Budget-conscious Britons are spending less on luxury items to make sure they can afford a holiday, new research has revealed.

According to Kayak.co.uk, 95 per cent of people in the UK consider going on holiday more important that owning a home, being in a relationship or having a car, reports Reuters.

Therefore, people affected by the ongoing downturn in the British economy are cutting back in some areas in order to pay for a trip overseas.

Annie Wilson, business development director at the website, commented: “As a nation, we’ve always been much more likely to explore the four corners of the earth than to buy the latest flat screen TV.”

She added that if financially prudent consumers are prepared to be flexible, they could still find “the perfect trip” at a reasonable price.

Earlier this week, the Association of British Travel Agents stated that the number of bookings for this summer has been very healthy.

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.

The number of British people who are choosing to move abroad is rising, according to an expert.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, told the Daily Mail that a number of different issues are prompting Britons to relocate to a new home.

Speaking to the newspaper, he said emigration has doubled in the last couple of years, partly because people are attracted by potential lifestyle improvements overseas.

“People find the UK is getting more and more crowded and they see crime rates going up,” Sir Andrew commented.

He added that the recent economic slowdown in Britain has also contributed to a surge in the amount of outward migration.

According to the Spanish Property Owners Guild, many people from the UK are choosing to start a new life in Spain because they are dissatisfied with life at home.

The organisation highlighted a number of reasons for this trend, such as concerns over taxation, crime levels and the rising cost of living in Britain.

Marbella has been chosen as the venue for a new international business conference.

The first Marbella-Costa del Sol International Economic and Business Forum will take place in the city early next year and it is anticipated the event will attract a wide range of high-ranking executives.

Organisers UHY Fay & Co, the accountancy firm, have indicated that those who attend the forum will have the chance to participate in discussion groups with leading economists, as well as listening to speeches from international business experts.

Joseph Fay, a partner and tax specialist with the firm, said that Marbella was the obvious choice to host the event.

He explained: “[Marbella] is an attractive and international city with influence to get media coverage and a very high potential to become an economic reference and knowledge hub at a national and international level.”

Among the other trade events the city is scheduled to host is International Golf Travel Market, which takes place between November 17th and 20th 2008.

Most British holidaymakers do not know the language of the country they are visiting, according to a new study.

Research by LateRooms.com revealed that 81 per cent of tourists from the UK are unwilling to take a phrase book or dictionary with them when heading overseas.

More than half of those polled were found to be unable to recognise basic phrases in the language of their holiday destination, while one in three said they rely on the ability of locals to speak fluent English.

Chris Morris, managing director of LateRooms.com, commented: “A phrase book or dictionary doesn’t take up much room in a suitcase and British tourists will be surprised at how far a couple of useful phrases can go.”

He said learning the language is a good way for people to broaden their horizons, communicate with local people and soak up the culture.

This comes after a poll by LateRooms.com found that 15 per cent of British adults do not know where Spain is on a normal map.

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.