Posted on March 01, 2011 by Fiona Hilliard

Spain: Winter sun-seekers' favourite escape

Sunday night’s Oscar wins may have put a spring in the step of the British public, but it was car hire holidays in Spain that were keeping most people cosy over the winter months.

Once again, Spain was the most popular winter sun destination for 25% of British holidaymakers who took a fly drive holiday during December 2010 and January 2011.

According to a recent study of British holidaymakers, Palma de Majorca has claimed the top spot for the third year running, with most UK holidaymakers taking car rental holidays in the island capital over the chilly winter months.

And if further proof was needed of the Great British love affair with Spain, Malaga and Alicante managed to grab the second and third place spots in the league table.

Spain wasn’t the only country to offer frost-bitten Brits a warm welcome.  According to the study, the US was the second most visited country.  Fly-drive destination Orlando in Florida came in at fourth place, proving that many of us need a fairytale pick-me-up to take the edge off the winter blues.

Meanwhile, the home of Aphrodite, Paphos in Cyprus has moved up to fourth position in the rankings proving its burgeoning popularity with year-round sun-seekers.  Portuguese resorts just about made the top ten.  The city of Porto finished in ninth place.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is Casablanca.  This far-flung destination may conjure up romantic notions of Bogey and Bacall, but Casablanca fell completely short of the top ten this year.

There was however some good news for the Caribbean Island of Martinique.  It made an appearance in the rankings for the first time by finishing in tenth place.

1. Palma de Majorca

2. Malaga

3. Alicante

4. Paphos

5. Orlando

6. Granadilla

7. Las Palmas

8. Sanford

9. Porto

10. Lamentin