Holiday dreaming?

March is the month we dream most about flying off to somewhere hot, says new research
With Britain enduring Arctic weather conditions new research has shown that March is the month in which we dream most about flying off to somewhere hot.

A study by travel website HolidayPlace.co.uk found the average Brit spends 13 minutes a day during March dreaming about sunnier climes. That’s a total of 6 hours and 43 minutes across March - more than any other month of the year.

The survey of 1,000 people found December was the month we spend the least time thinking about being overseas – just 3 hours and 37 minutes across the month or seven minutes each day.

But it seems as soon as Christmas and New Year are out of the way it seems we begin dreaming about escaping the harsh British winter. In January we each spend 6 hours and 12 minutes dreaming of the sun – that’s an average of 12 minutes every day. Reality bites in February when our time spent dreaming of escape falls to just 5 hours and 8 minutes each – that’s 11 minutes for each day. March is the peak with holidays being planned and booked and many of us finding our thoughts turning to the sunshine. It then dips slightly in April to 5 hours in total or 10 minutes each day, lifts a little as we approach the summer with 11 minutes spent each day during July and August, and then starts to fall again as we approach Christmas.

A spokesman for HolidayPlace.co.uk said the current cold snap had led to a spike in web traffic and enquiries. He said: "Many people do dream of escaping the British winter and the prolonged cold spell we have been experiencing seems to have increased this trend.

"Many of us decide on our holiday destination during March and the Arctic Spring may be encouraging many more to take the plunge and book their getaway earlier than usual.”

Time spent thinking about sunnier climes

  • January 6 hours 12 mins
  • February 5 hours 8 mins
  • March 6 hours 43 mins
  • April 5 hours 0 mins
  • May 5 hours 10 mins
  • June 6 hours 0 mins
  • July 5 hours 41 mins
  • August 5 hours 41 mins
  • September 4 hours 30 mins
  • October 4 hours 8 mins
  • November 4 hours 0 mins
  • December 3 hours 37 mins