Think of holidays in Austria and you’ll probably picture Alpine ski slopes.   But it’s actually a really great place to visit in Spring and Summer months, too – plenty of fresh air, beautiful scenery comprising stunning views from and of those same mountains that look rather different when not covered in snow.

It’s one of the few places in Europe that is cheaper to visit as part of a package deal through a travel agent than by travelling independently.  Most package deals in the warmer months, though, are steadfastly aimed at the more mature traveller.  Perhaps the best advice is to book a package holiday, take advantage of the cheaper hotel rates and transfers, then regard it as an independent holiday, bypassing the excursions arranged by the agent and do a bit of exploring yourself.   Most hotels look like large versions of the kind of chocolate-box pictures of Austrian cabins – all pointed roofs, wooden structures and flowery window boxes.  Inside, most are decorated in the style of hunting lodges, which can be a bit disconcerting, eating meat whilst being stared at by numerous animal husks adorning the wall.

A typical Austrian holiday destination is Zell am Zee, about an hour’s drive from Saltzburg.  Here, you have a beautiful, well maintained lake, and mountain paths for some serious hiking (if you want to walk to the top) and/or easy-access paths along the tops (if you take the tram) with amazing views of the valley below. 

A short train journey will bring you to other places to walk and enjoy yet more scenery, including the highest waterfall in Europe at Krimml, a spectacular sight well-worth climbing all the hundreds of stairs to reach the stairs.

Public transport in Austria is clean and punctual, but not as inexpensive as in much of the rest of mainland Europe.   A trip to nearby Saltzburg, for instance, is likely to set you back around £30 by train.  But it’s well worth it, for the food, many fine churches, and even the gothic graveyards.  There are regular classical music concerts, both daytime and evening, if you fancy absorbing yourself in the atmosphere of the birthplace of Mozart.  By the way, if ever you are asked in a pub quiz what country Mozart was born in, you should get extra points for saying Saltzburg, not Austria – because at the time that Mozart was born, Saltzburg was an independent principality and a country in it own right.  Saltzburg was also the setting for several scenes from the Sound of Music, something that the city capitalises on in terms of merchandise available from most gift shops.

It is a good idea to obtain a couple of travel insurance quotes for your trip away – if you Ski or do any sort of sports you may also want to look into health insurance too.

Food in Austria is pure stodge, but very tasty.  Dishes are largely composed of salty meats mixed with potatoes, and for desert you could choose germknodel, which is a large suet dome-shaped pudding with a blueberry centre, normally served with custard.  Most café’s also serve ‘Kaffe und Kuchen’ (coffee and cake) – I developed a five-a-day Kaffe und Kuchen habit when I was there.   It’s amazing that Austrians aren’t all the size of houses, all things considered.  They’re a very friendly people, who welcome tourists and particularly appreciate any attempts (however feeble) by tourists to speak some German. 

Prices for food and activities are comparable to those in the UK.  If you’re into walking, scenery and good old comfort food, then Austria is well worth a visit.

More and more families are turning to caravanning as a holiday option as a result of the financial stress brought about by the economic crisis. Caravanning in France has become a growing trend that is proving to be extremely popular amongst the Brits. By choosing a caravanning holiday you can literally cut down on the overall costs of the holiday whether you have your own caravan in tow and drive across or fly out to France and rent out a caravan on arrival.

There are over 12,000 campsites scattered across France with the majority offering some form of onsite facilities. Before taking the plunge it is always a good idea to ask yourself what type of facilities you require i.e. entertainment for the kids such as a swimming pool or play area, sporting activities, restaurants and even access to a beach.

How you choose to plan your holiday is entirely a personal choice. You can either drive across to France in your own car and plan out several stop off points along the way or have your trip arranged for you and rent a caravan already onsite. Either way, you still have to be well prepared and a caravanning holiday in some respects can be similar to that of camping. If you are going it alone and bringing your own equipment you must make sure you have all the necessary utensils that will function in France such as electric appliances. If you intend to rent you must check that they basic essentials are included. If you are travelling with a small child check beforehand that the caravan park you have chosen is adapted for children and that you can hire a cot or car seat if necessary.

One of the beauties of travelling in and around Europe is the vast amount of different cultures you will come across. Europe is without doubt the richest continent of them all when it comes to languages, architecture, cuisine and scenery.

Some of the most popular European locations include the coasts of Spain, Southern France, the Suisse Alps, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey and Portugal. Of course one of the most important ingredients for a holiday amongst the Brits is that of Sunshine and there are many fantastic countries in Europe which offer this pretty much all year round.

Travelling to the various locations in Europe couldn’t be easier. For UK travellers there are cheap flights in abundance which depart from all the major airports on a daily basis. In addition, the Euro tunnel has opened up the possibility to travel across the Channel on a high speed train. Ferries are also a popular option particularly when travelling to mainland Europe by car or coach.

As far as accommodation is concerned there are again plenty of options. The most popular choice continues to be a hotel but this is also dependent on the type of holiday you are planning to do. Campsites are literally dotted across Europe as well as caravan parks. But there are also guest houses, villas, cottages, apartments and chalets for those who prefer to go self catering or plan to stay for an extended period of time.

Choosing where to go in Europe can be something of a dilemma as the choice of country as well as city is quite extensive. With so many online travel agencies you are sure to find something that both appeals and is within your financial budget.