Ideas For Cheap Villas Holidays

     The recession hit Britain hard, with many people forced to give up luxuries in order to conserve cash. One luxury that we are not so keen to give up, however, is holidays.

It's possible to enjoy cheap villas holidays relatively easy in Europe, although you may need to be a bit more creative than in previous years.

     One of the main reasons for the price hike has been the weakening of the pound against the euro, which meant that while prices of commodities in Europe didn't actually alter that much, our pound was less valuable, and so the cost of living on a European holiday rocketed.

     At one point, the euro was almost equal value to the pound, meaning that when in previous years a glass of beer costing 3.50 euro was very cheap in comparison with our British prices, a glass of beer suddenly cost almost 3.50 pounds.

Similarly, eating out in restaurants is no longer the dirt-cheap activity it once was, although there are still bargains to be found.

So where are the best places to go for cheap villas holidays? Spain is still a good option if you avoid the Costa del Sol, which tends to be the most pricey holiday destination in Spain.

     Tax is relatively low on commodities such as alcohol and cigarettes, and you can find cheaper places to eat and drink if you shop around.

     The beauty of cheap villas holidays is that you cater for yourselves, meaning there's no need to spend lots of money on eating out in restaurants every night if you don't want to. Simply find a supermarket (these are generally cheaper than the tiny local shops) and stock up on local food to see you through.

     Imported brands will be much more expensive, so avoid these if you want to save money. Portugal is also a great destination for cheap villas holidays. The Algarve offers some of the most stunning beaches with a dramatic red-cliff coastline and some lively resorts, such as Albufeira. This resort is split into two sides: Old Town and New Town, with the former being the more family-friendly, restaurant-orientated part of the two. The huge amount of restaurants means that prices are kept relatively low due to competition.

     New Town offers a few good restaurants, but is more focussed towards bars and clubs and lively nightlife. Again, you will find there are bargains to be had once you get your bearings and know the places to frequent.