With more choices available, both through lower airfares and Eastern Europe opening up, the British are heading for more diverse locations, and increasingly for weekend and short breaks to cities like Barcelona and Rome.

It's a battle royal in 2008 as environmentalists see air travel as a main contributor to carbon emissions. The holiday companies are offering better deals than ever before in financial terms - the green lobby says it will cost the earth.

One of Britain's best known banks and mortgage providers is to open three new offices on the Spanish islands of the Canaries plus the Balearic island of Menorca to meet demand for Britons looking to buy a home in Spain.

Vacations are already being planned for next year, and as winter draws in it's something for families to look forward to as they try to get through the economic gloom.

Golfer's are often surprised that there's only one golf course on the island of Minorca - but recent upgrades make a Minorca golf holiday worth the trip.

Menorca is a peaceful holiday island, accustomed to families on villa holidays and pensioners seeking peace and quiet. But the world of F1 has shaken the island up - and it's been welcomed.

Well known in Europe as a villa holidays destination, Menorca has just been recognised for three great hotels too.

Ibiza, the most popular of the Balearic Islands is a tiny island lying 90 kms of the coast of Spain. It forms part of the Balearic Islands along with Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera.

As one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, Menorca has a large array of luxury accommodation. Hotels with ratings ranging from one star to five star play host to millions of tourists per year in Menorca and the neighbouring island of Majorca.

With the 2008 F1 season about to begin, the quiet holiday island of Menorca has played host to the world's top teams.