With the cost of holidays to Europe rising, many families are looking at finding cheaper alternatives. There certainly are bargains to be found and cheap certainly can mean cheerful.

So where should you begin if you’re looking for inspiration? It makes sense to consider holidays at home. Staying in the UK may not seem like a great idea but it can make sound financial sense, while you may be surprised by the number of fun and exciting things to do. If you’re anything like me then there may well be large parts of the country that you’ve never visited. A budget holiday could provide you with the perfect opportunity to see some of the UK’s more interesting regions and towns.

Hotel accommodation can often be expensive but there are alternatives. Camping is one such option that can work out to be extremely cheap, while also allowing for a large degree of flexibility. The thought of a camping trip may not immediately strike you as being a great option but careful planning can take much of the strain out of such holidays.

By choosing campsites that are close to attractions and also well positioned in terms of shops and pubs, you can really make the most of your trip. If you’re worried about missing out on the creature comforts then there are various aspects of the trip that can easily be improved with a bit of planning.

Many people worry, for instance, about the quality of campsite bathroom facilities. Investing in a portable camping toilet could be a good solution to that particular problem. With a bit of creative thinking most problems can be overcome.

How about if you like the thought of staying in the UK but simply can’t bear to stay in a tent? Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation has certainly improved in terms of quality over the last 20 years or so. There are some real bargains to be found – it’s perfectly possible to stay in a great location without having to pay the sort of room rates that you would associate with hotels.

Perhaps understandably, many people don’t like the thought of a UK holiday because of one decisive factor: the weather. There’s no doubt that the thought of spending a fortnight dodging the showers is not to the liking of everybody. If this is a serious concern for you and your family then it would certainly be wise to plan some indoor activities for your trip, even if they are only there as a backup.

What about if you simply must have a break in a warmer climate? A good option is to avoid countries that use the Euro. Unless you’re looking for a long-haul trip, which is likely to be more expensive, this tends to leave you concentrating your thoughts on some of the countries of Eastern Europe.

Fortunately some countries in this part of Europe are now extremely accessible to tourists, while they also offer some fantastic attractions. It’s been noticeable that Croatia, for instance, has been rising in popularity in the past few years. Its two main tourist cities, Dubrovnik and Split, both offer a lot for visitors.

Don’t forget that allowing maximum flexibility in terms of your dates and times of travel is likely to ensure that you can get some particularly cheap deals when it comes to both flights and accommodation.

If you’re feeling the pinch of the credit crunch then you don’t need to forego your annual holiday – in fact, it’s probably more important than ever that you take some time away from the daily grind.

There are numerous budget holiday options available. With a little creative thinking, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a great holiday!