To most blokes a holiday without their partner is a licence to drink themselves stupid, jump in the sea naked and sleep with other women, a national survey has revealed. Girls, on the other hand, want to lie on the beach and get a tan. Fact or fiction? Helen Mead went on to the sun-kissed streets of Bradford to find out.

WHEN THEY break free from their other half, lads and lasses' holiday plans could not be more different. Nearly 60 per cent of men aged 18 to 29 would drink themselves unconscious, 35 per cent would strip off and go skinny dipping and a quarter would pick up a girl and spend the night with her.

But for women, ample supplies of sun tan lotion were seen as a more important holiday accessory than condoms, said the findings of a Gallup poll for 2wentys, specialists in holidays for people under 30. And only seven per cent of females said they would cheat on their partner while away.

The survey revealed that men on holiday have almost no self-control - 11 per cent actually go on holiday intending to have a one-night stand, and nearly 30 per cent expect to have between three and five romances. Fellas go away to live it up and get drunk, whereas women are more likely to lie on the beach, then hit the shops.

"That's true," says Vanessa Craig, 27, a cash collector from Shipley. "I would go for the sun and sand, to get a good tan and completely recharge my batteries."

She added: "Of course I would go out socially with the girls, but only to have a laugh." She said it would not enter her head to cheat on her boyfriend, who "will remain nameless!" and is convinced that he would not do that to her.

"I think if you're going to do that sort of thing why go abroad? You could do it here. We have been on holiday separately and go for the same reasons."

Anna Tummons, 24, and David Collett, 25, of Buttershaw, were not so sure about how each other would behave. "I'd go for the sun, and drinks and a laugh with the girls, but I don't know whether I'd trust David with the lads. He'd be following their lead," said Anna. David denies it: "I could control myself. I would be going for the drinking and the nightlife, so I would look but I wouldn't touch. There is a limit." He also admits he would be a bit apprehensive about letting Anna go off alone. "She would probably stick to what she's said, but you don't know what will happen when you get drunk with your mates miles away from home."

Craig Thomis, 24, and Susan Revill, 26, of West Bowling, were also hesitant as to whether they could trust each other. "I wouldn't let him go - not unless he took the kids," said Susan. She said she would look at men, but would "certainly not" go any further. "I'd go for a good dance and a laugh, that's all."

Craig added: "She could trust me. I'd go for a good time, that's all. We've got a little boy, so I've got no interest in picking up other women. She'd never let me go anyway - she moans if I go up to Osdal to watch the rugby!"

Lucky lad Javan Dance, 20, of Horton Bank Top, is due to jet off to the sun later this year without girlfriend Katie. "I'm going to Gran Canaria with a mate, but it's an activity holiday - swimming, water sports, that sort of thing. We will be going out drinking, but only to have a laugh," he said.

Katie, meanwhile, is heading off to Cyprus with a friend, and her parents. "I'm sure I can trust her," he added.

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