The site says that based on search data from January to May 2012, most Brits will be hunting down some sunshine on the beaches of Tenerife and Alicante. Looking at searches for breaks away during June and July, Southern coastal Spain was the top trending destination for summer with locations there doubling in popularity since 2011.

Searches for Malaga also increased by a huge 79 per cent this year compared to 2011 and the appealing locations of Dalaman and Faro were the next most popular places searched for.

Tenerife is a top choice for Brits this summer

The rest of the world seems to be proving less appealing for cash strapped Brits. General interest in summer travel to locations in Asia has decreased since 2011 and similarly there was an overall drop in search share to long haul destinations in North America such as New York, Los Angeles and Orlando.

Crissy Field
Crissy Field, a former military airfield located south of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Presidio, was restored in 2001 and offers wide, fully-accessible walking and cycling trails between the Marina Green and Fort Point. Offering stunning views of the bridge, Crissy Field offers picnic areas and a small beachfront popular among families. Along Crissy Field, visitors can stop for lunch at the Warming Hut near Fort Point, the Beach Hut Cafe near the Marina Green, or check out the House of Air, a trampoline center in one of the repurposed buildings.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 2.4 miles from the Marina Green

Fort Point
For an up-close view of the bridge, visit Fort Point, a Civil War-era brick fort accessible via the Marine Drive lot at Crissy Field. Although Fort Point never had any military action, the Golden Gate Bridge’s chief engineer Joseph Strauss redesigned the bridge to preserve the fortress as a “fine example of the mason’s art.”
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 1.2 miles

Baker Beach
Stretching a half mile below the rugged cliffs along the Presidio’s western shoreline, Baker Beach offers spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Accessible by public transportation (Muni 29-line), the beach offers a picnic area with tables and grills, lots of parking and restroom facilities. Note: the northernmost end of Baker Beach is frequented by clothing-optional sunbathers.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 1.2 miles

The Golden Gate Bridge

China Beach
Located in the Seacliff neighborhood, China Beach is a tiny, sheltered pocket of sand with a picnic area, a sunbathing deck, restrooms, cold showers and unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Note: the beach is only accessible by a steep, paved drive or natural stairway of approximately 100 steps.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 2.0 miles

Lands End
The Eagle’s Point trailhead of Lands End near Lincoln Park offers jaw-dropping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Near the popular hiking trail, which is also a short walking distance to the Legion of Honor, visitors can walk along a paved sidewalk near the 17th hole of the Lincoln Park Municipal Golf Course. Here, there are several benches and photo opportunities to reflect and capture the beauty of the bridge.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 3.0 miles

The Golden Gate Bridge by night

Glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge
For slightly obstructed, but nonetheless dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, visitors can enjoy views from several, unexpected vantage points.

Lover’s Lane, the Presidio
As the oldest foot trail in the Presidio, Lover’s Lane ,a half-mile, pedestrian friendly, paved trail, begins at the Presidio Gate at the corner of Presidio and Pacific Avenues in Presidio Heights. As you stroll down the trail, protected by majestic eucalyptus groves, you’ll get a Hollywood-esque glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge which will eventually disappear as you continue down the trail toward the Presidio’s Main Post. Map
Distance from the Golden Gate Bridge: 2.2 miles

De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park
Located in the east end of Golden Gate Park, the Hamon Education Tower Observation Deck at the de Young Museum offers dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as spectacular panoramic views of the city and Pacific Ocean. Touring the museum requires admission, but visiting the observation deck, open daily until 4:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 2.9 miles

Library at the University California, San Francisco – Inner Sunset
Keep quiet here. Located at 530 Parnassus Avenue in the Inner Sunset, the library at the University of California, San Francisco, offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge from its main reading room.
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 4.1 miles

Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill
Coit Tower, a slender white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill, provides 360-degree views of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate Bridge. The most-spectacular views can be seen from the observation deck, which is reached by elevator and requires tickets ($7). Map
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 4.9 miles

Golden Gate Bridge through the Waldo Tunnel
As San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge are hidden from the northern approach of U.S. Route 101 by the Marin Headlands, drivers going through the Waldo tunnel, the unofficial name of the tunnel on U.S. Route 101 between the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito, can enjoy the first view of the city and the bridge upon exiting the tunnel’s southbound bore. This view may be one of the most dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Map
Distance from Golden Gate Bridge: 3.1 miles

The statistics, which study the correlation between occupation and ownership, reveal that the top five professions that own a caravan are teachers, engineers, company directors, police officers and civil servants.

Commenting on the findings, Chris McDonald – managing director of The Trading Floor said: “There are many stereotypes associated with caravan owners but our figures reveal that there is a real cross section of people who have fallen for the charms of caravan ownership.

“Every summer approximately two million caravans take to the roads and although the majority of people who own a caravan are retired, our study of caravan owners that are still in employment, has shown that a surprising range of people have opted for the freedom a caravan can provide.”

Jon Dale from The Camping and Caravanning Club adds: “The Club really does have a diverse range of members, but their common goal is the same – to enjoy the benefits of caravanning on so many levels.

“Those caravanners who are still in employment use their holidays to get closer to nature and get back in touch with who they really are. We think it’s all about a truer kind of wealth because it’s not about the riches you own; it’s about the emotional richness in our lives.”

TOP 10 PROFESSIONS OF CARAVAN OWNERS

Teacher
Engineer
Company Director
Police Officer
Civil Servant
Nurse
Builder
Factory Worker
Sales Assistant
Mechanic

Club 55

For more information, click here.

The mysterious Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall – whose 200 acres include a lush sub-tropical jungle, ancient woodlands and a fascinating wildlife project, came out on top according to reviews posted on Qype.co.uk over the last six months. “This place is amazing. Jurassic Park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family,” wrote one reviewer.

The Mysterious Lost Gardens of Heligan

The list also features established favourites such as Kew Gardens and Kensington Gardens in London. However they were beaten to second and third place respectively by the less well-known Horniman Museum & Gardens in Forest Hill and Edinburgh’s world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden.

“It’s fantastic to see the Lost Gardens of Heligan recognised by Qype reviewers. It is one of the most interesting, original gardens in the UK and their conservation projects have clearly made a big impression with their visitors,” commented Richard Dennys, Qype’s chief marketing officer.

Qype’s Top 10 UK Gardens

1) The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Austell, Cornwall

2) Horniman Museum & Gardens, Forest Hill, London

3) Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh

4) Kew Gardens, Kew, London

5) Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London

6) Belfast Botanic Gardens, Belfast

7) St Ann’s Well Gardens, Hove

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham

9) RHS Garden Wisley, Woking

10) Bodnant Garden, Colwyn Bay

Simultaneously, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a statement pointing out that the problems created by UK Border Agency at Heathrow, while bad for Britain’s image and economically damaging, should be viewed in the wider context of the problems caused by issuing visas.

Research conducted by ETOA reveals that hundreds of millions of pounds are lost to the UK economy every year because the visa process is so alienating that applicants give up and decide to go elsewhere.

- The UK tourist visa costs £78, which currently offers two countries: the UK and, courtesy of a recent waiver scheme, Ireland. The Schengen visa costs €60 and offers 26 countries.
- The Schengen visa application form is three pages long; that for the UK is eight pages.
- The UK visa form has to be completed in English. The Chinese do not require their visa forms to be completed in Chinese characters; the Russians do not insist on Cyrillic
- Prospective visitors have to submit fingerprints as well as a photo, make themselves available for an interview at a location that can be hundreds of miles from where they live. They may have to wait for as long as three weeks for a decision
- ETOA’s survey of travel agents and tour operators showed that 26 per cent of Indian and 30 per cent of Chinese clients applying for UK visas gave up rather than endure this time consuming and humiliating application.
- France now attracts over 50 per cent more visitors from India than the UK.
- In 2009, Switzerland joined the Schengen Area. Indian visitor arrivals were at 132,000 in 2008, by 2010 they stood at 197,000; this was growth of 49 per cent. In the same period, the UK numbers rose from 359,000 to 371,000: a growth rate of 3 per cent.
- Since the UK introduced visas for South Africans in 2009, visitor numbers have declined by 24%. In the same year visas were abolished for Taiwanese travelling to the UK. Visitor numbers have since increased by 39 per cent and revenue by 155 per cent.
- Visit Britain’s figures show that just three per cent of Chinese visitors to Europe in 2010 obtained a UK visa, two per cent obtained both UK and Schengen visas and 95 per cent obtained just a Schengen visa

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA said: “Images of queues at Heathrow damage the UK; they make the prospect of a visit here tiresome and unattractive. The damage done by this is major, but is short term: it can be fixed quickly. The damage done by our visa regime takes place thousands of miles away, where the clients are, in the origin markets. These markets, such as India, China and Indonesia, are of enormous long term importance to our strategic growth as a destination. They are being lost.

The current government is making efforts to improve the speed and experience of obtaining a UK visa. Given the benefits to jobs and investment, this should have the highest priority.”

Fast forward to today and few would agree with Gertrude. Indeed The New York Times no less, ranked Oakland as number five on its 45 places to go in 2012 list ahead of big name North American locations like New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

The Times sung the praises of the city’s “sophisticated restaurants” and “upscale cocktail bars” which, it claimed, have helped turn “once gritty Oakland into an increasingly appealing place to be after dark.”

We asked Lindsay Wright, PR & Communications manager at Visit Oakland, for the lowdown on five dining destinations – from $5 food trucks to Michelin-Star restaurants  – that have helped put Oakland on the map

Oakland city centre

Brown Sugar
Head to Brown Sugar Kitchen in West Oakland, a neighborhood that is home to industrial arts studios and shipping ports, for some authentic southern cuisine. Chef Tanya Holland is somewhat of a celebrity chef here in Oakland, recognised for her buttermilk fried chicken and cornmeal waffle combo.  http://brownsugarkitchen.com/

Commis
Chef James Syhabout was named Best New Chef in 2010 by Food and Wine Magazine, largely due to his Michelin star restaurant, Commis, on Piedmont Avenue. This upscale eatery serves only five-course, prix fixe dinners. Just this year, Syhabout opened Hawker Fare, a more casual Asian eatery and a welcome addition to the Uptown neighbourhood
http://www.commisrestaurant.com; http://www.hawkerfare.com/.

Flora
Uptown Oakland has become a destination for entertainment and the arts in the Bay Area, but a number of culinary hot spots have also contributed to the popularity of the district. Try Flora for an experience reminiscent of the Prohibition Era. The Art Deco building is a fantastic option for creative cocktails and house-made charcuterie  http://floraoakland.com/.

Pizzaiolo and Boot & Shoe Service
Oakland restaurants and locals take pride in utilising sustainable ingredients, even for cuisine as simple as a pizza. Pizzaiolo and Boot & Shoe Service, two sister restaurants in Oakland, specialise in eclectic, wood-fired pizzas with toppings that may include rapini, nettles, spring onions and capers. http://bootandshoeservice.com/; http://www.pizzaiolooakland.com/.

Wineries
Many visitors to Oakland may also be surprised to find that there are a number of urban wineries here. Head to JC Cellars or Urban Legend Cellars to get a taste of the local wines produced right here in Oakland: http://www.jccellars.com/; http://www.ulcellars.com/. You can also tour all of the wineries by bike with East Bay Winery Bike Tours, who offer urban wine tasting on two wheels: http://eastbaywinerybiketours.com/.

Thanks Lindsay! For more on what to do in up and coming Oakland, check out www.visitoakland.org

The government’s ‘holiday at home’ advertising campaign, led by Visit England and regional tourist boards, appears to be failing in its efforts according to research by prepaid currency card provider, Caxton FX.

A survey of over 2,000 UK adults, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the currency experts, found that the campaign has had no effect at all on more than two thirds (67%) of Brits, who still plan to holiday abroad this summer.

A further 13 per cent of people admitted that they hadn’t seen the campaign at all and, for one in every 25 people, the advertising campaign has actually made them less likely to holiday in Britain. Whoops!

“In spite of substantial investment, it seems that Brits are still committed to holidays abroad and with the pound currently very high against the euro, holidays abroad can offer good value – especially for those people who would prefer to avoid the Olympics this summer!” commented James Hickman, managing director, Caxton FX!

The research also looked at the factors that would put a holidaymaker off visiting a particular location. Across the UK, political unrest affecting a travel destination, such as the recent riots in Greece, were cited as the biggest reason not to visit somewhere.

However, there were noticeable regional variations in other factors that would influence holiday-making decisions. Brits in the north east are the biggest sun-seekers, with a quarter (33 per cent) citing unseasonably bad weather just behind a bad review from a friend (35 per cent) as a resort turn-off, much higher than the UK average of 26 per cent.  People in the West Midlands are the most cost-conscious, citing cost of accommodation (36 per cent) and flights (30 per cent) as the two top deterrents (after political unrest – 54 per cent). Londoners, Scots and the Welsh also appeared to be frugally minded, with costs of flights featuring second in the lists for these Brits. The East Midlands has some of the most tech-savvy people, with almost half (43 per cent) stating that a poor online review would be their biggest holiday turn-off; followed by a poor review from friends and family (35 per cent).

Here at CD-Traveller towers, we want to know where YOU will be holidaying in 2012. Has the government’s holiday at home campaign been a help or a hindrance in persuading you to explore, what’s on your doortstep? Let us know by posting a comment below!

The survey also reveals that a further 25 per cent of holidaymakers, are not happy to be kept waiting longer than 45 minutes. However, with security measures increasing in the lead up to the Olympics and staffing problems at major UK airports causing immigration disruption, Brits will have to prepare for the longest delays ever.

For nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of those polled, security comes first and they don’t mind how long it takes; while an hour is the limit for 13 per cent of HolidayExtras.com customers.

“People might not want to be kept waiting, but unfortunately they don’t have much choice. The airport experience can be quite stressful at the moment, and with the Olympics approaching it doesn’t look like it’s going to get much better over the summer.  It’s as important as ever to plan ahead and minimise the time you actually need to be at the airport,”


 said Andrea Clayton, head of insurance at HolidayExtras.com.

Comparing exchange rate data of 75 currencies from this time last year (18 April 2011), the destination where the pound goes furthest is Hungary, where travellers can now gain 18.49 per cent more Forint to the pound.

But many of those looking to reap the benefits of this currency boost continue to counteract this bonus by using ATMs abroad or gaining their currency from amore expensive place than necessary. A staggering £130 million could be needlessly lost by Brits heading to the eurozone who exchange their money at higher rates than need be.

The latest ChangeGroup.co.uk data shows that one of the most expensive ways to exchange money is to do so while abroad through an ATM via a debit or credit card. By doing so for £150, the recipient would loss €8 through fees and inflated exchange rate per holiday – however, by planning ahead and buying currency online, a holiday maker would gain €178.2 – because of the better exchange rate this year, €13 more in a travellers pocket.

Sacha Zackariya, CEO at ChangeGroup, said: “Getting the best exchanging rate for your money is vital as part of making your money go as far as it can however it can be baffling for holidaymakers. It’s so easy to get it wrong, but just as simple to get it right. Plan ahead and buy your euros or other currency online – it’s by far the cheapest way with as much as €16 being gained by simply buying online, enough for dinner out.”