Skinny dipping and celebrity haunts are the top fantasies for a dream holiday... and 25 per cent of people think about their holiday daily after booking

  • A new survey shows 32 per cent of people want to swim naked on holiday
  • Celebrity watching and horse riding at sunset make up the top three
  • Not arguing with family members beats making love on the beach  

Stripping off and leaping into the ocean as gentle waves lap all around and the sun sets over a deserted beach. 

Who wouldn't fancy that as a fitting end to a holiday? Now new research by an online travel agency has revealed skinny dipping is the top holiday fantasy for British tourists.

According to the poll, 32 per cent of Britons want to go skinny dipping... while 30 per cent would prefer to find themselves in a resort full of celebrities.

Skinny dipping: The top fantasy for a wonderful holiday - although probably not en masse...

Skinny dipping: The top fantasy for a wonderful holiday - although probably not en masse...

Horseback riding on the beach at sunset was the third most popular daydream (26 per cent) in a list of the top 10 fantasies that Britons have when they book a holiday abroad.

Part of an ongoing study into the holiday preferences and habits of people in the UK, the study carried out by sunshine.co.uk questioned 2,347 Britons aged 18 and over, all of whom had been on holiday abroad at least once within the past 12 months.

Or would you rather hang out with celebs by the pool? (pic shows Mel B and Kelly Monaco at Planet Hollywood)

Or would you rather hang out with celebs by the pool? (pic shows Mel B and Kelly Monaco at Planet Hollywood)

The sound of hoofprints galloping along a deserted beach at sunset proves to be a dream for a quarter of Brits

The sound of hoofprints galloping along a deserted beach at sunset proves to be a dream for a quarter of Brits

TOP 10 BRITISH HOLIDAY FANTASIES

1. Go skinny dipping with partner / lover   32%

2. To be in a resort full of celebrities         30%

3. Horseback riding at sunset                    26%

4. Join the mile high club                           20%

5. No arguments with family members      19%

6. Holiday romance with a stranger           17%

7. Romantic candlelit dinner                      15%

8. Make love on a beach                            14%

9. Being rescued by a lifeguard                 11%

10. Being automatically upgraded               8%

That old chestnut, joining the mile high club, is clearly still a dream for many, with a fifth of people, or 20 per cent, voting for that as their top fantasy. Having a holiday romance with a handsome/beautiful stranger was voted for by 17 per cent.

Interestingly, 19 per cent said their dream holiday would mean 'no arguments with family members for the whole holiday' - a wistful imagining for some, while a romantic candlelit dinner or even making love on the beach were lower down at 15 and 14 per cent. 

All respondents were asked 'What do you get most excited about when you think about going on a holiday abroad?' to which the most common responses were 'relaxing' (31 per cent), 'meeting new people' (27 per cent) and 'exploring a new destination' (25 per cent).

All respondents were then asked to state how often they fantasised about their holiday between booking it and leaving for their destination. The most popular responses were 'once or twice a week' (53 per cent) and 'daily' (24 per cent). 

Travelling light.: But would you leave your favourite bikini on the beach while you swim?

Travelling light.: But would you leave your favourite bikini on the beach while you swim?

Almost a quarter of respondents (23 per cent), claimed to have had a holiday fantasy be realised on a previous trip abroad, and of these, more than half (57 per cent) were female.

Furthermore, 39 per cent of respondents admitted that they got their holiday fantasy inspiration from movies/films, with a further 20 per cent admitting that they got their inspiration from books that they read.

Chris Clarkson, Managing Director of sunshine.co.uk, said, 'It's interesting to hear some of the top holiday fantasies that Britons have, and to see some less risqué answers in the list like getting through a holiday without family arguments. 

'Skinny dipping is one of those situations, like joining the mile high club, that is a bit taboo. 

'A lot of people have no doubt thought about doing it, but if it came to the crunch, would they actually do it, or would the fear of being caught put them off?' 

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