Interest in Holidays to Torquay Soars Thanks to Popular TV Series 'The Hotel'

    LONDON, ENGLAND, April 07, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Following the success of the Channel 4 comedy-documentary, 'The Hotel', Expedia has seen a +500% increase in searches for holidays to Torquay in 2012, compared to the same time last year.

The remarkable spike in searches could be attributed to curious Brits seeing whether holidays to this seaside town would live up to the amusing happenings of the fly-on-the-wall documentary. The Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay, where the series is set, has also seen record breaking increases with tens of thousands of consumers visiting the hotel's page on Expedia.co.uk since the same time last year.

Andy Washington, Managing Director for Expedia in the UK & Ireland, says "Torquay has really been put on the map by the show and it's fantastic to see so many people experiencing the town for themselves. The UK has a wealth of attractions, but sometimes it takes a documentary like 'The Hotel' to highlight them.

We've seen a significant rise in UK bookings on expedia.co.ukwith millions of UK travel bookings last year, but it's particularly remarkable to see such a strong peak in interest in one specific region. With events like the Queen's Jubilee, and major sporting events it's likely many of us will be holidaying at home and we expect to see a significant increase to other UK beach destinations as well".

Here, Expedia.co.uk's local travel experts offer their top tips on the best places to visit in Torquay, and the finest hotels to stay in if you are looking for an alternative to the show's location.

The Best Torquay Experiences

Abbey Sands
Abbey Sands is one of the UK's most popular beach destinations for families and couples alike. The thriving marina hosts a variety of shops and cafes and the sandy beaches are perfect for a spot of relaxation. If you're thinking of staying near Abbey Sands, Expedia offers a variety of hotels including:

The Abbeyfield Guesthouse for just GBP130 per person - Collect double nectar points
Four nights bed and breakfast in the Abbeyfield Guesthouse for just GBP130 per person, based on two sharing a double ensuite. Situated in Torquay's English Riviera neighbourhood, this guesthouse is close to Torre Abbey, Abbey Sands, and Living Coasts. Also nearby are Torquay Museum and Meadfoot Beach. For reservations, visit www.expedia.co.uk or call 0330 123 1235.

Babbacombe Beach
With stunning views and a rich history, Babbacombe beach offers the ideal break for those looking for a quiet spot. If you're thinking of visiting Babbacombe beach, Expedia offers a variety of hotels including:

Babbacombe Hall for just GBP106 per person - Collect double nectar points
Four nights bed and breakfast in the Babbacombe Hall for just GBP106 per person, based on two sharing a double room. Situated in Torquay's English Riviera neighbourhood, this bed & breakfast is less than 1km from Babbacombe Beach and the Torquay Museum. Also nearby is Torre Abbey. For reservations, visit www.expedia.co.uk or call 0330 123 1235.

Kents Cavern
Kents Cavern is one of the most popular activities in Torquay. Kents Cavern is one of Britain's most important Stone Age Heritage sites. See spectacular rock formations and wonderful prehistoric finds that give a fascinating insight into human habitation some 500,000years ago. The caves are enjoyable for the whole family and open all year round. If you're thinking of staying near Kents Cavern, Expedia offers a range of hotels including:

The Palace Hotel for just GBP240 per person - Collect double nectar points
Four nights bed and breakfast in The Palace Hotel for just GBP240 per person, based on two sharing a standard room. Situated in Torquay's English Riviera neighbourhood, the hotel is close to Kents Cavern, Torquay Museum and Babbacombe Beach. For reservations, visit www.expedia.co.uk or call 0330 123 1235.

The Marina Restaurant
Expedia recommends the Marina Restaurant in Torquay for a great meal for the whole family. Offering stunning views and delicious food, the restaurant looks out across the harbour and uses local produce in all of their dishes.

For more ideas or to book your hotel, simply visit www.expedia.co.uk.

About Expedia

With access to 145,000 hotels around the world (including boutique hotels as well as major hotel brand names),over 300 airlines along with specialist tools to help refine these choices, Expedia.co.uk helps travellers to find and create the trip that best matches their individual requirements. Expedia.co.uk partners with loyalty programme Nectar in the UK enabling its customers to collect 200 Nectar points on flight only, hotel or car hire bookings and 1000 points on package purchases through www.expedia.co.uk.

Expedia.co.uk is part of the Expedia Inc. brand portfolio. The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers the opportunity to reach a highly valuable audience of in-market travel consumers through Expedia Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for some of the world's leading airlines and hotels, top consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates through Expedia Affiliate Network.

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