It probably comes as no surprise, but it’s now been confirmed: Ireland top the table for fantasising about escaping it all and jetting off.

Thoughts of an impulsive trip away are more frequent for the Irish, at 5 times per week, than for those from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, where the combined average was 3.6 times a week.

Over half of Irish participants, (56 per cent) in a recent survey carried out by lastminute.com cited escaping the bad weather as the main reason for taking a spontaneous trip, with seeing new places just barely topping the poll at 57 per cent.

However cash-strapped Ireland takes top spot in Europe for being unable to afford an instant escape with over two-thirds of participants (68 per cent) claiming this as the main reason they couldn’t realise their fantasies.

Those aged 18-25 and 35-44 were most likely to cite finances as a deterrent - 76 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

 

Romantics at Heart 

It's a shame we’re stuck at home, as it seems we’d really like to show our other halves a good time abroad. The Irish beat all other Europeans in the romance department with 32 per cent craving an impulsive getaway ‘to spend some romantic time with a partner’. The Irish even upstaged the Italians and the French in their trips for love’s sake with just 23 per cent of participants from these countries choosing this as a reason for a trip away.

 

Ireland’s top 5 reasons for taking a spontaneous trip:

1.    To see new and different places (57 per cent)

2.    To escape the bad weather (56 per cent)

3.    To spend some romantic time with a partner (32 per cent)

4.    I have not been away in a long time (31 per cent)

5.    I am exhausted and need some rest (28 per cent)

 

Percentage of European respondents who can’t afford a spontaneous trip : 

1.    Ireland (68 per cent)

2.    France (60 per cent)

3.    Italy (55 per cent)

4.    UK (54 per cent)

5.    Spain (52 per cent)

6.    Germany (40 per cent)

 

Thinking about getting away from everything and going on a spontaneous trip anywhere in the world in an average week: 

1.    Ireland 4.92 times

2.    Italy 4.8 times

3.    Spain 4.57 times

4.    UK 3.66

5.    Germany 2.5

6.    France 2.41

EU Average: 3.66