TRAVEL POLL: IRISH AND BRITISH Lonely Planet travellers have voted the US their favourite country - and the one they are most likely to visit next.
The US came in first ahead of Australia, which was the travellers' favourite every year since the annual Lonely Planet Travellers' Pulse Survey began in 2004.
The survey shows that Spain is the second favourite spot among Irish and British Lonely Planet travellers, up from fourth place last year. Australia came in third while Greece and the UK are new entries in the top 10.
Old favourite Thailand dropped down to eighth place, after being the third most popular next destination in 2007.
According to Lonely Planet travel editor Tom Hall, the question of where people are travelling to next is always an interesting one.
"The United States is obviously becoming increasingly popular due to the exchange rate of the dollar, making what was once an expensive country to travel in a lot more accessible."
The Travellers' Pulse Survey 2008 also included, for the first time, questions about the use of technology on the road, particularly mobile phones.
It showed that 84 per cent of British and Irish respondents said they always, or sometimes, take a mobile on their travels.
Seventy-eight per cent said they did so to be able to "stay in touch occasionally", while a quarter said they are "always connected". Eighteen per cent used their phone to get practical information. Half of those who didn't take a mobile cited roaming costs as a major concern, and 55 per cent said that they "don't see the need".
According to Hall, technology is allowing travellers to connect with their destination and its people, giving them a better time on the road.
"If you're in the middle of Peru and can't find a guesthouse, you can search the web on your mobile and, in no time at all, find a room for the night, or you can download a phrasebook to your phone so that you can chat with the locals."
The Travellers' Pulse Survey 2008 was conducted between March 12th and April 17th on www.lonelyplanet.com and through websites and e-newsletters from 14 partner organisations, including STA Travel.
The survey is one of the largest of its kind, with 17,500 respondents from 132 countries. Approximately 4,500 of those were from Ireland and Britain.