British leisure travellers have been urged to consider the financial cost of their summer holidays.

The International Currency Exchange (ICE) stated that tourists would benefit from taking exchange rates into account when choosing where they would like to visit.

This would allow people to get the best value for money on their trip, as they will be required to pay for more than just flights and accommodation.

Andrew Hamilton, head of marketing at ICE, commented: “The credit crunch means holidaymakers should make sure they are getting the most for their pounds, as all the little extras soon mount up.”

Figures from ICE illustrated how costs vary across the world, as entry into a tourist attraction in Florida can cost up to £30 per head, whereas the average entry fee in Spain is close to £8.

Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Evening News has revealed that the Costa Blanca is proving to be very popular with Scottish leisure travellers.

The newspaper cited figures from BAA Scotland which identified Alicante as a hotspot for tourists last month.

Many holidaymakers from the UK are choosing to take their car with them to Spain, a new study has found.

According to a survey by Vauxhall, the European country is one of the main hotspots for motoring leisure travellers.

This is because many believe that they will be able to find out more about the region they are visiting if they travel independently.

Indeed, 64 per cent said driving abroad is a good way to become acquainted with different customs and styles.

Simon Ewart, spokesperson for Vauxhall, commented: “It is great to get away and have your own freedom to come and go as you please.”

However, 12 per cent of those polled said they find it difficult to get used to driving on the other side of the road.

This comes after a study by Norwich Union revealed that the average Briton drives a Ford Fiesta and holidays in Spain each summer.

Consumers in the UK are continuing to book holidays to other countries, according to industry experts.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) stated that the number of bookings for this summer has been very healthy.

This is despite the fact that many are facing various financial constraints as a result of the credit crunch and rising fuel prices.

ABTA spokesperson Sean Tipton said this shows that going on holiday is now widely seen as a necessity rather than a luxury.

He commented: “It’s something that is very much part of our lives.”

Mr Tipton added that poor climate in the UK has partly fuelled this trend, as people can expect to get “consistently good weather” in the Mediterranean.

This comes after research by Mondial Assistance revealed that nearly one in three consumers from the UK are planning to take their summer holiday in Spain this year.

People who relocate to Spain may be able to enjoy reduced living costs, according to experts.

ShelterOffshore.com said the European country is currently very popular with retired expatriates from places such as the UK.

The website stated that upon setting up home in Spain, foreign nationals are finding that they are saving money in many areas.

For example, utility bills and food costs are lower, while many are also paying smaller amounts in tax than they were in the UK.

ShelterOffshore.com added that the fact Spain has a hot and sunny climate means people are not paying as much for central heating.

The website commented: “The cost of living is generally lower when you have less need for fuel to heat your home.”

According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, more than 3.3 million British pensioners are likely to be living abroad by 2050.

Property investors from Britain are still very willing to purchase a foreign residence, a new study has found.

According to Jet-to-Let magazine, the credit crunch is not putting people off the idea of investing in bricks and mortar, particularly in other countries.

Research by the publication found that respondents unanimously believe that buying a foreign property is a better option than putting money into stocks and shares.

In addition, results showed that most investors are not buying abroad in order to collect short-term gains.

For example, 98 per cent of those surveyed said they plan to use their overseas residence as part of their pension plan.

Dominic Farrell, editor of Jet-to-Let magazine, commented: “The results clearly show that educated investors understand the long-term nature of property investment.”

According to figures from Holiday-Rentals, 31 per cent of British-owned foreign properties in Europe are located in Spain.

Overseas property investors who are in search of a bargain have been encouraged to consider the Spanish market.

According to ShelterOffshore.com, the European country currently offers a number of opportunities for foreign buyers.

The website said this is partly because the housing market in Spain is currently undergoing a price correction.

As a result, buyers could potentially “call the shots” throughout the purchasing process, especially if they are paying with cash.

ShelterOffshore.com said: “Spain is a great market offering real opportunities right now.”

However, the website added that prospective buyers still need to take important issues into account when purchasing a residence.

For example, it stated that investors should consider the location and quality of their home, as well as current market conditions.

This comes after Kyero.com revealed that many people are holding off on making a purchase and waiting for prices to come down.

Real estate experts have claimed that with repossessions increasing, foreign property seekers were being presented with some excellent investment opportunities in Spain.

Reflecting on the effects of the ‘credit squeeze,’ real estate firm Propertyinspain.net claimed that repossessions were bringing a steady supply of properties back onto the market, providing bargain opportunities.

The company claimed that the growth of the Spanish economy and strong job creation in particular areas made buy-to-let purchases on re-sale properties a sound investment, with plenty of new workers in the area guaranteed to supply rental demand.

Terry Walker, spokesperson for propertyinspain.net, advised buy-to-let buying in Spain, claiming: “Some of the areas where they’re located are showing economic growth anyway. People are coming in with the new IT and logistics industries.”

Explaining the new availability of quality properties, Mr Walker added: “There are properties for about 30,000 euros but spend the same again and you’ve got a lovely family house in the middle of a village.”

He added that the Costa del Sol – already a highly desirable area for British buyers – was one of the areas presenting bargain buys after repossessions.

Countries which attract holidaymakers all year round could be good places for overseas property investors to consider.

According to Holiday-Rentals, Spain is currently one of the most popular destinations among its clients.

This was said to be because the European country is consistently popular with tourists for 12 months of the year, which means it has strong rental potential.

Sarah Chambers, spokesperson for Holiday-Rentals, commented: “60 per cent of our clients own one or two foreign homes.

“They almost always rent them out for the whole year.”

Speaking to the Telegraph, she added that investors need to make clear that there are year-round attractions near their property when advertising it to potential tenants.

This comes after Holiday-Rentals revealed that 31 per cent of British-owned foreign properties in Europe are located in Spain.

The organisation said this is partially due to the number of cheap flights servicing areas such as the Costas.

People in England are increasing selling their homes and using the capital to buy abroad, it has been revealed.

The Emigration Group stated that falling house prices in the UK have directly contributed to the popularity of moving abroad in the last few months.

Speaking to the Cambridge News, company director Paul Arthur said this is because people want to make the most of the value of their home before it falls even further.

This trend was said to be highly apparent in southern and eastern England, for example counties such as Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Mr Arthur commented: “House prices have peaked and people with more equity realise they can get a different lifestyle abroad.”

According to the BuyAssociation website, Spain is currently one of the main hotspots among Britons who want a foreign property.

Property editor Paul Collins said this includes those who are looking to live abroad on a permanent basis.

One in five Scots would consider moving abroad to escape the credit crisis in the UK, a new YouGov poll has revealed.

Commissioned by Legal & General, the survey shows that 19 per cent of Scots would consider moving abroad to escape rising living costs, reports the Scotsman.

Earlier this week it was reported that consumer prices were running at three per cent, well above the government’s target of two per cent.

Tim Warren, wealth communications director at L&G, told the paper: “In the current financial climate it’s prudent for people to tighten their belts.

“But it is still startling that so many Scots would be prepared to leave the country.”

It is possible that many Scots would consider moving to Spain, which already has a strong expatriate community.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the price of food, electricity and gas is responsible for pushing up inflation.