HomeAway.co.uk Reveals for the First Time What People Really Get Up to on Holiday

LONDON, February 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

We rarely get to see the very private world of other people on holiday. But leading holiday rental specialist HomeAway.co.uk has come up with a novel idea that offers us a brief window into the world of what people really get up to on holiday.

The company equipped 10 families with GoPro video cameras and sent them off to holiday rentals in Europe to capture their adventures and record memories of their holiday fun.  Some were even brave enough to welcome film crews to record their every waking moment for one day of their holiday.

The resulting footage gives us an insight into what people prefer to do on holiday and how holiday habits have changed over the years.  Now HomeAway.co.uk has shown these authentic holiday experiences to millions of people nationwide through their first ever TV advert on Really TV, part of UKTV's network of TV channels. One family will also be able to see photos of themselves on the side of London black cabs.

The families' experiences show a world away from wind-breakers and Thermos flasks or lying by the pool all week as more people seek new and life-enhancing experiences on holiday. Rather than booking a hotel for their summer holidays, the families opted for holiday rentals instead, from a Tuscan villa overlooking rolling hills to a farmhouse in France with private pool and garden. Holiday rentals are an ideal accommodation option for families, larger groups and even couples, as they offer more flexibility and privacy, plus private facilities, like swimming pools, games rooms, fully equipped kitchens and gardens.

Instead of simply lying by the pool, sipping cocktails and going slowly pink, each family tried new activities such as cooking in Italy, cycling in France and yoga in Spain and pushed the boundaries of the conventional summer holiday.

The initiative was also a novel experience for the families taking part who have never filmed themselves so intently before on holiday. One of the holidaymakers didn't even know she was going to be filmed until the day she left as her partner had kept it a surprise for her 40^th birthday.

Matthew Chapman who was behind the birthday surprise and stayed with his partner at a romantic trullo in Puglia, Italy said, "Our holiday was a surprise for my partner's 40^th birthday, so when we were chosen to take part in the campaign it was the icing on the cake. It is great knowing that we are on the TV at the moment and having our '15 minutes of fame'. It's something we will never forget, and when we saw the ad for the first time it was actually quite emotional and immediately brought back the memories of our holiday."

Marianne Gardiner, who stayed with her family in a four bedroomed villa in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, said, "We both work full time and understand the importance of being a family with no outside pressure for a couple of weeks a year. This experience has reinforced the importance of our own space and freedom in our holiday home and we are super-excited about family and friends seeing the results on TV and Facebook."

The films have also given holiday home owners a unique insight into what their guests do on holiday, giving them an unexpected opportunity to anticipate their needs. Owners Moira and Keith Brown, who own the HomeAway.co.uk trullo chosen by Matthew Chapman said: "As owners we never get to see other people having a happy fun-filled holiday - but now we can, how wonderful is that?"

Erica Chang, Senior Regional Director of HomeAway UK, said, "The families who took part in this unique initiative are proof that you don't have to stay in a five star hotel to have a five star holiday. They reveal how holidays are evolving and that people want to try new and exciting experiences. It is great that the memories of their holidays will live on through these films and we hope they enjoy being HomeAway.co.uk celebrities."

To find out more about the HomeAway.co.uk new brand campaign, 'We Found a Place to...' where the videos were used and view the individual family videos, visit HomeAway.co.uk/wefoundaplaceto.

View all the HomeAway.co.uk campaign videos on the company's Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/homeawayholidays.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The holiday rental specialist HomeAway.co.uk has been connecting homeowners with holidaymakers since 1996, when it was then known as Holiday-Rentals.co.uk. It rebranded in 2009 as 'HomeAway Holiday-Rentals' and on 26th September 2012, the domain name changed from http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk to http://www.homeaway.co.uk. The website lists over 410,000 properties in the UK, Europe and all over the world.