Brits swap sangria for skyscrapers as trips to the Mediterranean fall

With 2025 seeing some of the hottest and sunniest months on record, new data from Virgin Media O2 reveals its prompting Brits to rethink their getaway plans, with the Med’s most popular travel destinations falling down the wish list.

Stateside over siestas 

Spain, long the go-to for many British holidaymakers, has dropped by 9% year-on-year as a likely international holiday destination, and Greece (-7%) and Portugal (-5%) have also slipped down the rankings. In their place, long-haul destinations are heating up as many look further afield for their next summer escapes.

The USA now outranks France (14%) in popularity for trips this summer, seeing 17% of Brits head stateside. While Canada (9%), the United Arab Emirates (8%), Thailand (5%) and Australia’s (5%) popularity remains steady.

Holidays heating up  

A sunnier‑than‑usual summer at home is partly to blame: 40% now say UK weather doesn’t influence whether they jet abroad. And with nearly one in five not yet planning a getaway during the rest of 2025, the door’s still open for a last‑minute surge to Europe’s beaches.

Meanwhile almost a third of Brits (30%) plan to spend more on holidays and trips over the next three months, with the most popular last minute overseas destinations including Spain (38%), Greece (25%), and Italy (23%).

Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2 says, “As Brits explore new holiday spots beyond Europe, we’re proud to keep them connected wherever they may roam.

“O2 remains the only major mobile network to offer inclusive EU roaming as standard, and for those venturing further afield, our updated Volt offering gives customers the freedom to choose their plan and enjoy inclusive roaming in up to 123 destinations worldwide, including the US and Thailand. From last-minute trips to far-flung adventures, we’re committed to keeping our customers connected without the worry of hidden fees, so they can focus on enjoying their time away.”

Sun, sea and strong signal  

Whether Brits are holidaying in the USA, on Safari in South Africa or getting some winter sun in Dubai, the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate has Brits covered. The bolt-on is O2’s biggest ever inclusive roaming zone covering 75 destinations outside of Europe.

O2’s Plus Plan and Ultimate Plan, now available to choose as part of a Volt bundle, offer customers the chance to roam in 75 destinations or up to 123 destinations respectively, at no extra cost.

Virgin Media O2 remains the only major network in the UK to still offer inclusive EU roaming as standard, up to 25GB, meaning customers can travel to destinations all over Europe and use their data, calls and texts just as they would in the UK.