Brits want sport and adventure while abroad
Far from spending their days sunning themselves on the beach in a state of almost stupor-like relaxation, it appears that British holidaymakers are demanding more and more from their holidays. The latest Post Office Travel Money Activity Barometer has revealed that an astonishing 75% of 18-64 year old adults are looking to try out a new sport or physical activity while on holiday.
The survey listed 27 activities and found that two thirds of respondents had already taken part in one or more of them while on holiday in the past. The favourite activity to try was rally car driving (58%), yet further research by Post Office Travel Money found that no overseas rally car driving activities were available for the price point set by survey respondents.
For leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey Espana the survey results come as no surprise. Sales and Marketing Manager Marc Pritchard explains, “We’ve found that those purchasing our La Floresta Sur holiday homes near Marbella are keen to take advantage of the plethora of activities available in the local area. Although rally car driving isn’t available locally, buggy safaris through inland Marbella are extremely popular, as is go-karting. They say that variety is the spice of life and this is certainly true for buyers in southern Spain, with activities ranging from mountain biking, to deep sea fishing, to potholing. All holidaymakers need to do is choose their desired adrenalin level!”
Other popular activities identified by the Post Office survey were adventure sports, with 40% of respondents looking to try a water-based sport, including scuba diving (49%) and white water rafting (43%). Taylor Wimpey Espana’s Costa Blanca properties are particularly popular with those looking to try their hand at scuba diving. From novices to qualified divers, the Mediterranean Sea offers something for everyone.
The five star Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, nestled on the beautiful Albanian Adriatic coastline, also recognises the popularity of such activities. The resort recommends white water rafting through the magnificent canyons of the Osumi River, which opens up breath-taking scenery that is usually hidden from most tourists’ eyes. The best time to go is during the spring, when melting snow allows navigation through the entire length of the canyon and creates a series of amazing waterfalls.
For winter adventurers, snowboarding was one of the most desired activities (41%). Family-run company Appassionata, which offers fractional ownership of its two luxury holiday homes (Casa Giacomo and Casa Leopardi) in Italy’s beautiful Le Marche region, has found this to be true of its owners. Snowboarding in the nearby Sibillini Mountains is particularly popular with owners during the winter months, as is skiing.
Over in Germany, the same is true of the 4* Alpen Club, in the spectacular Bavarian Alps. The family-friendly hotel, which offers hotel room investment through Property Frontiers, provides access to an incredible natural playground during the winter months, with sledging, snowboarding, Nordic hikes, ice skating and snow-tubing all extremely popular. Skiing at one of the two ski resorts (Spitzingee and Bayrishell) within a 15 minute drive of the hotel is also a favourite activity for holidaymakers.
While adventure sports capture the imagination of many holidaymakers, mainstream activities such as fishing, cycling and golf were still picked by 27-28% of the Post Office survey respondents. The Villages Group, which offers active properties for those in the gay community aged 50+ at its Canal du Midi village in southern France, affords residents the opportunity to explore the beautiful landscape of the Languedoc through access to the 250 km long Canal du Midi cycle path. The path is one of France’s most popular cycling tours, both with those exploring just a small area of it and with more committed cyclists who intend to journey along its full length.
With so many incredible options for active holidays just a short flight away from Britain’s shores, it’s no wonder that holidaymakers are taking advantage of their free time to engage with a more active lifestyle.
For more information on the wonderful properties mentioned above, visit :
Taylor Wimpey Espana: taylorwimpeyspain.com
Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa: lalzitbay.com
Appassionata: appassionata.com
Property Frontiers: propertyfrontiers.com
The Villages Group: thevillagesgroup.com/rainbow
