Holidaymakers 'will still go away despite recession'

Although many Brits are creating savings accounts as they cut back on spending, it seems that most of us are unwilling to give up our annual holidays, with thousands of holidaymakers risking debt as they already begin to prepare for their next holiday.

"Holidaymakers will still take a break this year but will be more focused on their budgets", an expert has asserted.

Research found that 32 per cent of travellers will cut the duration of their trip from a fortnight to a week in order to make it affordable.

"It seems that the recession has made holidaymakers a little more saving savvy than they were previously, with thousands looking for ways to cut the cost of their holiday bills down."

Other tactics, such as going for a hotel with less stars and cutting back on extra activities on the holiday, could be employed - some people have even hinted that they may leave out travel insurance to reduce costs, but leading insurance providers, Be Wiser Insurance, have claimed that it is a flase economy to not buy travel insurance.

"Cutting out uneccessary luxuries means consumers can still escape the doom and gloom of the financial crisis and unwind in the sun, but opting not to take out travel insurance could leave you out of pocket if you required medical attention when on foreign soil".

A recent study by Visit London and Visit Britain found that people looking to keep their annual holiday this year are becoming increasingly creative in their attempts to save cash.

These measures include 80 per cent of respondents reducing spending on food and 67 per cent slashing their entertainment budget.

"Obviously when you're away you want to have a good time, so cutting back too much may just mean that you're stuck at the hotel or villa with nothing to do."

Experts advise that looking for holiday packages and deals online will often prove a fruitful venture, as there are some fantastic deals on low-cost flights and travel insurance policies to be found on the web.