Are we all just looking for a summer of love?

The summer is in full swing and that can only mean one thing – it’s time for a holiday.

But it’s not sun, sea and sangria on the top of everyone’s list of holiday requirements.

According to a new survey, Lincoln’s holiday-makers polled in the top 10 most likely to have a steamy holiday romance.

The poll of 3,000 people by Maxibon ice-cream also revealed that one in two Brits actively seeks out that sleazy foreign fling at top holiday romance hot spots such as the Spanish islands, the Greek islands, mainland Spain and France.

However, with 47 per cent of Brits choosing to ‘staycation’ this year in an effort to beat the recession, that summer loving is just as likely in Skegness as it is in Ibiza.

Richard Bell (24), a graphic designer living in Lincoln’s city centre, explained how a surfing holiday in Newquay ended up taking a romantic turn.

“We drove down in a removal van with the intention of partying all week and roughing it, just for a laugh,” he said.

“When we got there, I bought an ice cream and dropped it straight away. This girl bought me a new one and it went from there. We ended up surfing for the rest of the day and partying at her beach house.

“The further away from home you are the more relaxed and care-free you become, and the more you feel free to pretend or create a persona of someone you’re not.

“But bringing the holiday romance home would taint it in some way. The whole point is to escape from the ties of your normal day-to-day life.”

For a romantic few, some holiday romances go on to outlive the suntan, with one in 20 Brits claiming that they’ve met their long-term partner on holiday with half of these ending in marriage.

However, this wasn’t the case for Joe Merriman (22), a student at the University of Lincoln, who broke off a holiday romance two weeks after returning home.

“I met a girl in Cornwall and I think we both liked the idea of the romantic liaison rather than each other,” he said.

“After a few days I started to notice certain things I wasn’t sure about but didn’t mind when looking through summer-tainted glasses.

“The knowledge we only had a certain amount of time together cancelled out any pressure. The positive outlook you have on a holiday means you can see any girl or boy as a short-term prospect.”

According to the poll, Mr Merriman is one of the 11 per cent of Brits who say that the romantic holiday cliché is the best part of their summer getaway.

“I’d definitely have another one. They’re the best part of the holiday sometimes,” he said.

“Just be happy-go-lucky and don’t expect too much. Enjoy the spontaneous magic for what it is and don’t expect it to stick – unless you’re prepared to work hard for it.”