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How to make your holiday £££'s go further this summer

As the pound continues to weaken and the prospect of a hung parliament strengthens, the Great British workforce looks anxiously towards the well earned summer holiday.

The annual summer getaway has become a British institution and a must for friends, families and couples all over the country, whether that is a break in Cornwall or sojourn to the Caribbean.

In the current uncertain environment, however, people are increasingly concerned about the cost of their holidays, especially as the price of travel, accommodation and even a glass of wine continue to spiral.

Pureholidayhomes.com, the holiday home rental website, looks at the strategies its customers are using to get the holiday they want this summer.

1. Self Catering vs. Hotel Rooms

Self catering holiday homes offer excellent value for money compared to hotel rooms. Moreover, renting a property enables you to spend quality time with friends and you are not tied to the hotel restaurants or forced to absorb the extra costs that hotel stays invariably entail. Due to the boom in UK owners of overseas holiday homes, you can often negotiate an excellent sterling price.

2. Find a friendly currency

pureholidayhomes.com has seen a 30% rise in enquiries for rentals in countries outside of the Euro and Dollar zones in February 2010 compared to January 2010. The main beneficiary in Europe has been Turkey, as it combines azure seas, unspoilt beaches with a favourable currency exchange rate.

3. Look out for the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) this summer

Whilst all of these countries are within the Eurozone, they are all suffering from weak domestic economies. This has had a deflationary impact on the cost of dining out, food shopping and has made haggling at the market a more rewarding experience. It can also help you to secure a significant reduction in rental rates, with holidaymakers expecting to receive a typical discount of 20% for bookings in these markets this summer. To make further gains, we recommend combining with a low cost carrier such as Easyjet, who now fly direct to Santorini.

4. There's no place like home

So long as the Met office does not predict a "barbeque summer" this year, it may be the ideal time to consider swapping your holiday schedule. Take a one week break in the UK this summer and save your two week holiday for the winter when the exchange rates may have improved.

The pleasures of holidays in the UK have been somewhat forgotten in recent years but now is the ideal time to explore the many attractions the Great British Isles have to offer. With no exchange rate to worry about and low travel costs, there should be plenty to spare on fish and chips and surfing lessons.

Sourc e:  www.pureholidayhomes.com