Save Some Cash and Holiday Closer to Home in 2009

If you need to tighten your belts a bit in 2009, but can't bear the thought of going without a holiday, then do not fear - a solution is at hand! If you're travelling from the UK, holiday rentals in France are your answer.

Finding holiday rentals in France rather than in other parts of Europe or further afield is likely to save you money immediately. One of the big expenses of going on holiday is the flights, so by cutting out the cost of the flights, travel to and from the airport and airport parking, you have probably already saved yourself a heap of cash. Whatever you are looking for, you will find holiday rentals in France to suit you - from large rambling farmhouses and secluded gites, to beachfront villas and apartments.

Pick the right time of year and holiday rentals in France can offer you good weather, inexpensive living, and a new language and culture to get your teeth into. Brittany and Normandy are just a short ferry ride away from the south coast of England, but there are properties here galore. Be aware that the weather is not always 100% reliable, but both places are steeped in historical significance and have some wonderful beaches to enjoy. Holiday rentals in France change the further south you go - if you head to the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Limousin or perhaps the Auvergne, you can really get your teeth into France's rural lifestyle. These four regions are all landlocked, so you won't find any beachfront villas here, but if you're looking for seclusion and privacy, then you will find holiday cottages and gites scattered throughout the countryside where you will just have the local wildlife for your neighbours.

For the winter sports enthusiasts, the Rhone Alps is your region. Situated between Paris and the Provence, on the border with both Italy and Switzerland, and with access to two international airports (Lyon and Geneva), the Rhone-Alps region is at the crossroads of Europe and is well suited to anyone in search of holiday rentals in France where your holiday can be packed with activity! You can rent chalets here year round - whether you're a ski enthusiast, or a mountain walker.

If you want a guarantee of great Summer weather, then head for Aquitaine, Languedoc, Provence or any of the other more southern regions. This is where holiday rentals in France can start getting very expensive, so unless you're blessed with pots of cash, then think carefully about which parts of these regions you want to head for. If you're on a budget, steer clear of the well known 'glamour resorts' like St Tropez. My advice is to head inland a bit - finding holiday rental properties inland is easy, and tends to be less expensive, even if you are still just a few kilometres from the beach.

By Olly Symonds