UK tourists are flocking to destinations where the pound is strong against the local currency, according to a survey.

Based on currency sales, Brazil, Vietnam and Hungary are the most-popular spots for holidays, the survey from Post Office Travel Money revealed.

Boosted by the World Cup, the Brazilian real saw a 215 per cent increase in sales in June-August 2014 compared with the same period last year.

Sales of the Vietnamese dong were up 33 per cent while the Hungarian forint rose 26 per cent.

Other countries where sales of the local currency soared this summer included Trinidad and Tobago (up 21 per cent), Jamaica (19 per cent), Croatia (up 13 per cent), and the US (up 12 per cent).

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “In a tough year for the travel industry, it may be no coincidence that destinations which made the biggest currency sales gains during the summer – among them Jamaica, the USA and Hungary – have also seen a surge in sterling’s value.

“This suggests holidaymakers are becoming increasingly canny and doing their homework to see where exchange rates are favourable and living costs are low as well as looking for keenly priced packages before booking.”

He went on: “Looking ahead, sterling’s continuing strength suggests that European short breaks could be popular this autumn, particularly to cities like Budapest with a reputation for value.

“We also expect strong demand for great value Far East destinations like Vietnam and Thailand.”

Weekend’s most frequent flyer

The red carpet was rolled out at Heathrow for a customer who had travelled 18,479 miles in just five days on 12 flights, in an effort to bag himself a British Airways gold card.

Adam Rowland, a 30-year-old online marketing manager from Epping, Essex, decided to take on the challenge and document his experience through an online blog, in which he explained that as well as trying to achieve a British Airways gold card in less than a week, he also hoped to use the trip as a way of overcoming personal challenges, including a “white-knuckle fear of turbulence” and “seeking pleasure in the company of strangers”.

Writing on his blog, he said: “I’d convinced myself that I would never get to gold the long way round and then I found a way that I could. I’d broken out of the boundary that I’d set myself and the challenge was afoot.

“It might not be the most conventional way of spending a long weekend but, then again, I’ve never been that much of a fan of convention.”

Suffering from post-holiday blues

As many as a quarter of workers “throw a sickie” on their first day back from holiday, according to a British survey.

While 25 per cent report in sick, around the same number spend lunch hours daydreaming about their next trip, the poll by foreign exchange company Travelex found.

Male holidaymakers tend to pack on the day of departure while 40 per cent of women start filling suitcases a week in advance.

Based on responses from 2,000 in-work adults who had been on holiday, the survey also showed nearly half admitted to being distracted and forgetful at work when returning from a break.

Also, 30 per cent got annoyed by fellow workers still in holiday mode.

For those travelling, almost 60 per cent feel relaxed as soon as they put their feet up in their destination hotel.