Dream holiday is the quiet life

Britain today: Trends revealed in transport, traffic and getting away from it all

Holidaymakers prefer peace and quiet to parties, and settle for sightseeing rather than sunbathing, says a survey out today.

Asked what they looked for in a foreign holiday, nearly three in four UK tourists opted for peace and quiet.

Even teenagers liked to get away from the madding crowd, with 54 per cent of them saying they wanted a bit of tranquillity on their trip. From travel insurance company Home & Overseas, the survey of nearly 1,000 adults revealed:

74 per cent wanted peace and quiet on a foreign holiday and the same number wanted to meet new people;

More than two in three wanted adventure, with nearly all teenagers (94 per cent) keen on this, but only 44 per cent of over-60s opting for thrills;

66 per cent favoured seeing historic sights and ruins, with the young the least keen on this;

And sunbathing was a popular pursuit for 58 per cent, especially with teenagers.