Cape Town named "Best City" in the 2013 Telegraph Travel Awards

Cape Town was named "Best City" in the 2013 edition of Britain's biggest travel survey, the annual Telegraph Travel Awards. More than 75,000 people took part in the survey and voted for their favourite travel destinations and companies, making Telegraph Travel Awards probably one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging travel surveys in the world.

The Telegraph lists tons of reasons why Cape Town won the award. Here is a selection:

• you can surf the Atlantic
• you can climb mountains
• you can eat in Michelin-starred restaurants
• you can stay in both historical and super-hip accommodation
• you can indulge in wine tours and still find time to relax on the beach (with or without penguins).
• 2014 World Design Capital
• no shortage of designer accommodation
• Cape Town appeals to all ages
• Adrenalin-seekers get their kicks
• Gourmands relish the vineyards just outside the city and the fresh food
• the buzz of the Biscuit Mill market
• the cosmopolitan bars in Long Street
• the cool fashion boutiques and craft shops
• Cape Town's clubs
• an English-speaking destination that offers sun, sea and culture in one place – and all just 11 hours’ flight away, with no jetlag

Win a trip of a lifetime with HostelBookers travel survey

HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialist, are now conducting their third annual travel survey following the huge success of the 2010 study.

Completing the survey customers will not only share their experiences from trips around the world, but will also be in with a chance of winning round the world flight tickets up to a maximum value of £3,000 supplied by Round the World Experts (a division of Flight Centre). A cheque worth £1,000 will be also awarded by HostelBookers and will only be administered once the flight element of the prize has been booked.

David Smith, COO at HostelBookers, states: "This survey represents a great chance for travellers to have their say and also give feedback on why they go travelling as well as what makes a trip perfect. We want to find out more about our customers, their needs and the change that might happen in their way to travel in order to keep maintaining the great service we deliver".

Please note that tickets must be booked at least 4 weeks before travel and before 31st December 2011. Travel must be fully completed by 30 September 2012.

Find out more about the HostelBookers survey and how to be in with the chance of winning at www.hostelbookers.com/survey/

HostelBookers unveils travel behaviour trends

Back in September 2010, HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialist, launched its biggest ever travel survey. It was a great opportunity for customers not only to share their travel experiences but also to be questioned about their preferred mode of transport and their attitude to love and sex while abroad.

The results are in and reveal the travel trends from over 15,000 respondents: ‘Sightseeing and culture’ (80.7%) is the main reason customers choose to travel followed by ‘city break’ (47.0%) and ‘visiting friends and family’ (44.6%). Travellers have upped their accommodation budget: In 2009, 28% of them spent over $/£/€30 compared to 40% spending the same in 2010, but it also appeared people are feeling the pinch as the number of them taking ‘no trips’ increased from 2.4% in 2009 to 5.4% in 2010.
It also emerged that the internet remains the number one resource for our customers, whether booking hostels online or keeping in touch with friends and family. Over 86% of those surveyed check the internet at least twice a week on holiday. To respond to this demand for web access, many of our hostels now supply guests with Wi-Fi and internet kiosks.
The survey results show that the English (8.3%) followed by Australian (8.2%) and Italians (7.8%) make the best lovers. Bottom of the list for the second year in a row are the Irish.
More travellers are enjoying nookie in dorms, 16% in 2010 up from 14% in 2009. The results also show an increase in the number of people taking precautions and having protected sex on their travels: 92% practiced safe sex on holiday in 2009 but last year this figure rose to 94%.
David Smith, COO at HostelBookers, said: “Last year we carried out the biggest ever travel survey to find out more about our customers and their needs in order to maintain the great service we deliver. It is interesting to see that people consider hostels the best choice for atmosphere, unbeatable prices and that they offer better city centre locations than many hotels.” For further information please go to http://www.hostelbookers.com/survey-results-2011/