Almost half of Americans will take a vacation overseas this summer, according to TripAdvisor.

The travel site surveyed almost 3,000 vacationers as part of its annual summer study and found that nearly a third plan to take more trips this year than they did in 2006.

Hiking and camping continue to grow in esteem and travelers are becoming increasingly intrepid, the poll reveals. A fifth of vacationers aim to try their hand at snorkeling, parasailing, scuba diving, or white water rafting this year.

New horizons and fresh adventures are a theme in 2007. TripAdvisor reports that more than half of those polled hope to visit a new destination, strengthening the case for up-to-date travel insurance.

“Travelers are throwing down the gauntlet this summer, committing to taking more time off and unplugging from work,” said Michele Perry, the travel site’s communications director.

“People appear to be more intrepid all round, even with rising air fares, the majority of travelers are vacationing to new destinations this summer.”

As well as securing the appropriate travel insurance cover, vacationers should remember to pack the sun screen before they travel this summer. The survey found that 43 per cent of Americans neglect to protect their skin, even when exposed to direct sunlight.