Welcome to our official TripAdvisor UK blog. This is where we aim to share our thoughts, quirky updates, new research and anything else we hope you will find useful and interesting.

Monday 18 July 2011

Burning Brits

TripAdvisor survey reveals Brits yet to heed sun damage warnings

Despite extensive warnings about the risks of sun damage, British travellers are still failing to adequately protect themselves on holiday.  In a large-scale poll of over 9,000* travellers by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, nearly half of respondents  – 45%  - claim to have experienced sunburn at least once while on holiday in the last year, with a fifth (20%) admitting their sunburn was severe or moderate.

“These results clearly demonstrate that Brits still aren’t taking sun protection seriously enough,” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.  “With nearly half of us getting burnt on holiday and one-fifth being badly or moderately burnt, we need to heed the warnings – wear high factor sun cream, apply it often and try to avoid the midday sun as much as possible.”

The NHS recommends wearing at least SPF 15 or higher, but many other experts suggest SPF 30.   A wide-brimmed hat will help keep sun off the face – one of the most common areas afflicted by skin cancer – while good quality sunglasses are necessary to protect the eyes from UVA and UVB rays.  The NHS also suggests reapplying sun cream every two-three hours and after going in the water.

*Poll carried out on 9,096 TripAdvisor.co.uk users between 1-13 July 2011

Friday 15 July 2011

Live it up like a lottery winner

As Colin and Chris Weir from Scotland celebrate their record-breaking Euromillions win, no doubt a holiday of a lifetime will be somewhere on their to-do list.

“If you’re not a lucky lottery winner, these hotels are some of the top-rated, top-dollar properties listed on TripAdvisor,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “For those of us not expecting tens of thousands of pounds extra in our pay packet next month, TripAdvisor also lists some much more affordable hotels, such as our best bargain hotels at www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice

Below are some of the world’s most luxurious hotels for all types of holidays. 

Beach bling in St. Bart’s: Up to £2,400
Le Toiny in St. Barts, with suites starting from over a thousand pounds per night, is TripAdvisor’s top-rated hotel on the famously luxurious island favoured by A-listers.  With a focus on privacy, Le Toiny offers secluded villas with spectacular ocean views and some with private pools.  As one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Of all the most luxurious places all over the world that my husband and I have been fortunate enough to stay at, no place compares to LeToiny.”

Sumptuous skiing in St. Moritz: up to £2,000 per night
Chic, elegant and exclusive, St. Moritz has long been associated with luxury ski holidays.  The Carlton Hotel, one of TripAdvisor’s top-rated hotels in St. Moritz, lives up to its legendary reputation. With outstanding service and beautiful views from all over the hotel, The Carlton is as it’s best in the spa – enjoy the incomparable panoramic views of St. Moritz while relaxing in the pool.  With average room rates ranging between about £1K and £2K, this hotel is not for the faint of heart, but as one TripAdvisor traveller said, “Absolutely  perfect in every way”.

Sexy suites in Las Vegas: Up to several thousand per night
Sin City does luxury suites like no other and one of Las Vegas’ most famous hotels, The Palms, leads the way with its ‘Sky Villas’.  The ultimate in luxury, room features include steam rooms, exercise rooms, private elevators and outdoor terraces, but the most outstanding is the glass-walled outdoor Jacuzzi, many storeys up, where guests feel like they’re floating above the famous Strip. One TripAdvisor traveller said they were, “treated like kings”. Suites are available from less than £100 a night, but for the Sky Villas expect to pay into the thousands.

Deluxe city break in Dubai: Up to £2,000 per night
A popular destination to splash the cash, Dubai is home to one of the world’s most iconic hotels: Burj Al Arab.  Soaring to a height of 321 metres, the hotel houses a range of incredibly luxurious guest rooms, ranging from the one bedroom suite to the royal suite, which is on the 25th floor and features its own cinema and private elevator across its 780 square metres.  One TripAdvisor traveller said, “From the moment we entered the Burj al Arab, we were treated like visiting royalty”.  Average room rates range from about £700 to £2,000 a night.

Extravagance in Paris: Up to £1,135 per night
The City of Light, Paris often plays host to A-listers, royalty and high-ranking politicians and has a number of hotels up to the challenge.  The Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, with average room prices ranging from £730 to £1,135, is one of Paris’s top three hotels according to TripAdvisor travellers.  The property is steps away from the Champs Elysees with rooms that feature beautiful Parisian views from their private terraces.  As one TripAdvisor traveller said, this “is the ultimate Paris experience”.