Let’s be honest, we would all like to have more vacations in 2022. After two years of lockdown and travel restrictions, everyone wants to kick back, relax and escape reality a bit.

Indeed, since the UK abolished pre-departure testing earlier this week, bookings for the holidays started to return to pre-pandemic levels. Jet2holidays alone has seen bookings increase 150% since the announcement.

An easyJet poll also found that Britons plan to take more vacations than usual in 2022. 55% of 2,000 consumers surveyed said they plan to take more trips this year, while a third of people respondents intend to spend £ 1,000 (€ 1,198) more than usual on their holidays, suggesting that holidaymakers are keen to make up for lost time.

But with so many vacations on the horizon, where are people planning to go? Here are the top seven destinations for UK holidaymakers according to the travel association ABTA.

7. Germany

Of the 2,000 people polled, 8.2% said they were planning a trip to Germany in 2022. And with travel restrictions for the UK relaxed on January 4 – meaning fully vaccinated Britons don’t no longer need to show a negative test or quarantine on arrival – now much easier to visit.

Travel from From UK to Germany by train is faster these days too, so if you want to reduce your carbon footprint this is a great destination.

6. Portugal

In sixth place is the ever popular Portugal. 8.7% of those polled said they were planning a vacation to Portugal in 2022, with Lisbon and the Algarve likely being the top destinations. In 2018, British tourism to Portugal was estimated at € 598 million, so the country will certainly be keen to welcome tourists again.

5. Greece

Greece and its many islands came in fifth, with 10.1% of the shares. Popular with vacationers for its sun, sand and delicious food, Greece’s travel restrictions were the most Googled by the British in 2021.

In fact, the UK has sought Greece’s travel restrictions more often than theirs, meaning a sunny Greek vacation was definitely on mind at the heart of the lockdown.

4. Italy

Classic romantic Italian vacations are also proving to be very attractive, with 16.4% of people wishing to visit Italy in 2022. The Italian tourism industry has made a big splash. Advocacy for more state aid in December, when the country received only 60 million visitors in 2021, against 100 million before the pandemic, this is therefore encouraging news for the sector.

Why not read our guide to find out how explore this beautiful country like a local?

3. France

Just across the English Channel, France is ideal for a quick minibreak, so it’s no wonder that it placed in the top three. Whether you want to discover the City of Light or head to the ultra glamorous Côte d’Azur, there is something for everyone, and with travel restrictions for UK citizens are set to ease soon, now is the perfect time to start looking.

The country is also ideal for Brits who want to travel in a more sustainable way, as it is easily accessible by Eurostar or ferry, meaning you won’t have to fly.

2. United States

The United States was the only long-haul destination to make the top seven, suggesting that many Britons want their vacation spots to be quick and easy to get to. 18.1% told ABTA they were planning a trip to the United States, with New York and Florida being the most popular places. Here is our guide to the best cities to visit this year.

1. Spain

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Spain takes the top spot with a whopping 29.3 percent saying they want to visit the country this year. Brits have flocked to Spain for decades, but if you want to avoid expat hotspots and have a more authentic experience, why not check out our local guide to the country here.