Get us out of here! 3.3m will flee Britain this Christmas to escape bad weather...and reality TV

Research reveals that a record 3.3million Britons will spend Christmas abroad this year to escape everything from the weather to the X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

The number of travellers jetting overseas for the festive season is expected to increase by 11 per cent on last year's figures.

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Industry experts believe the main reason to get away during Christmas is to find the sun - and after the miserable summer, that has become an even bigger incentive this year.

However, it seems we are also trying to get away from everything about home that we find depressing- whether it be spending time with relatives we don't get on with, or another dose of dull TV.

Last year, around three million Britons went abroad for the festive season. But bookings so far indicate a double-digit rise this winter, according to the study by Cooperative Travel.

A spokesman said: 'After a year of bad weather, rising interest rates and wall-to-wall reality TV, people just want to celebrate Christmas somewhere else this year rather than at home.'

Top place for the exodus is Spain, up 19 per cent this year as many go to stay in their own holiday homes or to see friends and family.

In second place is the U.S., particularly-Florida, and up 6 per cent. Fastest-growing destinations include Cyprus, with a 40 per cent increase and Egypt with a 31 per cent rise in visitors for Christmas, particularly to all-inclusive resorts

such as Sharm El Sheikh. India and Tunisia are also experiencing sudden increases in visitors who are more likely to want to get away from the whole festive atmosphere at home and experience a different culture, said the Co-op. But there are also significant rises in bookings for both Finland and Austria for the opposite reason - with travellers wanting somewhere that has snow and fir trees and a traditional festive feeling.

The biggest factor in the annual December and January exodus, however, is the weather at home, said Co-op Travel managing director Mike Greenacre.

He added: 'The feedback from our customers is that, having missed out on a hot summer, they are desperate to get some sun over the winter.'

Some want to get away from Christmas altogether and others want to experience it full-on, but not in the UK. Mr Greenacre said: 'Christmas in the U.S. is huge, even more commercial than at home and for kids, this can be very exciting.

' In Spain, everything's much more traditional and the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 is actually a much bigger celebration, with the three kings bringing presents for all the children.'

Meanwhile, record numbers of us are heading to New York to shop. The UK is the city's top international travel market, with more than 1.1million visiting in 2006.

The typical Brit spends an average £112 per day and total spending reached £785million last year, the city's marketing and tourism organisation NYC & Company said. Director Christopher Heywood said he expects to see an increase in numbers caused by the favourable exchange rate.

'The savvy traveller who's coming here for the shopping can really get a bargain,' he added.

'They're coming with one suitcase and leaving with two or three.'