64% of UK travellers think ‘thrillaxing’ is the best route to a relaxing holiday

Nov. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Holidaymakers who choose an active break are more likely to return home relaxed and refreshed than those who’ve opted for a fortnight on the beach, according to a new report.

The research commissioned by holiday website iExplore revealed a growing appetite among Brits for this travel trend, termed ‘thrillaxing’, with just over half of us already opting for some form of active break.

Two thirds of those surveyed believe that choosing a more adventurous holiday is the key to escaping the stresses of their day-to-day lives. Meanwhile, 75% find keeping active abroad helps take their minds off what’s happening at home and in the office. This is particularly important for parents, with 80% finding that active holidays banished thoughts of any home-related problems.

Keeping the mind active can also shut out the concerns that take-over our brains when we try to switch off. Nearly a third of beachgoers (29%) spend their time on the sun lounger worrying about how much money they’re spending. A quarter (24%) are already worrying about the prospect of having to diet when they get back home, while a fifth (18%)  stress about what will be waiting for them when they return to the office.

The feedback also suggests that holidays which engage both body and mind give you more things to talk about while away, with 58% saying this is one of the biggest benefits of an active break and more than half of UK holidaymakers believing that it can be pivotal to maintaining a successful relationship.

TV presenter Craig Doyle is a keen supporter of ‘thrillaxing while away’. He said: “A good mix of beach, culture and activities which could be anything from a scenic sightseeing cruise to snorkeling, sea-kayaking or sailing is what makes a holiday for me so ‘thrillaxing’ pretty well sums up my idea of a perfect break with plenty to do for the whole family.

"Whilst beautiful beaches will always have their appeal, for me the key to coming home refreshed and with a treasure trove of memories is to get out and actually do something. By being a bit active and perhaps even trying something new I find I get to share new experiences and spend some quality time with family and friends. Many of my favourite travel memories have come from trips like this.”

iExplore spokesman Rob Laurens said: “Our research highlights that – contrary to traditional holiday thinking – keeping both body and mind stimulated with new experiences whilst away is fundamental to recharging your batteries.

“With TV celebrities taking part in ever more adventurous antics overseas, the British holidaymaker is becoming increasingly inspired to give new experiences a go. However, while we may be keen to try something slightly different on our next overseas trip, it can be difficult to know where to start or how to ensure we can thrillax within our budget, which is where iExplore comes in.”

iExplore.co.uk helps people seeking holiday inspiration identify their travelling style and then matches them to the type of active holiday that best suits their interests, budget, pace and experience.

Go to facebook.com/iExploreTravelUK to see how you could win a
thrillaxing £5k trip of a lifetime.


-Ends-

2 November 2011

For further information please contact:

Gordon Cherrington
Tel:   020 7535 5800 Mobile:   07734 887311
Email:   gordon.cherrington@tvcgroup.com

Suzanne Seyghal, iExplore PR Manager
Tel:    020 8971 2967   Mobile:  07944 168 697  
Email:    suzanne.seyghal@tuiactivitypr.com

NOTE TO EDITORS:

About iExplore
- iExplore (www.iexplore.co.uk) is a one stop shop of inspirational experience-based holiday ideas created to encourage travellers to consider a more thrillaxing type of holiday.  
- The site’s holiday matchmaker (www.iexplore.com/uk/inspirator) helps people identify their travelling style and then matches them to the type of active holiday that best suits their interests, budget and experience. From river boating to dogsledding, watching the Grand Prix to gazing at the northern lights and family safari holidays to volunteering trips, iExplore helps those who may have opted for traditional beach breaks in the past to try something new and return home with lifelong memories and batteries recharged.
- Launched by TUI Travel’s Specialist & Activity Sector in November 2011, the website provides over 1600 holiday options across every continent with a choice of 120 different activities and 130 destinations worldwide. The 20 brands participating in the new website represent each of the sector’s five UK divisions: Education, Marine, Peak (Adventure), Specialist Holiday Group and Sport and include Crystal, Exodus, Real Gap, Sunsail and Thomson Sport.

About the Survey
- Research (sample size of 2,060 UK adults) was conducted by YouGov 28 – 30 September 2011.