Tag: lifestyle

Royal travel: How many times has the Queen travelled around Earth? SHOCK stats revealed

The Queen is known for having travelled around the world multiple times to meet people from various nations. In fact, she is officially the most travelled head of state of all time. Her Majesty is even known to have had some bizarre travel traditions such as having to include a black outfit in her luggage and always carrying boiled sweets.

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But over the years she has clocked up a huge amount of air miles.

Surprisingly, the Queen has travelled more than a million miles.

In fact, she has travelled 1,032,513 miles which is the equivalent of 42 journeys around the entire length of the Earth.

She took most of her trips in the 1970s when she visited 48 different countries.

These countries included the likes of Canada, Fiji, Malaysia, New Zealand, Barbados and Australia.

In total, she has visited 110 countries which has earned her the right to join the Traveller’s Century Club which represents travellers who have visited 100 or more countries and territories.

Meanwhile, the average Briton will visit just ten countries in their lifetime.

Her longest trip was a 44,000-mile tour of the Commonwealth in 1953.

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The journey was so huge that the Queen took an impressive 12 tons of luggage with her.

She visited Canada the most with 27 trips, followed by Australia with 18 trips.

But there are some places that she has never visited during her official trips.

One of the countries she has never visited includes Egypt.

This is potentially due to security issues and the Suez Crisis of 1956.

Other destinations that she has not visited include Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Albania, Costa Rica, Madagascar and Israel.

In her role as Queen, she also never visited Greece which may be because of her husband Prince Philip’s family history.

But out of all 195 countries, she has only missed out 91.

The Queen’s last state visit was in 2015 to Malta.

But the Queen didn’t fly commercial, despite other members of the Royal Family having to do so.

Back in 2002, Prince Philip explained how the planes that they use have had improvements for their own comfort.

He said: “If you travel as much as we do, you appreciate the improvements in aircraft design of less noise and more comfort – provided you don’t travel in something called economy class, which sounds ghastly.”

The Queen is the only member of the royals who does not have to take a scheduled flight unlike Prince William and Prince Harry and their families.

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Top 10 much-loved films for coronavirus isolation to transport you far away from home

Holidays are not an option at the moment due to the coronavirus lockdown. Fortunately, there are a plethora of films to watch that can help frustrated Britons transport themselves to far off lands – even if only in the mind. Holidu, a search engine for holiday rentals, has decided to rank the best movies of all time that will allow you to escape as far away from home as possible.

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Holidu studied over one hundred films about travel (or that inspire the viewer to travel). These were then ranked according to several criteria: the number of awards obtained at the Academy Awards, the average rating obtained on imdb.com, and the number of times the film was mentioned in travel film lists.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – 2003

While The Lord of the Rings may seem somewhat unconventional for a travel movie list at first glance, they enable the viewer to discover the unique landscapes of New Zealand.

Plus, each of the three films allows you to travel not only to the other side of the world but further afield, to the fantastic world of J. R. R. Tolkien.

With eleven nominations and eleven Oscar awards, it is also the highest-rated film in the ranking, with 8.9/10 on IMDb.

Watch it online: available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime and YouTube from £2.49.

Titanic – 1997

Titanic may not make you want to go on an Atlantic cruise anytime soon, but it’s surely the best portrayal of the anticipation you feel when you’re about to embark on a great journey.

The film won a record number of fourteen Oscar nominations and eleven victories. As is often the case, the IMDb rating does not necessarily reflect the cinematic excellence rewarded at the Oscars, but Titanic nevertheless gets a good score with 7.8/10.

Watch it online: available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £3.49.

Out of Africa – 1985

Set off to discover Kenya and its fabulous landscapes in the footsteps of a strong and independent woman with Out of Africa. Expect amazing safari scenes with lions and giraffes. A story of love, desire for freedom and emancipation led by Meryl Streep in the form of a young girl from Denmark, forced to leave everything to follow her husband and conquer her journey to East Africa.

The film garnered eleven Oscar nominations, seven wins and averages 7.2/10 on IMDb.

Watch it online: available for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £2.49.

Slumdog Millionaire – 2008

Slumdog Millionaire allows you to discover India for a total change of scenery, following Jamal Malik in search of his childhood sweetheart. Experience the vibrant city of Bombay in full expansion, the rural landscapes of deep India and the Taj Mahal all from your sofa.

With eight Oscar awards and ten nominations, Slumdog Millionaire has managed to charm its audience with its unique Bollywood vibe. It also received an excellent 8/10 rating on IMDb.

Watch online: available for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £2.50 and on Netflix.

Forrest Gump – 1994

Forrest tells of his adventures around the world, chasing Jenny and taking us with him. Forrest Gump takes the viewer from Vietnam to the crossing of the United States.

Thirteen Oscar nominations for six wins, Forrest Gump also received the second-highest rating of any film on IMDb with 8.8/10.

Watch online: available for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £2.49.

Raiders of the Lost Ark – 1981

To escape to faraway lands, there is nothing better than to follow the infinite adventures Indiana Jones encounters during his mission. In just one film, he manages to find the love of his life in Peru, unearth a mystical object hidden in the lost city of Tanis, Egypt, have it stolen and imprisoned by the Nazis, escape, retrieve the object and save the world.

A true cinematic feat for the time, Raiders of the Lost Ark was nominated eight times and won four Oscar awards. The IMDb average score is 8/10.

Watch online: available on Amazon Prime or for rental and purchase on YouTube and Google Play from £2.49.

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Dances with the Wolves – 1990

Dances with the Wolves promises a total change of scenery and a complete immersion in a fast-moving America. John Darbard takes you on a journey through time and space for more than three hours of film. He then makes us discover the most incredible landscapes of the Far West and the Grand Teton National Park, where he became friends with the Sioux Indian tribe. Breathtaking panoramas of still immaculate territories, this is the history of America before the United States.

Twelve nominations and eight Oscar awards – not bad for a Western that nobody wanted to produce! On IMDb, it gets an average score of 8/10.

Watch online: available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £2.49.

Inception – 2010

The youngest film in this ranking is a fascinating mind-bending voyage. Escape to Paris, Los Angeles, Morocco and Japan.

The second film with Leonardo DiCaprio in this ranking, which also performed well at the Oscars with eight nominations and four victories. It gets the third-best score among the films in the ranking with 8.7/10.

Watch online: available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £3.49.

Doctor Zhivago – 1965

Doctor Zhivago takes you on a journey across Russia, starting from imperial Moscow, followed by the hard Ukrainian front during the First World War, to finish in the snowy Ural. Throughout the film, you discover icy and majestic landscapes of the Russian winters as you have never imagined them before.

It has been nominated ten times and awarded five times at the Oscars and gets a score of 8/10 on IMDb.

Watch online: available for rent or purchase on YouTube and Google Play from £3.49.

Before Sunrise – 1995

This is the story of two young people who do what you’ve always dreamed of doing but never really thought possible! Make a random encounter, turn all your plans upside down, and spend a day exploring a new destination. This is a romantic film which shows, as a bonus, beautiful pictures of the Austrian capital.

No Oscar for this film, which stands out from the rest of the list by being lighter and easier than the others. However, it gets the well-deserved 8/10 rating on IMDb and will transport you for a while to the beautiful city of Vienna.

Watch online: available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play from £3.49.

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Cabin crew secrets: Flight attendant reveals tips for packing luggage light for flights

Cabin crew spend much of their working life packing bags for their next flight. It’s hardly surprising they soon become pros at what to do and what not to do when it comes to assembling a suitcase. One ex flight attendant has revealed her top tips for holiday packing.

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Heather Poole shared her insight in her book Cruising Attitude.

She explained that travellers have to always be able to lift their own bags.

“You pack it, you lift it” is the “mantra” of cabin crew the world over.

So what is the best way to ensure you pack light and can easily lift your luggage up into the overhead locker?

“What you pack and whether you check your bag or carry on can drastically affect the outcome of your trip.

“Don’t make travel more stressful that it has to be. Play it safe and do what flight attendants do.

“When it comes to preparing for a trip we’re experts. We travel with just a roll-aboard and a tote bag, even when we’re packing for days at a time.”

Poole explained exactly what she does with her clothes and belongings when packing.

“The secret is rolling,” she wrote. “Rolling instead of folding leaves clothes wrinkle-free.

“Our other tricks? I always coordinate my outfits around footwear.

“A comfy kick-around pair for exploring the destination by day and something rest for dinner and a show at night.

“Undies, socks, bikinis, whatever can be wadded up, are inside shoes. No space goes unused.

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“To make things simple, pack black and be done with it.

“So what if you wear the same outfit over and over? That’s what easy-to-pack accessories are for!

“Scarves and jewellery can completely change boring black into something fab.

“And whatever gets left behind becomes the perfect excuse to go shopping for something new!”

Choosing the right bag can also help when your airline has strict rules on hand luggage allowance.

David Scotland, from Outdoor World Direct, advocates travelling with backpacks.

“Large camping rucksacks also offer convenient pockets which can be used for stowing passports, snacks and water so that you don’t have to open your hand luggage on the plane or dig around for your passport,” he told Express.co.uk

“Just be sure to check the dimensions of the rucksack complies with your airline’s regulations beforehand.”

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Clardige’s hotel shuts after 200 years – but opens its luxury rooms to some special guests

The coronavirus crisis has forced hotels across the country to close their doors amid a lockdown effort to try and prevent the spread of the disease. For five-star London hotel Claridge’s, this means shutting its doors for the first time in its 200-year history.

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However, just days after closing, the chain has announced it will remain open and offer out some of its £650-a-night suites to NHS staff working during the pandemic.

From tomorrow 40 doctors, nurses and other key members of staff based in London and working at nearby NHS trusts who can not live at home at the moment will be welcomed into the hotel.

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Claridge’s, based in Mayfair, said it will also provide dinner and breakfast to those who opt to stay.

Paddy McKillen, co-owner of the Maybourne Group, which runs the hotel announced: “Just as it has in the past world wars, Claridge’s has a duty to step up and support the people of London.

“Teams from all our hotels have volunteered to help and support the dedicated NHS workers at this critical time. We are forever in their debt.”

The news is welcomed by those workers who currently live with at-risk and vulnerable people, and so can not return to their normal dwellings.

It also aids workers from other parts of the country who have been drafted in to help with the growing number of cases.

London is currently the epicentre of the UK COVID-19 battle.

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In the city alone there have been more than 700 fatalities.

However, the capital is not the only place where free accommodation is being offered to frontline workers.

Airbnb announced it would be offering homes and places to stay to NHS and medical workers through England.

The move is part of a global push with aims to provide accommodation to 100,000 medical workers.

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While the website usually pairs holidaymakers with places to stay during their travel, Airbnb has switched direction amid the global pandemic.

Working closely with the NHS, hosts with entire homes are being given cleanliness protocols that they must abide by to ensure the safety of their families and the guests they welcome to stay.

Hospitals and NHS trusts are then being helped by Airbnb to sign up relevant staff in need of a place to stay.

Patrick Robinson, Director of Public Policy, at Airbnb, said: “The entire country is behind our heroic NHS and medical staff as they battle the coronavirus outbreak.

“We have made it our priority to stand with the Airbnb community to do what we can to help.

“By working together, we can ensure that frontline workers can find a free and convenient place to stay as they continue their critical work.

“We thank our doctors and nurses across the country from the bottom of our hearts and are grateful to hosts who have already opened their homes during these difficult times.”

The news comes as the global coronavirus rate surpasses 1,000,000.

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Cruises: At least 100 more coronavirus cases confirmed on Eleftherios Venizelos ship

Greek health authorities said on Thursday that at least 120 people have now been recorded as having contracted coronavirus on the Eleftherios Venizelos cruise ship. The shocking numbers come after the vessel recorded an initial figure of 20. The Greek ship, which is part of the ANEK Lines fleet, has a crew of 34 people.

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The ship has not recorded any deaths.

There is also an international passenger list of 349 shipyard workers on board.

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Two crew members on board the vessel, an Indonesian and a Swiss individual have already been transferred to hospitals for further treatment.

Doctors from Greece’s public health agency conducted the tests on all 383 persons on board the cruise liner.

The individuals with the virus on board the ship will remain there until treatment plans are found, according to Skai.gr.

The rest of the patients will then be transferred to secure accommodations for a 14-day quarantine.

The ship has passengers of all nationalities on board, including Greeks.

However, it is not clear what the exact numbers are for each nationality as the information has not been made public.

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It is believed there are not any Britons on board the ship.

The ship was being leased by a Turkish operator to transfer workers to Spain.

Hundreds of technicians and manual labourers who boarded in Turkey were meant to be heading to work in a shipyard in Cadiz, southern Spain.

However, reportedly the ship was refused permission to dock in Spain after travel restrictions were put in place due to the deadly virus.

The ship then allegedly returned to Turkey where it was also told not to dock and so stopped at Piraeus, near Athens last week.

ANEK Lines have been contacted for comment.

The ship was named after Eleftherios Kyriakou Venizelos, a Greek statesman.

The cruise liner is the oldest in ANEK’s fleet and was built in 1984 in Poland.

The ship can hold a maximum of 2300 passengers and 850 cars.

Greece has 1,415 cases of coronavirus and 52 deaths.

It comes as a Briton died on a coronavirus stricken cruise ship which was heading to Florida.

A Briton was among four people who died on the ship which was heading to Florida.

The cruise ship Zaandam has nine people on board who have the virus and 189 more reporting flu-like symptoms.

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Martin Lewis: Money expert reveals the surprising way to get a hotel refund amid covid-19

The impact of coronavirus has left a lot of holidaymakers wondering whether they should apply for refunds or cancel their plans. The travel and service industries have been hit hard by the virus as they are forced to suspend their schedules and let go of staff. But as lockdown measures continue, and more people are left out of work, many will no doubt be seeking refunds.

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Today, presenter Nicky Campbell took questions on BBC 5 Live Breakfast with financial expert Martin Lewis.

A man called Dave called in and asked Mr Lewis about how he can get refunds on his hotel bookings.

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He asked: “We’ve got three short breaks booked later in the year with a chain of budget hotels.

“I just wondered – I prepaid them all – can I claim back or is there anyway I can do that if I don’t go?”

Mr Campbell pointed out that a lot of companies would be financially in their right to give refunds or not give refunds.

He added: “But I’m sure there are many companies who are understanding the exigencies of the situation and doing the right thing.”

Founder of MoneySavingExpert.com Mr Lewis said: “Yes, and equally we have to understand the exigencies of the situation for firms.

“And as someone who has always backed consumers, I understand that at the moment we have to show forbearance too.

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“Look, we don’t know you can’t go yet. When you say later in the year, how much later in the year are you talking?”

Dave replied: “The first break is in May. The second one is in June and the third is in July and that’s for the open golf as well so that may be off, I don’t know.”

Mr Lewis replied: “Interestingly, unless you’ve booked an open golf package, if the open golf is off but the hotel is available then the open golf being off doesn’t mean you can cancel your hotel.

“Assuming it is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund if you cannot go because the holiday is cancelled.

“And the same is true of flights. But enforcing that is becoming the problem at the moment.

“Loads of people are talking to me about flights especially as well as hotels.

“With flights there is actually a specific law – EU regulation 264/2004 – with general cancellations you must expect your money back.

“Now, enforcement is the real difficulty. With flights by the way everyone, the easiest solution on that is their websites which are offering you vouchers.

“If you can take a voucher why not, it will help the travel industry but if you can’t then you’re going to need to call them up which I know is difficult and I know there are long delays.

“They should give you the cash refund. With a hotel they should give you a cash refund too.

“Whether they will or not is difficult, the only real way to enforce that is by going to court and some of these companies clearly are under huge trouble and don’t have the money.”

He then explained the best way to get a refund is through your card company.

He said: “I would probably use the charge back system. If you pay for something that you don’t get then under the Visa MasterCard and American Express rules, if you can’t get a refund then you can go to Visa MasterCard and American Express which you do via your card provider.

“Say you’d like to do a chargeback because you’ve paid for this and you haven’t received it and you should get a refund that way.”

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Airbnb supports NHS heroes with free accommodation amid coronavirus crisis

Temporary rental website Airbnb has stepped forward amid the coronavirus crisis to offer free accommodation for medical workers across the world, including those here in the UK serving the NHS. Already over 1,500 free places have been offered by hosts across the nation to support NHS hospitals and trusts, and other healthcare organisations.

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The initiative is part of a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hopes to connect 100,000 frontline workers with places to stay.

Whether professionals need to relocate to help bolster medical services in other cities or countries or feel they need to be closer to their workplace, the rental site hopes to provide safe and clean accommodation for those in need.

While the website usually pairs holidaymakers with places to stay during their travel, Airbnb has switched direction amid the global pandemic.

Working closely with the NHS, hosts with entire homes are being given cleanliness protocols that they must abide by to ensure the safety of their families and the guests they welcome to stay.

A similar initiative in both France and Italy has already been successful, with more than 8,000 hosts opening up their homes to doctors, nurses, caregivers and other medical support staff.

On March 18 a pilot programme was launched in Italy, one of the main hotspots of the pandemic.

Dubbed “Airbnb For Doctors and Nurses” the programme then expanded into France on March 14 through Airbnb’s Open Homes programme, which usually provides free housing to those in disaster zones.

Now, the initiative has gone globes, calling upon citizens of every nation to help medical staff working round the clock in this unprecedented time.

“Unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response and as the world unites to fight the coronavirus outbreak, we have made it our priority as a community to provide what support we can,” said France’s Airbnb Director, Emmanuel Marill, in a statement.

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“By standing with our host community to offer free accommodation for caregivers and social workers we hope we can help heroic professionals on the front lines as they work to protect us all and save lives.

“Any host who is willing to provide free accommodation can visit www.airbnb.co.uk/d/medicalstaysuk to find out more about the health and hygiene practises necessary, as well as how they can sign up.

Meanwhile, NHS trusts, hospitals or any other UK healthcare organisation can set up an Airbnb account where they can register eligible staff for a place.

Patrick Robinson, Director of Public Policy, at Airbnb, said: “The entire country is behind our heroic NHS and medical staff as they battle the coronavirus outbreak.

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“We have made it our priority to stand with the Airbnb community to do what we can to help.

“By working together, we can ensure that frontline workers can find a free and convenient place to stay as they continue their critical work.

“We thank our doctors and nurses across the country from the bottom of our hearts and are grateful to hosts who have already opened their homes during these difficult times.”

The news comes as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus surpasses 880,000 globally.

In the UK alone there are 29,474 confirmed cases at the time of writing.

However, the UK government has announced a push for more testing across the UK.

The government has set a target of carrying out 25,000 tests a day, though it is not expected to be met until the end of April.

Speaking at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Mr Gove said: “More NHS staff are returning to the front line, and more testing is taking place to help those self-isolating come back and to protect those working so hard in our hospitals and in social care.

“But while the rate of testing is increasing, we must go further, faster.”

Mr Gove added: “We are working with companies worldwide to ensure that we get the material we need to increase tests of all kinds.”

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Revealed: The Royal Family’s all-time favourite hotels – and they’re not all in the UK

Often, researching hotels can be tricky, especially when scrolling though various options online. Some extravagant rooms have names like “presidential”, “executive” or even “royal” suite which are usually perfect for those willing to spend a little extra. But most hotel rooms with those labels don’t have particularly notable guests.

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However, some hotels across the globe have had British Royalty grace their hallways and rooms.

From the UK to Kenya, the royals have made themselves more than comfortable in hotel rooms.

Below is a list of hotels that have housed more than one member of the royal family over the years.

The Stafford, London

This five-star hotel is a British classic located in the heart of London with a concierge service and a revolving door.

Tucked away in the heart of St James’ near Mayfair, it’s perfect for those who want to experience luxury just minutes away from the vibrancy of the West End.

The hotel is frequently used by the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips.

The hotel was originally built as a private residence in the 17th century, belonging to Lord and Lady Lyttelton.

Lady Lyttelton served as a nanny to Queen Victoria’s children.

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Tschuggen Grand, Switzerland

This hotel has been used by Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The three royals used it while attending the wedding of English polo player Mark Tomlinson.

The hotel boasts “award-winning cuisine”, a stunning spa and wellness facilities along with those gorgeous Swiss views.

Carton House Golf & Spa Resort, Kildare, Ireland

This hotel includes Queen Victoria’s bedroom which has been kept in its original state.

The stunning hotel is located just 25 minutes outside of Dublin and is perfect for anyone trying to escape the big city for a glimpse of royal life.

The building is set on 1,100 private acres of sweeping Kildare parkland, and is one of Ireland’s national treasures.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Island

A royal visit in 1966 by the Queen herself saw this little hotel acquire international fame.

Located on the dreamy British Virgin Island, this hotel looks like paradise complete with palm trees, pale blue sea and wooden hotel suites.

The Queen and Prince Phillip visited in 1966 during their royal Caribbean tour when Her Majesty was just 40 years old.

Rutundu inside Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya

Prince William and his wife Kate stayed here while on safari in Kenya.

They stayed at the Lewa Safari Camp inside the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy which has a collection of 12 tents.

But this place is more special to the Royal Family than just a place to go on safari.

After a long journey up to the Rutundu lodge, Prince William decided to propose to Kate.

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Holidays 2021 MAP: Top 10 UK bucket list destinations for next year as Britons plan ahead

Holidays 2021 may seem far ahead given April 2020 has only just started.

But with coronavirus writing off the majority of holidays this year, many Britons are keen to start planning for next year.

In fact, holiday rental marketplace Snaptrip has noted a 30 percent rise in searches for holidays in 2021 since the Government told people to stay at home on March 16.

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So where is everyone hoping to go once the world has finally seen the back of coronavirus?

When members of the British public were asked what destinations they most longed to visit, 45 percent of Britons said they would like to go to the beach or somewhere along the coast.

Meanwhile, 28 percent want to go into the countryside and 17 percent are keen for a city break.

Snaptrip has now revealed the UK’s most searched for destinations as Britons in lockdown plan their dream trips for when it is safe to do so.

The company looked at its internal data to reveal the top search results for UK holiday destinations in the last month.

So where is the most popular place to head for 2021?

Findings showed that found that the Scottish Highlands is the most searched for destination in the UK.

The Highlands are home to vast open spaces – ideal for stretching your legs after months of isolation.

Ben Nevis, the tallest peak in the British Isles can be found in the there.

This was closely followed by the Snowdonia in North Wales and the Yorkshire Dales.

Snowdonia boasts some of Britain’s tallest peaks, most beautiful lakes and has over 200 miles of coastline.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Yorkshire Dales can enjoy 840 square miles of limestone valleys and rolling hills as well as picturesque villages and historic castles.

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Cornwall and the Lake District came fourth and fifth respectively.

The former has some of the best beach beaches in Britain – with Porthcurno beach a particular highlight.

As for the Lake District, 12 of the largest lakes in England can be found there and is perfect for long walks.

Completing the top 10 were the Peak District, Kent, London, Brecon Beacons, and County Antrim.

Matt Fox, CEO and co-founder of Snaptrip.com, commented on the data, saying: “It is a tough time for the travel industry at the moment, with the majority of the British public avoiding making concrete plans until there is more reassurance and stability moving forward.

“However, we have definitely noticed an increased interest over the last couple of weeks towards certain destinations, and we can only surmise that Brits are eagerly planning dream trips to take around the UK when it is safe to do so.

“We are confident that the British tourism industry will bounce back.

“It is looking as though there will be a greater appreciation for the amazing spaces that Britain has to offer and a desire to visit some of the more remote and wild locations within the British Isles once we have put this episode behind us.”

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Pound to euro exchange rate: Coronavirus ‘key driver’ as GBP enjoys first quarter boost

The pound to euro exchange rate has experienced a positive week for sterling. GBP ended the first quarter of the year with a “front foot against the euro,” said experts. The pound even rose above the 1.13 handle for the first time in two weeks – although it has now slumped back to above 1.12.

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The boost came as GBP “continued to benefit from improving risk sentiment across asset classes.”

Of course, coronavirus continues to wield its power over the exchange rate.

Focus remains on the deadly pandemic, making it the “key driver of risk appetite.”

However, attention will also turn to the final manufacturing PMIs.

The pound is currently trading at 1.1233 against the euro, according to Bloomberg at the time of writing.

Michael Brown, currency expert at international payments and foreign exchange firm Caxton FX, spoke to Express.co.uk regarding the latest exchange rate figures this morning.

“Sterling ended the first quarter on the front foot against the euro,” explained Brown.

“It briefly rose above the 1.13 handle for the first time in a fortnight, as the common currency faced headwinds into the final fixing of the month and the quarter.

“Today, while final manufacturing PMIs highlight the data calendar, focus will remain on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – which remains the key driver of risk appetite.”

So what does this all mean for Britons’ travel money?

Yesterday, the Post Office warned that the ability to purchase Travel Money online from the Post Office website and the use of its branch pre-order service are now suspended.

“Both services will remain suspended whilst strict self-isolation measures remain in place,” said the Post Office in a statement.

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  • Holidays: How to plan your next travel during lockdown

It’s not just the Post Office which is closing down services at this time.

Sacha Zackariya, CEO, Change Group International Plc, said: “Along with all other bureaus de change and banks, we have now closed all branches.”

As a result, experts have warned that it is inadvisable to attempt to exchange holiday money at this time – even if you purchased some ahead of a holiday which is now unfortunately not going ahead.

Zackariya explained: “Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to change your foreign currency at this point.

“I would, therefore, recommend holding on to this leftover currency until your next holiday or if it is somewhere you are unlikely to travel again then exchange it at a later date.

“As international travel restrictions are updated and government policies change we recommend checking our website for updates on this situation.”

It’s better news, however, for those with prepaid currency cards.

“For those using prepaid currency cards, they can spend their money back in the UK online or in stores, keep it for their next trip, or change it to a different currency altogether,” Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of Equals (formerly known as FairFX) told Express.co.uk.

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