A third of British holidaymakers travel abroad without knowing anything about the country they are visiting, a new study reveals today.

Seven out of ten tourists admit they regularly travel without the recommended medical jabs, any travel insurance or even the correct visas according to the 'Holiday Habits' study from Norwich Union.

And it appears that thousands of clueless tourists are missing out on what should be the most enjoyable weeks of the year simply through a lack of planning.

The study of the holiday habits of more than 2,000 adults shows that 89% of Brits have had a holiday spoilt, often by factors that could have been avoided with a bit more planning.

In fact, some last minute holidaymakers admit to travelling to the Caribbean during the hurricane season or turning up at snow-less ski resorts too early or late in the season.

Norwich Union's holiday habits study also shows:

• A quarter of people spend under two hours deciding where to travel to - less time than it takes to check in at the airport.
• One in ten people book a holiday with no research about the resort or country they will be visiting.
• Nearly a quarter of lazy Brits admit to not knowing the language spoken at their holiday destination when travelling abroad. And a third of people don't even learn the basics of how to say hello, please, thank-you and goodbye when holidaying in a non-English speaking country.
• 'Experiencing another culture' is seen to be the least important consideration when booking their holiday and 29% have travelled without knowing the local customs of their destination.
• 42% of people admit their holidays could be improved if they took more time to research and plan them.
• A third of young people feel pressured into going on more exotic and exciting holidays.

Frankie Nicholson, product manager for Norwich Union Travel said: "With the increase in last minute offers and popularity of bargain holidays on the internet, more people are booking their holidays in a rush.”

“This means many don't have the time to find out key information about their destination, have the correct jabs or courses of medication, some even fail to arrange travel insurance before leaving the country.”

"A holiday is the highlight of the year for many people. Taking the time to plan your trip in advance can significantly increase the chances of having an enjoyable experience"

Norwich Union is a partner in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 'Know Before You Go' campaign, which is aimed at helping British nationals, stay safe when travelling overseas.

Additional information on travel destinations is available at www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo