Brits abroad: Why we will keep travelling, come hell or high water

Add to My Stories When you're drawing up a list of possible places to visit this year, the temptation is to stray down unlikely byways. It's more interesting to suggest - as Lonely Planet did recently - that this year's big destination is Albania rather than play safe and argue that the Algarve or the Amalfi Coast might really be worth a look.Recommending Albania as a holiday destination is a species of authorial grandstanding. I know you won't be going and you know that I know that you won't be going - but for a couple of minutes we're all pretending to be proper grown-up adventurers.No harm done - unless you really do go to Albania and discover that it's not quite the rising star that Lonely Planet suggests.

Weathering the storm: Popular Queensland is recovering after major floods and a cycloneYet what constitutes 'off the beaten track' can change quite quickly. Ten years ago Egypt was relatively small beer in package holiday terms. It was popular for Nile cruises and city breaks to Cairo but the idea of a winter sun trip to its Red Sea coast was relatively untested.A decade of continuing political calm in Egypt has seen Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada climb up the package holiday top of the pops.The problem of holidays to the Third World is that political stability can never be taken for granted. Thailand, the number one long-haul destination for the British, has suffered from its political strife over the past couple of years.

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Thankfully, for the past 12 months the country has been calm. But while the Far East may be quieter, this is not the case in North Africa where political unrest in Tunisia quickly spre! ad to Eg ypt.The British holidaymaker is not easily put off. When trouble erupted in Tunisia, I had many messages from readers furious that their holidays had been hurriedly terminated or cancelled because of local protests.I imagine that similarly most readers will have looked at weather troubles in Brazil and Australia and convinced themselves that any flooding will not have a negative impact on their planned holidays.The British stiff upper lip is alive and well and our pluck is greatly appreciated by tourist industries around the world.

Talkin' about a revolution: Egypt has seen major political upheaval, but tourism has continued to the Red SeaAmerican travellers, on the other hand, have barely returned to Egypt since the first Gulf War 20 years ago.The Iraq War barely registered as a blip on our holiday radar. If we book a holiday to a country, then we fully intend to go there, come hell or, literally, high water. What will govern our choice of destination this summer will continue to be value for money. We can tolerate a little local insurrection what we can't abide is a paltry exchange rate.
So my choice of holidays and holiday destinations is guided by the need to get bang for your vacation bucks.
1. Camping and self-catering: If money is the key consideration then cooking your own meals, especially if you have children, is bound to offer better value for money. The cheapest option is to fill your car with food, take it on a ferry to the Continent and stay on a campsite - either in a tent or a mobile home.This summer, ferry-inclusive packages from Eurocamp, Keycamp or Canvas Holidays are available from 263 per family including cross-Channel ferry crossings and 14 nights in a fully-equipped maxi-tent.
2. All-inclusive: Aware that attracting holidaymakers is going to be tough, all the major operators are weighing in with seductive all-inclusive offers that incl! ude thre e square meals a day as well as complimentary bar drinks.Thomas Cook has seven nights at the Blue Bay Hotel in Turkey's Marmaris from 349pp with departures from Gatwick in May.

Old favourites: The classic British holiday destinations, like Benidorm, will do well this year3. Cruising: A cruise is essentially an all-inclusive holiday at sea, where you not only get all your meals but all your onboard entertainment and a constant parade of new places to visit as the ship moves from port to port.Again expect very attractive prices this year: Virgin Holidays Cruises is offering a fivenight Norway cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth from 649pp including full board and a free onboard spend up to $300 (186) per cabin. It departs Southampton on August 28.
4. Old favourites: The best deals will always be in the places that have the most accommodation (and the most two or three-star hotels and apartments).Benidorm, Torremolinos and Magaluf are not only packed with bargain hotels, they have plenty of affordable bars, restaurants and other attractions such as water parks.A 14-night package to Benidorm is available from 273pp including return flights and accommodation at the Don Gregorio complex with Directline Holidays.