A recent survey of 2,412 British holiday bookers has revealed that one in three has been influenced by where their favourite celebrities have vacationed.
The research was carried out by flight comparison site jetcost.co.uk. The five destinations that had the most star quality were:
1. Ibiza (21%)
2. Dubai (18%)
3. Marbella (17%)
4. America (16%)
5. Barbados (7%)
One in ten respondents also confessed to having booked a trip in the hope of actually bumping into a celebrity.
However, of these only 15 per cent said they had spotted one, while almost half (45 per cent) said they would be too shy to go up to them anyway.
What about European travel bookers? Their love for famous people was no less. Out of 1,000 people, these were the number-one places they wanted to travel to in the hope of seeing the object of their desire:
1. Italians – London (Wimbledon) (17%)
2. Germans – Cannes (16%)
3. Spanish – St Tropez (12%)
4. French – the Hamptons (6%)
Antoine Michelat, co-founder of jetcost.co.uk, said: “We all have a small desire to show off to our friends, whether that’s from having the best holidays or having a selfie with a celebrity that we know will make everyone green with envy.
“We’re surprised by just how many people choose their holiday destinations based upon where celebrities have been known to holiday in the past – it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be there when you are, but you are able to see where they’ve been and try to visit the same places.
“Although it seems there are a few super-fans that will book holidays on the back of a rumour or comment that a celebrity will be there during that time.
“Whilst there’s nothing wrong with living vicariously through your favourite celebrities, wanting their lifestyle and bank account, we’d always advise people to only book what they can really afford and think about whether they will actually enjoy it.”