Stansted weekenders name top destinations

Paris is the top European city for short breaks among holidaymakers passing through Stansted airport, new research shows.

It was named ahead of Rome, Barcelona and Dublin by passengers on the Stansted Express.

New York was the most popular non-European destination for short breaks, followed by Beijing in China.

For spa breaks, Paris and Rome again featured among travellers' preferred destinations alongside Prague and Zurich, while the English destinations of Bath and Harrogate were also frequently mentioned.

London, Milan, New York and Paris were top for shopping breaks, while those looking for a rural weekend retreat preferred the Alps and Tuscany, along with the Lake District, Wales and Scotland.

Groups of young women heading off on hen nights favoured Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Dublin.

For stags, while also picking out Dublin and Paris, Amsterdam was their preferred destination and London also featured.

Gary Finlayson, route director at Stansted Express, said: "The low-cost airlines have revolutionised travel – especially the short break market with people taking more holidays than ever before."

He added: "We wanted to understand more about where weekenders preferred to go and why they chose certain destinations."

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