High-street health and beauty retailer Superdrug is sponsoring a unique hotel accommodation concept in Ibiza where single Britons can stay entirely for free. But there’s just one catch: guests will have to check-in to a room that is covered entirely in pictures of sexually transmitted diseases and warnings to practise safe sex.
The Sexual Health Condom-inium has been launched in conjunction with Superdrug to raise awareness of the urgent need for holidaying 18-35 year olds to practise safe sex. It follows new research1 among 2,000 Britons in the aforementioned age group which revealed that more than a third (35%) have had unprotected sex whilst on holiday, with a quarter of those (24%) subsequently contracting an STI.
At no other accommodation in the world can guests get intimate under bright bed covers warning them that one in 12 (9%) Brits have contracted an STI on holiday - including genital herpes, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis and genital warts. And if shocking bed sheets aren’t enough to get holidaying Britons practising safe sex, then a set of pillows covered in graphic images of the herpes virus will!
In addition to the eye-opening bedding, each guest that opts for a free stay in the apartment will receive a Superdrug safe sex intimacy kit that includes condoms and an STI home testing kit.
The Sexual Health Condom-inium sponsored by Superdrug will be receiving guests aged 21 and over from 10th August to 6th September 2015. Britons wishing to apply for a free stay can contact the owner directly via this link. Bookings are for seven nights and are based on availability. The apartment letting and liability is entirely the responsibility of the apartment owner.
Speaking about the Sexual Health Condom-inium, Melanie Wilson, Head of Wellbeing at Superdrug said: “Educating people about the risks of catching sexually transmitted diseases while away is very important as the research reveals that 21% of 18 – 35 year olds are more likely to have unprotected sex on holiday than at home. The sexual health bedding draws attention to the risks and the facts in an original way, as well as promoting the safe sex message. 68% of those researched admitted they would be more likely to be tested for an STI if they could do so online rather than visit a clinic, and we have seen that with our Online Doctor service. Our in-store healthcare experts are also available to offer customers free sexual health advice and support.”
Additional findings from Superdrug’s research show that one in three (31%) 18-35 year olds have had a one-night stand on holiday, with a sixth (15%) confessing to 10 fleeting sexual encounters with a stranger during their time away. Despite the clear health warnings of having unprotected sex, there is a widespread ignorance of the risks, with 62% of 18 – 35 year olds admitting they don’t take condoms on holiday and almost half (48%) confessing they have never had an STI check.
Dr Pixie McKenna, brand ambassador for Superdrug said: “My main advice is to protect yourself! However, if you decide not to, whether on holiday or at home, it is really important to go and visit your local GP, sexual health centre or take a test confidentially via a sexual health clinic, your GP or in the privacy of your own home straight away, so if you have caught something, it can be treated as soon as possible.”