The credit crunch is affecting us all to a greater or lesser extent. What is apparent however, is that holidays are no longer a treat – they now fall into the category of ‘luxury-necessity’. People view holidays as a necessary part of their year – a chance to wind down and escape the stresses and strains of modern life. And there are bargains to be had – especially if you find yourself private holiday rentals and book each component of your holiday separately.

Holiday rentals are big business and many people rely on the income from their holiday rental properties. Although package holidays often look like the best deal, make sure you look at everything you have to spend, not just the published price of the package. One of the great advantages of going for the private holiday rentals is that you are fully in control. By booking your villa or apartment directly with the owner, you avoid having to pay any agent fees or booking fees, and you get to speak directly with people who own the holiday rentals and who know the property and the surrounding area. How often do you get that when you phone one of the major travel agents?

What’s more, holiday rentals tend to be self catering, meaning that you can save money by buying local food and cooking and eating it at the house most of the time. If you’re in a villa with a swimming pool and views across the countryside, what better way to spend your evening than sipping a glass of cold beer and enjoying a home cooked bbq? Depending on the location of the holiday rentals, eating out can be very good value too, and more often than not, far better quality in local restaurants than in a package holiday hotel.

The other key to saving money on your holiday is being able to choose your location and book your travel arrangements separately. If you’re trying to reduce costs, look for holiday rentals in locations where you don’t have to fly, saving you money not just on the flights, but on travel to and from the airport and airport parking. Holiday rentals are scattered all over France and Spain, both of which are easy to get to from the UK by car or train, especially if you allow yourself a decent amount of time. Likewise, booking your insurance separately means you can scour the market for the best available deals.

Lots of holiday rentals cater for large groups, and this is where the bargains are to be found. If four couples share a four bedroom villa for a week, you will be astounded by how little the price works out to be per person. Compare the price of those holiday rentals with what’s in your high street travel agent window, and the private holiday rentals win hands down!

Free reprint article written by Olly Symonds

Copyright © 2008 Olly Symonds. All rights reserved.