Brits Abroad – The Stats

The following statistics are from the 2011 ABTA report and the stats represent between spring 2009 & spring 2010.

Crime:

• 2,012 Brits were arrested in Spain
• 1,367 were arrested in the USA
• 831 were Hospitalized in spain
• 5,930 deaths of British Citizens abroad
• 27,272 had their passports lost or stolen (6,618 in Spain, 3,268 in USA, 2,400 in France)

Top Destinations; (In 2009)

1. Spain (11.6m)
2. France (9.8m)
3. Republic of Ireland (3.5m)
4. USA (3.1m)
5. Italy (2.6m)
6. Germany (2.1m)
7. Greece (1.9m)
8. Netherlands (1.8m)
9. Portugal (1.8m)
10. Turkey (1.6m)

3 Alternative Romantic Destinations to Consider

With Valentines Day just around the corner here are some alternatives to your Paris, Rome & Barcelona’s.

Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) 

Tucked away in the Caribbean Virgin Gorda is still somewhat undiscovered and that makes it all the more beautiful. Only one airline (Air Sunshine) flies there from San Juan, Saint Thomas & Vieques. You can try asking someone for a lift on a boat from a neighbouring Island, worked for me! You must visit “The Baths”, an enchanting beach with hidden caves and pools that you can explore and snorkel. It’s also right next to Necker Island (Richard Branson’s private Island) so if you’re lucky you might even spot some celebs staying there.

Verona (Italy) 

Verona was the setting for the most epic love story of all time…Romeo & Juliet. Catullo is the nearest airport and you can fly direct from London, Madrid & Brussels among others. Steeped in Roman history you can find Amphitheatres, Cathedrals & Castles without the mass of tourists like Rome. It’s also close to Lake Garda and easily reached by bus from Verona.

Lake District (England)

The Lake District is England’s biggest national park and was carved by glacial erosion which provides dramatic landscapes and picturesque scenery. There are many cottages tucked away which makes this an ideal romantic getaway. It’s the perfect destination if you want relaxation in natural surroundings and unspoilt views. The nearest airport is Blackpool although Manchester is 2 hours away by car.

Europe’s Most Enchanting Football Grounds

1. Camp Nou (FC Barcelona) 

Whether or not you like Barcelona, you can’t deny they have a wonderful ground with an amazing atmosphere. Built in 1954 and taking 3 years to complete the total cost of the build was around 173 million Euros. Today it’s capacity stands at 99,354, with plans to expand put on hold due to the current economic crisis. The Camp Nou isn’t just a football stadium it has also played host to some of the world’s great music performers over the years including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Madonna. No trip to Barcelona is complete without a visit to the Camp Nou.

2. Old Trafford (Manchester United) 

Copyright Brand New Eyes Photography

Nicknamed “The Theatre of Dreams” you can feel the pre game buzz and excitement before you even step foot in the stadium as you pass the many fast food bars and stalls as you approach Sir Matt Busby Way and pass by the Old Trafford Cricket ground but it’s when you walk up the steps into the stadium that it really takes your breath away. Built it 1909 and only taking a year to complete it was designed by Scottish Architect Archibald Leitch at a quoted cost of £60,000 that later rose to £90,000. A German air raid in 1941 destroyed much of the stadium during world war II but was rebuilt and play resumed in 1949. The stadium holds the current Premier league record attendance at 76,098 set against Blackburn Rovers in 2007. Old Trafford will host some of the Olympic football matches including the women’s Semi-Final and hospitality packages for all fixtures are available from the official club website.

3. San Siro (AC Milan & Inter Milan) 

The San Siro hosts both Italian giants AC & Inter Milan and if there’s something that’s certainly not lacking it’s atmosphere. The Italians, much like most things, are very passionate about their football. It has a current capacity of 80,018 and was built in 1925 and took a year to complete. The average attendance for the clubs has exchanged ever since it was opened with Inter being higher in the last 2 years but AC the previous 2. A great experience to add to your itinerary of a trip to Milan. A free bus from the Metro station to the stadium is available.