According to new reseatch we have become a nation of Karl Pilkingtons – AKA the idiot abroad! As the unenthusiastic traveller hits our screens again in series three of An Idiot Abroad, it appears that a third of UK holidaymakers can relate to his way of thinking.
A study by www.latedeals.co.uk has found that almost half (48 per cent) of us admit that they do not want an adventure on holiday, with 52 per cent of travellers revealing that they often ignore famous landmarks while abroad.
The survey of 2,000 adults found that 37 per cent of us find sight-seeing stressful, with the majority of us preferring to take it easy by the pool or on the beach. Of those questioned, only 23 per cent said that they choose their holiday destination to experience a different culture and a further five per cent stated that the best thing about going away is coming home!
Of those surveyed, 85 per cent agreed that going on the holiday is the highlight of their year, however, 34 per cent said that they shared many of the negative views expressed by funny man Karl as he goes off the beaten track in the TV show An Idiot Abroad.
Calum Macdonald from Latedeals.co.uk, the last minute holiday firm behind the survey, said: “Long working hours and busy family lives mean that our annual holiday is the only time we get to relax.
"New environments and customs can be exciting for the seasoned traveler but they can cause anxiety too. So, with many people only getting one or two weeks abroad per year, they want to take it easy and not spend all their time traipsing around the local tourist spots."
According to the study, meeting new people, recharging the batteries and lazing in the sun topped the list of holiday priorities, whilst trying foreign food, visiting local sights and learning the local lingo was at the bottom of the to do list.
The study also found that 19 per cent of participants sought home-from-from comforts, such as Starbucks coffee or MacDonald’s at least once during their holiday and 18 per cent said that they would only eat English food while abroad.
Calum added: “An Idiot Abroad and Karl Pilkington represent this view to the extreme, but I think the fact that people can relate to some of the things he’s saying is the reason why it is such a popular show.”
For more on An Idiot Abroad on Sky, visit http://sky1.sky.com/an-idiot-abroad
For fantastic deals on holidays departing in eight weeks: www.latedeals.co.uk
Are you a typical Karl Pilkington on holiday? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
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Shabana Adam @Shabs_A
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