Making the most out of your summer holidays

The British public are great at making the most out of the summer, especially when the weather is warm. Beaches are populated with local residents looking to top up on their tan and barbecues all around the country are lit. Family and friends come together to enjoy the sun and catch up on recent goings-on, the weather plays a big role in what we will do during the summer.

The summer weather also plays its part in where we decide to go on our summer holidays. In the past, many British tourists flew to Continental Europe and visited places such as Spain, Greece, France and Italy as they looked for warmer climates and different cultures. These types of holidays are now more affordable thanks to the low cost airlines that have since appeared offering cheap flights with no frills.

However, the recession has meant that we are all trying to cut down on spending where possible. All inclusive holidays are a good way of sticking to a budget as there will be little cost once you have arrived at your hotel as all your food and drinks are already paid for. At the same time though, all inclusive holidays are more expensive than self catering holidays.

This may leave some people in a dilemma, wondering what to do to entertain the children and (just as important) how to spend your time off and relax from the stresses and strains from work. One viable option is to look for somewhere in the UK where you can enjoy the weather and save some money at the same time.

Camping and caravanning are very popular at this time of year and if you want to be at one with nature then camping is a great option. It is cheap and great fun for all the family and if you see that you run over your budget you can always decide to cut the trip short as you can simply make your way home.

Before going on any type of holiday, try and give yourself a budget and then try and stick to it. If you are going abroad then look at the low cost airlines that have some great deals around and if you are going to travel within the UK then travel on a weekday if possible to avoid heavy traffic.

Wherever you decide to go on holiday make sure you plan ahead and ensure your health insurance (if travelling in the UK) or travel insurance (if travelling abroad) are up to date. Remember if you are travelling within Europe you need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).