Italy has a reputation for being an expensive place to visit and Sardinia is no exception. Taking a holiday on this beautiful island can be a great experience but prices do tend to be fairly high.

If youre looking to visit the island without having to break the bank then youll find that forward planning is the key to finding a budget holiday in Sardinia.

The first point to note is that the island is at its most popular during the months of July and August. These two months see Sardinia enjoy its warmest weather, with long dry spells being very common.

This is also a period of the year that coincides with the school holidays in the UK and much of continental Europe. Many families choose to travel abroad during this time as a result.

For those on a budget, avoiding these two months of the year is the best way of finding a bargain. The weather on Sardinia is often more pleasant during the months of May and September, as temperatures can be hard to bear during the high season.

Youll also find that hotel and flight prices are significantly lower if you are able to avoid the two most popular summer months.

If you are travelling with children then you may well find that travelling to the island in July and August is unavoidable.

In this case, consider finding accommodation in some of the islands less popular resorts. There are some great hotel and package holiday deals available well away from the dominant Costa Smeralda region of the island.

It is possible to have a budget holiday in Sardinia – make sure that you are flexible and that you plan your visit well in advance./pbr
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There are now a number of specialist tour operators offering specific packages for single travellers. Among the advantages of such packages is the fact that all travellers on such trips will be travelling alone.

Unlike some other holidays, this means that you can feel more comfortable as a lone traveller. After all, knowing that everyone else on the tour is in the same situation is a great way of ensuring that you dont feel like an outsider, as can sometimes be the case with other types of holiday.

Youll find that other travellers are much more approachable on these trips, making for a more pleasant experience. Equally, if you prefer to spend time on your own, then youll have plenty of time to do that.

With an escorted holiday, the group are assigned a tour guide, whos presence can be invaluable. A guide who is fluent in English and knowledgeable about the local area can really add a new dimension to your trip, giving you an insight into local customs, culture and history.

One of the other great advantages of escorted holidays stems from their evolution in recent years. Gone are the days when an escorted holiday meant a coach trip to an English seaside town.

Tour operators now offer a vast range of holiday options, from city breaks in Europe to extensive holidays in North America, Asia and Australia. You can pick a holiday that meets your needs, without having to make sacrifices.

With the range of holidays being constantly expanded, taking a trip to an exotic location as a single traveller has become a reality for many.

Escorted holidays can offer the freedom of travel, together with the assurance of travelling as part of a larger group. They are a method of organising overseas travel without the stress of attempting to book all of the various elements associated with travelling.

There has never been a better time for single travellers to take advantage of escorted holidays./pbr
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However, whether youre planning to take your car from Manchester to Aberdeen or London to Paris (via Dover and Calais, of course), its crucial to check that your vehicle is in working order and fit for extensive driving trips before you embark on your holiday. This could involve a range of tasks, from getting your car serviced to checking the limits of your car insurance.

Essential things to do before setting of on a driving holiday

To make sure youre well prepared for your driving holiday, write a check list so you dont forget anything essential. For starters, its important to ensure that your car is in working order – it might sound obvious but theres nothing worse than getting stuck on a quiet country road in the middle of the night, in an area you arent familiar with, and no help in sight. By getting your car serviced at a garage a few weeks before you leave, youll be able to establish whether anything is likely to go wrong and have plenty of time to get it fixed.

Next, check that your insurance is up to date and isnt going to expire while youre still on holiday. If youre travelling within the UK, your car insurance is likely to be valid wherever you go. On the other hand, if youre planning a driving holiday in Europe, its important to call up your insurer before leaving to check whether you will be covered.

The popularity of ferry routes like Dover to Calais in France, Harwich to Hook of Holland near Rotterdam and Holyhead to Dublin mean that driving holidays in Europe are becoming increasingly popular with British holidaymakers. Yet, research released in May 2009 revealed that 38 percent of drivers dont know whether their car insurance policy covers them when driving abroad, and 18 percent wrongly think that their vehicle will be covered by their travel insurance while overseas. The specifics vary between insurers but most will only offer a few days free cover for driving in Europe – so make sure you know what options you have before leaving.

Making sure European driving cover is included in your car insurance

If you go on driving holidays in Europe regularly, it might be worth getting European cover included in your motor insurance policy as standard. Its easiest to do this when its time to renew your policy – ask your current insurer what scope there is to increase the amount of European cover days on your insurance, or conduct a car insurance comparison online to find a cheaper rate.

Dont forget breakdown cover either – most insurers do not offer UK breakdown assistance as part of a car insurance policy, so theyre unlikely to include European breakdown cover. With the right insurance in place – as well as a spare canister of petrol in your boot and a fully-charged mobile phone – youll be able to embark on your driving holiday with the peace of mind that, should anything go wrong on the road, youre well protected.

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pHarvey McEwan writes to make insurance (especially car insurance!) a happier place. Youll often find him here: a target=_new href=http://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/car/ rel=nofollowhttp://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/car//a/pbr
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