How to travel to the places Brits are dreaming of visiting

“### Ready, set, dream: #ImagineWithExpedia

Let’s face it, 2020 hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. Between cancelled trips, border restrictions and working from home, we’ve all been left craving a little (or a lot) of wanderlust this year. Sinking our toes into Cancun’s beaches or exploring the quaint villages of Santorini feel like distant dreams, as we’ve had to shift our travel agendas in 2020.

In fact, our annual vacation deprivation* study reveals holiday deprivation levels were already on the rise in the UK even pre-COVID. So, to combat this, we’re asking you to dream: If we said, ‘imagine the places you could go‘, where would your mind take you?

While you get pondering, here is some fuel to kick-start your fantasies; these are the top places that Brits are dreaming of:

### Portugal

Although Portugal is off the table for the moment, you can still transport yourself to the streets of its capital with this Lisbon Street Art virtual experience, to explore four different neighbourhoods of this beautiful city.

### Dubai

Did you know you can enter the Burj Al Arab, head to its helipad and fly over Dubai to Burj Khalifa all virtually?

### Turkey

Escape the crowds and explore the beauty of Hagia Sophia from the comfort of your own home with this self-guided virtual tour.

### Greece

Get up close to Ancient Agora before learning how to dance the Zorba!

### Ireland

While Ireland is currently on the UK Government’s travel corridor list, those more comfortable with virtual travel can explore the Guinness Storehouse, the impressive Library at Trinity College and stunning Cliffs of Moher, all from home!

### Italy

Get a taste of Italy by indulging in an interactive cooking experience with Italian Chef ‘Gabi’, who reveals homespun recipes learnt as a child from ‘Nonna’, his Roman grandma. You can also ‘walk off’ the calories on a tour of Rome’s Colosseum.

### Netherlands

Did you know you can visit the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum without even leaving the house?

If you are ready to stop dreaming and start doing, it’s important to note that travel will be a lot different to what we’re used to. To help you prepare for and navigate travel in a ‘new normal’, here are some tips for those planning to travel:

1. As a first step, always check the latest travel advisories for your origin and destination before booking and departing. With things changing every day, check if the destination is accepting travellers and if there are any entry requirements or quarantine periods required, this includes entry back into your country.

2. Find flexible stays on Expedia.co.uk by filtering for “free cancellation” or “reserve now, pay later”, and make sure to choose a refundable room type. While the non-refundable options usually offer the most attractive deal, it’s better to be safe and have the options in case any changes need to be made.

3. Make note of any deadlines to cancel for a full refund – in many instances you can cancel up to 24 hours before check-in but for some vacation homes, the deadline could be two weeks prior

4. Try to avoid restrictive airfares that prohibit changes or non-refundable rates. Any savings you might see in the short term won’t be worth it if you end up needing to change your plans

5. Do some research around the local attractions, activities and restaurants or cafes of your chosen destination. With each region moving at its own pace, it’s good to double check what places and activities might still be closed or what safety requirements are in place.

6. For travellers concerned with health and cleanliness, you can now use the use the “Enhanced Cleaning” filter on Expedia.com to narrow search results on properties implementing enhanced health and safety policies.

7. For travellers jumping on a plane, we recommend you arrive at the airport earlier than normal to account for the new social distancing measures and processes being implemented. Generally, some of the changes you can expect include; contactless check-in and baggage drop off, reduced food and entertainment services inflight, and some airline may encourage passengers to wear face masks during the flight.

For those who are packed and ready to go, find your ideal getaway with Expedia’s flexible stays or indulge in a staycation for a nice change of scenery.

### Where are you dreaming of going?

*Vacation Deprivation: Expedia first commissioned Vacation Deprivation in 2000 to examine the work-life balance of Americans. In 2005, Expedia began comparing behaviors across countries. Now in its 20th year, Vacation Deprivation has grown to encompass 19 countries. The latest survey was commissioned from October 22-November 15, 2019 on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research firm. The survey was conducted online among 11,217 respondents across North and South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels.

^Based on Expedia search data for a 30 day booking window from the last 30 days (24 August – 23 September 2020)“