Travel News and Holiday Deals: Which Country is the Happiest in Europe?

From dancing pensioners to the most difficult place to drive, there’s been plenty of travel-related news to catch up on this week.

Here’s our rundown of what’s been going on in the world of travel in the last seven days.

Does he like Moon-days?

He’s always wanted to save the world, but now renowned singer and campaigner Bob Geldof is set to leave the planet altogether as he takes one giant leap to becoming the first Irishman in space. The former Boomtown Rats singer will be making the trip of a lifetime at the end of 2014 (or the start of 2015) by travelling 64 miles above Earth at speeds of 2,200 mph. Fancy following in Bob’s footsteps? Well, you’ll need a spare £64,000 to do so – enough to burn a black hole in anyone’s bank account.

Mime-ma-mia!

In a bid to attract more tourists to the area, a group of pensioners from a remote village in Italy decided to spice things up a little bit. With a permanent population of just 19, local residents in the mountain village of Castrovalva created a video that has since become a YouTube sensation, dancing and miming to Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff’. We think if this doesn’t attract more tourism, then surely nothing will. You can watch the video here:

Everyone’s Happy in Grin-mark

If you’re feeling a bit down, a trip to Denmark might be just the place to lift your spirits. Voted the happiest country in the world by the 2013 World Happiness Report, Denmark out-smiled the others on factors like life expectancy, GDP and social support. In fact, it seems the whole of Scandinavia is pretty happy; with Norway, Sweden and Finland all topping the list. As for ~~Grim~~ Great Britain? We’re down in position number 22. Cheer up!

Italy’s Driving Us ’Round the Bend

Recent research conducted by YouGov has found that 32 per cent of British drivers feel Italy is the most difficult place to drive. This may be due to the country’s narrow winding roads and unfamiliar terrain, while it can also be tough to adapt to driving on the right-hand side of the road. Other countries that grind our gears in the driving department include Russia, Greece, France and Spain.

Identity Crisis

Do you take on a whole new persona the moment you step on-board the plane? If so, you’re not alone. Just over half of Brits questioned admitted to experiencing personality changes during their travels – 68 per cent claimed to be more relaxed on holiday, while 44 per cent said they’d be more inclined to try new things. Psychologists have divided this so-called Holiday Personality Syndrome (HPS) into four different types: the commander, the inspirer, the idealist and the performer. Which one are you?