I'll Be Holidaying in England This Year

I have decided to holiday in the UK this year. The deciding factor for me was my dislike of flying twinned with expecting my first baby. It is important to avoid stress as much as possible during pregnancy, so whilst I'd ordinarily grit my teeth and get on that plane, this year I have decided against it. However, once the idea of not flying entered my mind I found it quickly backed up by numerous other factors. Namely:

1. I'll bag some good green karma by avoiding a short-haul flight to Italy and back
2. I'll be supporting the British economy
3. No airport queues, delays or security threats
4. Flight costs can be saved to make holidaying more affordable, or re-allocated to stay in a plush pad for a couple of nights
5. I'll be able to catch up with relatives en route

We've decided on Cornwall, but there are so many other truly beautiful hideaways here in the UK that it wasn't easy to choose! Factor 5, relatives en route made Cornwall a good choice for us, alongside its chilled out way of life and outstanding natural beauty.

Happily, in light of the credit crunch and increasing environmental awareness, the travel media has produced a mine of information on British hotels and attractions this year. A great first stop for research is the Times Online's 'Best of Britain' section. You'll find a round up of Britain's best 50 days out and Britain's perfect pitches (for camping enthusiasts and budget travellers) amongst other features and reviews covering farmers' markets, swimming, surfing, festivals, pubs, hotels and restaurants. Alternatively, why not approach it like a foreign visitor and use the excellent Visit Britain website.

Whatever you do - have a great trip!

PS: Yesterday's Sunday Telegraph predicted that there could be some good bargains at UK hotels this year due to the credit crunch and the US elections keeping many Americans at home . . .