Our green and pleasant land                                                   page 2

But, while headline flight prices still appear to be rock bottom, the typical cost of flying is rising. With oil settling in above $100 a barrel, airline bosses at the International Air Transport Association, British Airways and Ryanair have all warned recently that industry margins are being squeezed and prices could rise further. Tax increases on flying are also being mooted.

Critics carp that staying in the UK doesn't solve the carbon concerns - around 75 per cent of UK trips use cars, according to the 2006 UK Tourism Survey. However, packing a family of four into one car may well compare favourably with flying them to Spain, and, as Friends of the Earth has noted, many of the most popular UK and European holiday destinations can be reached by train.

The UK certainly wins out in all the research for ease of travel and continued bouts of airport chaos have caused misery for many tempted by the Costa Nottalotta package deal. With environmental factors and changing costs also altering the vacation equation, the long-term outlook may start to swing back towards local and sustainable. Demand for wind breaks and beach umbrellas could be about to rocket.

Take a look at the next page for some UK destination suggestions: