absolutely  perfect in every way”.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g188091-d206269-Reviews-Carlton_Hotel-St_Moritz_Engadin_St_Moritz_Grisons_Swiss_Alps.html

Sexy suites in Las Vegas: Up to several thousand per night

Sin City does luxury suites like no other and one of Las Vegas’ most famous hotels, The Palms, leads the way with its ‘Sky Villas’.  The ultimate in luxury, room features include steam rooms, exercise rooms, private elevators and outdoor terraces, but the most outstanding is the glass-walled outdoor Jacuzzi, many storeys up, where guests feel like they’re floating above the famous Strip. One TripAdvisor traveller said they were, “treated like kings”. Suites are available from less than £100 a night, but for the Sky Villas expect to pay into the thousands.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g45963-d208820-Reviews-or20-The_Palms_Casino_Hotel-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html#REVIEWS

Deluxe city break in Dubai: Up to £2,000 per night

A popular destination to splash the cash, Dubai is home to one of the world’s most iconic hotels: Burj Al Arab.  Soaring to a height of 321 metres, the hotel houses a range of incredibly luxurious guest rooms, ranging from the one bedroom suite to the royal suite, which is on the 25^th floor and features its own cinema and private elevator across its 780 square metres.  One TripAdvisor traveller said, “From the moment we entered the Burj al Arab, we were treated like visiting royalty”.  Average room rates range from about £700 to £2,000 a night.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g295424-d302457-Reviews-or10-Burj_Al_Arab-Dubai.html#REVIEWS

Extravagance in Paris: Up to £1,135 per night

The City of Light, Paris often plays host to A-listers, royalty and high-ranking politicians and has a number of hotels up to the challenge.  The Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, with average room prices ranging from £730 to £1,135, is one of Paris’s top three hotels according to TripAdvisor travellers.  The property is steps away from the Champs Elysees with rooms that feature beautiful Parisian views from their private terraces.  As one TripAdvisor traveller said, this “is the ultimate Paris experience”. 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187147-d188975-Reviews-Four_Seasons_Hotel_George_V_Paris-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Happy Fourth of July! – TripAdvisor reveals new popular USA destinations

Minneapolis emerges as hotspot for British tourists as searches more than double

As America prepares for its Independence Day festivities, TripAdvisor marks the occasion by revealing five of the fastest growing, up-and-coming hotspots, based on TripAdvisor.co.uk site data monitoring traffic uplift over the past year.

Brits may love New York, L.A and Florida but if you’re looking for the hot new US destination Minneapolis is leading the way. In the last 12 months, several American cities have seen interest from travellers across the pond more than double*.

The following comprise the US destinations which have seen their popularity rise the most in the last year with British travellers:

1.    Minneapolis, Minnesota – searches by British travellers up 162% in the last year.  As the British Pound continues its climb against the US Dollar, Minneapolis’s behemoth Mall of America, the biggest mall in the country, continues to be a huge draw for British travellers.  In addition, Sun Country’s London to Minneapolis route launch in 2010 made travel to Minnesota’s capital city even easier for British travellers 

2.    Arlington, Virginia – searches by British travellers up 149% in the last year.  Arlington has long been a favourite destination for culture vultures.  With a unique history of its own, visitors to Arlington can also access Washington DC within minutes thanks to a number of metro stations connecting it to the American capital.  In 2010, the city also saw the much-lauded opening of Artisphere, a new cultural centre featuring four performance venues and three art galleries

3.    Kansas City, Kansas – searches by British travellers up 137% in the last year.

The city is currently undergoing a massive nine billion dollar improvement program which may be drawing in the British travellers.  The downtown core has seen a substantial overhaul including a new performing arts centre and a new entertainment district, while Kansas City’s usual tourist draws – fountains, jazz music and barbeque food – continue to woo travellers. 

4.    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – searches by British travellers up 86% in the last year.  Called one of the world’s most beautiful cities by The Huffington Post and regularly praised for the quality of life its provides, Pittsburgh is on the up with British travellers.  The past two years have seen substantial growth with the opening of Rivers Casino and the Stage AE amphitheatre, while a new cycle trail – allowing visitors to Pittsburgh cycle access to Washington DC – set for completion in 2012 has piqued traveller interest. 

5.    St Louis, Missouri – searches by British travellers up 76% in the last year.  This affordable and family-friendly destination is currently undergoing massive improvements to its claim to fame, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, an area which includes a 91 acre riverside park and the mammoth Gateway Arch.  The project, already well underway, will help make the picturesque Missouri River a focal point in St. Louis, while visitors will continue to enjoy what the city is famous for – beautiful architecture, great food and friendly locals.

“America has long been popular with British travellers,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “Historically Brits have tended to stick with the old favourites, but now we’re seeing new destinations emerge for a variety of reasons.  The USA is an enormous country with a so much diversity, so it’s great to see Brits cast their nets further and experience even more of what the US has to offer.”

*Data obtained by comparing page views on TripAdvisor.co.uk over two periods: June 2009-May 2010 vs June 2010-May 2011.  Data identifies the increase in share of page views on TripAdvisor.co.uk

TripAdvisor reveals the best of London’s gay-friendly hotels

Pride London will begin its descent on the capital this Friday, culminating with the famed annual parade on 2^nd July.

In honour of the festival, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, is revealing ten of London’s best hotels for gay and lesbian travellers.  These hotels are tried, tested and ten of the best, according to travellers themselves – in accordance with TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index.

Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson, commented: “Pride is one of London's most vibrant and exciting festivals so why not book a hotel and make a weekend of it? With so many to choose from, TripAdvisor travellers have done the hard work for you and selected some of the best hotels the city has to offer.”

1.    Egerton House Hotel – as one TripAdvisor traveller said, “I must say this glamorous little hotel had the biggest personality and charm by far of any hotels I have stayed at!”

2.    Montague on the Gardens – as one traveller put it, “The Montague on the Gardens is a fab hotel.”

3.    Soho Hotel – one traveller said, “A wonderful location in a vibrant area, beautiful rooms and outstanding customer service. Worth every pence.”

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4.    Apex City of London Hotel – as one TripAdvisor reviewer said, “We have just got back from our 8th visit to the hotel and as usual it’s second to none.”

5.    Chancery Court Hotel – one traveller, said “I could wax lyrical using every superlative known to Mankind, however you'd get bored with that, so put simply ... our stay this weekend at the Renaissance was absolutely superb”

6.    Park Plaza Riverbank London – as one traveller said, “Visited over gay pride and enjoyed the neighbourhood and the views.”

7.    The Trafalgar – one TripAdvisor reviewer said, “Loved the hotel. The location is perfect.”

8.    Mandeville – as one traveller said, “This hotel is awesome, great location, helpful staff and the hotel is just adorable and exquisitely decorated.”

9.    Sanderson – one TripAdvisor traveller said, “The Sanderson exceeded my expectations from the moment we arrived.”

10. Marriott Grosvenor Square – one TripAdvisor reviewer said, “I loved this hotel and the staff and service were exceptional.”

*Hotels were editorially selected and ranked according to TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index

Taste the best of London

TripAdvisor diners reveal London's Top 10 restaurants

Taste of London, the capital’s annual foodie festival, will descend on Regent’s Park form 16-19 June to celebrate the best of London’s food and dining experiences.   

In honour of the Taste of London festival, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, is exclusively revealing London’s top ten restaurants according to diners themselves – in accordance with TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index.  These ten London restaurants offer diners a variety of different experiences and price options, but all are tried, tested and proven top-quality.”

“This list reveals London’s best restaurants according to those judges that really matter – diners themselves,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “They’ve been rated and reviewed by real people and, through good service and excellent food, have earned their stripes as London’s best.”

London’s top ten restaurants:

1.    Restaurant Gordon Ramsay: Named after its famous chef, this restaurant is Ramsay’s first solo effort and is located in Chelsea. As one traveller said, “Just perfect” .

2.    Goodman: Known for its steaks, Goodman is located in Mayfair.  One TripAdvisor reviewer said, “Amazing steaks and service”

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3.    Le Gavroche: Opened by Michele Roux of Masterchef fame, Le Gavroche is a French restaurant in Marble Arch.  One reviewer said, “Exceeds expectations and expectations were high”.

4.    Petrus: Another Gordon Ramsey restaurant, Petrus is in Mayfair serves up French cuisine.  One reviewer called it a “First-class restaurant”.

5.    Al Boccon di’vino: This acclaimed Italian restaurant is located in Richmond and the only restaurant in the list outside of central London.  As one TripAdvisor reviewer said, “Amazing, can’t wait to go again”.

6.    Laughing Gravy Bar & Restaurant : Serving seasonal dishes, the Laughing Gravy is in Waterloo.  One reviewer said, “If I could go there every day...I would.”

7.    The Ledbury: The Ledbury serves French and European food and is located in Notting Hill.  One TripAdvisor reviewer said “The finest meal I have ever had.”

8.    Whits: A dog-friendly French restaurant in Kensington.  As one TripAdvisor said, “Sophisticated, relaxed and amazing food”

9.    Murano: Acclaimed restaurant in Mayfair with Chef Patron Angela Hartnett.  One reviewer said, “Intimate atmosphere, great staff and fabulous food”.

10. Cote – Covent Garden: Serving classic dishes in Covent Garden.  One reviewer said, “Excellent food at great prices”.

The Only Way Is NOT Essex

Newcastle, home of Geordie Shore beats TV rivals to be crowned best nightlife spot

The Only Way is Essex may have recently won a BAFTA, but when it comes to enjoying a night out Brits prefer the buzz of Newcastle, home to rival TV show Geordie Shore, over Brentwood in Essex, home to the cast of The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE).

A new TripAdvisor poll of over 5,000* Brits reveals half (52%) would choose a night on the ‘toon’ in Newcastle. Just 24% opted for Chelsea, home of the Made In Chelsea reality TV show, while TOWIE’s Brentwood received just 23% of the votes.

“Newcastle has long been known for its vibrant nightlight, and the antics of the Geordie Shore cast is sure to raise the city’s profile even further,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “As rivalries heat up between these three British reality TV shows it’s only natural the locations themselves are also receiving more attention from the rest of the UK.”

*Survey had 5,427 respondents between 25^th May and 1^st June 2011