We might be enjoying record-breaking heat and sunshine at home this summer but that’s not stopped millions of Brits heading abroad.
Thousands of families from across Kent have joined the big jet-away – the first proper mass exodus since before the pandemic.
Curious about where people were headed off to, KentOnline spoke to travel experts from holiday-booking website On the Beach.
They crunched the numbers and revealed the top eight places people from the county have gone to or intend to visit.
In reverse order, they were:
8. Costa Del Sol, Spain: Described as having the best climate in the country, Spain’s sunshine coast is home to well-known locations such as Marbella and Malaga. With around 320 days of sun every year, there is no need to wonder why the region is a staple for Kent holiday-goers.
7. Costa Brava, Spain: From a medieval town at Tossa de Mar, to sandy beaches alongside a green national park in Pineda de Mar, the nation’s northernmost costa offers a wide range of landscapes and experiences.
6. Costa Blanca, Spain: Benidorm’s family-friendly attractions and famed nightlife are a key feature of this region, but with other sights such as Alicante’s hilltop castle, and the coastline’s limestone crags serving as a popular climbing location, Costa Blanca has something for everyone.
Lanzarote in the Canary Islands was the fourth most popular location for Kent holiday-goers this year
Ibiza came in third place for Kent holiday-goers
5. Barcelona, Spain: With 4.5km of sandy shoreline and world-famous architecture in the city, Barcelona has a diverse choice of holiday experiences all in one place. Tourists can visit the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya and Museu d’Història de Barcelona.
4. Lanzarote, Canary Islands: Beach resorts such as Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca draw in many tourists to the island, but it has far more to offer, too. Lanzarote has Unesco World Biosphere Reserve status because of its unique moon-like landscape.
3.Ibiza, Spain: Known for its nightlife, it is no surprise this Balearic island made it onto the list. But there is far more to Ibiza than just its nightclubs. The capital, Ibiza Town, is a Unesco World Heritage Site because of its Renaissance military architecture. It has 57 beaches.
2. Dalaman, Turkey: Known as the turquoise coast, the region has coves, bays and long stretches of sand. The Ölüdeniz resort features the Blue Lagoon national park.
1. Antalya, Turkey: Coming in at number one, a huge 33% of Kent’s On The Beach customers chose the largest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast for their summer holiday this year. It boasts 400 miles of white-sandy beaches.
Antalya in Turkey is the most-booked summer holidayDalaman in Turkey is the second most popularThe top five countries Brits travelled to in 2021 (58596106)
The website says it has recorded a 114% increase in bookings to Turkey, year on year.
Chief customer officer Zoe Harris said: “The cost of living is incredibly low compared to the UK and with the pound becoming increasingly strong against the Turkish Lira, it’s now one of most affordable holidays available.
“So, it’s no surprise to see Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations for our customers.
“We’ve seen an increase in bookings to Antalya and Dalaman and with a range of great deals to these destinations, we expect this numbers to only increase.”
