There has been a lot of news reports about spending your holidays in England.. whilst also living in England. Sounds a bit boring doesn’t it? I don’t know how keen any of us are on getting in a car, driving a few hours and declaring this new county our holiday hotspot. Plus - IT’S GETTING COLD, and it’s not going to be any warmer come Christmas time!So, looking at the options, there are a number of ways we can budget our holidays abroad to save some money:

No. 1 - The British pound is still one of the strongest currencies in the world:

Even if we are experiencing a financial crisis - the world isn’t far behind us. In many countries, it is more affordable for you to enjoy dinner and drinks out when compared with the local pub or on the high street.. So why not enjoy an exotic meal on the beach this Christmas?

Tip - remember to avoid the tourist traps and avoid the ‘luxury’ spots on your holiday - You’ll enjoy authentic food at a great price as well as friendly service from people just as interested in you as you are in them.

No. 2 - Pick the slower transportation options:

The beauty of travel is the slow pace you can take it at - and as a Londoner myself I can appreciate the beauty of relaxation on my holiday. So, take trains instead of planes, walk instead of taxi’s and you’ll see more, as well as appreciate the journey instead of packed in a car while the kids listen to their favourite Britney Spears track in the back seats.

No. 3 - If you’re going to use a travel agent, use one who KNOWS the country:

Finally, the travel agent in charge of your holiday should be able to give you these tips and more - seek advice from people who know the country, which sights & sounds are worth the money and finally have a passion for the country and its people - it’ll get you excited about your trip and make this holiday investment worth it.

A popular destination with warmth, culture and affordable accommodation is Morocco - Check out the Best of Morocco travel site for advice.

Ever wanted to travel to the most exotic, most beautiful, most exciting and vibrant areas of the world? OK, so I speak with a bias towards my favourite continent… but Africa is one place in the world with exactly those things to offer.

An easy way to enjoy and experience the beauty that is Africa is through contact with its people, and more importantly - through helping them with problems induced by poverty and poor education.

A simple solution with an enormous effect is that of Read International - a charity organisation that started in Nottingham, the UK, and has spread throughout England to deliver educational material to schools across Tanzania. Today, 17 universities already have a Read book project established. students can get involved to help promote the project, collect books from schools, and fundraise to set targets. Universities can now also donate university level books which can help raise money for the projects.

If you’re not at the university level yet, schools and colleges are able to get involved by donating books (Mainly Keystage 3 and GCSE) as well as fundraising for Read, as well as collecting essential school items like sports equipment and stationery.

In return for your hard work, the university project staff of Read can do presentations about volunteering, and what their books are going to do, and how they are helping to make a massive difference - who knows, maybe they’ll take you along on one of their trips to Tanzania to see the difference YOU are making to educate and alleviate some of Tanzania’s problems. Click the link below for more information on their official site:

Donate educational books to African schools