It is easy to see why Dubai is a top tourist destination. Visitors are attracted by beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, Bedouin markets, and the legendary duty-free shopping.

Whilst some places in the world are the preserve of the elite, the philosophy in Dubai is to treat all visitors like they are VIPs. With its many shopping malls, fabulous restaurants and night clubs the city certainly delivers on this promise.

Of course no Dubai holiday would be complete without a glamorous hotel to stay in and there is great range of hotels in Dubai to choose from. For those after the very top of the range of luxury hotels then the place to stay has to be the fabulous Burj Al Arab Hotel, the self-proclaimed world’s first seven star hotel, which stands on a man-made island in the Jumierah bay. Other luxury hotels in Dubai include the beautiful Address Downtown Burj Hotel and the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort. For the more price conscious traveller, you can still stay in luxury one of Dubai’s lower budget hotels like the Dream Palace.

It would be very easy to pigeon hole Dubai as destination that only caters for shopaholics. (After all they did invent the Dubai Shopping Festival for that very purpose). However you don’t need to scratch far below the surface to find the rich culture diversity of the historic city. As well as the modern malls, there are traditional markets or souks and Dubai is also developing cultural tourism with the formation of Dubai Cultural Village. Traditional sail boats, dhows, are still used around Dubai’s coast and you can try your hand at camel racing. The Dubai Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour provides a great opportunity to explore the City and its outlying areas.

Whether you are attracted by hi-tech glamour of the “shopping capital of the Middle East” or by the rich cultural history, Dubai is a holiday destination that offers something to attract all travellers. Flights to Dubai are available from most of the UK’s major airports. Some of the cheapest flights to Dubai are offered by Netflights, with fares starting from as low as £233.

Of course, England isn’t necessarily known for its fabulous climate and weather, but by heading to the country’s most southern tip you may not be guaranteeing endless sunshine, but you certainly are heading for the area that always has the best summers; Cornwall is called ‘England’s Riviera’ for a good reason.

Devon has some of the best beaches in the country

With a varied coastline and some beautiful countryside Devon and Cornwall offers something for everyone. The beaches are some of the best in the country and there are plenty historic places of interest to visit. The waves off the Cornish coast offer the UK’s finest surfing conditions and for the more adventurous there fantastic opportunities for more ‘extreme’ sports.

Devon and Cornwall have an awesome range of self catering accommodation available and whether you are a couple seeing a romantic break, a family seeking fun or a group of mates wanting a week of surf and sand, you’ll be able find something to suit your  needs, not to mention your budget.

A couple seeking a relaxing retreat may like to try The Coach House, Badham Farm, Looe, in an idyllic country location in South East Cornwall that was once a part of Prince Charles’ Duchy Estate.  For a family of four, 5 Harbour View Close, Brixham offers child friendly facilities in a quiet close that is just minutes from the beach and town centre. If you’re looking for a holiday for you and a group of mates, 7 Trehellan Heights, Newquay is ideal, located within stumbling distance of the world famous surfing hot spot, Fistral Beach and within walking distance of Newquay’s vibrant town centre.

With the M6 providing great road links into the area, Devon and Cornwall is an accessible part of the country. There is a large rail network covering the two counties and using The Train Line’s online ticket booking system you can easily find cheap rail fares. You can even fly there, with British Airways flying from London Gatwick to Newquay, whilst Air Southwest and flybe both offer flights from airports around the UK.

Devon and Cornwall have something to offer everyone and can offer a viable cost saving alternative to travelling overseas in this time when many of us are having to watch the pennies. Self catering offers great flexibility; whatever the reason for your break with England’s Riviera offering a selection for all tastes and budgets. Take a look at the selection at HolidayCottagesInDevonAndCornwall.co.uk and you could soon be enjoying a great British Summertime.

Remember Mr and Mrs Smug, the couple who ruined your holiday boasting how they’d paid £299 at the last minute to book the same package you booked six months before for £599? Well, increasingly late bookers have far less to gloat about.

Those last-minute prices may look tempting, but often they don’t include the “extras”.

The later you book, the less choice you have - and you're stuck with the leftovers

Discounted holidays with the “too-good-to-be-true” headline prices of £199 are higher when you add on the extras. The big travel companies make buyers of discounted, last-minute deals (ie, bought eight weeks or less before departure) pay for many things you’d consider standard in a normal holiday package. Many companies now penalise late bookers by charging ‘late deal’ bookers extra for airport transfers, limits their luggage to 331bs instead of 441bs, and ration the time and help available from resort reps. These charges and others like them can add, on average, £50 to a holiday’s headline price.

Some of the best deals out there go to early bookers (but you must get your timing right).

A good time to book is when the new travel brochures first hit the shelves (it’s like queuing on the opening day of a department store sale). The first set of summer 2009 brochures were launched back in April, before most people had even taken their summer 2008 break. The second edition will be released in August, so be ready for them. Companies are filling these brochures with deals for early bookers - and being meaner to late ones. For example, there are limited numbers of free child places, and these are often only connected to the first and second editions of brochures. You can also get cheaper group bookings from early brochures (where one person in 10 goes free), and free insurance - as well as the best choice of hotels and flight times.

The later you book, the less choice you have - and you’re stuck with the leftovers.

Late bookers like shoppers on the last day of the January sales, are only going to be successful if they’re flexible. Not everyone wants (or car fit into) tangerine, size-8 Capri pants or is willing to risk being allocated any old hotel on arrival, If you want to fly from a local airport in daylight, stay in an ocean-facing room with a balcony, or travel during school holidays and still get a bargain, book sooner rather than later. This way you avoid rummaging in the end-of-sale bargain bin.

Demand for last-minute deals can outstrip supply, causing prices to shoot up.

This certainly happened in recent years. Packages in July and August went up, on average, £40 above the prices printed in brochures - there simply weren’t enough late deals to go around.

Low-cost and scheduled airlines are now geared up to make late bookers pay extra.

All airlines use sophisticated yield management computer systems to regulate the number of seats sold at the lowest fares. And low-cost airlines such as Transavia, easyJet and Ryanair have limited blocks of seats at the headline fares. So, when you see an offer for £29 per person return, you’ll only get that price if you’re one of the first to book. Week by week, until the flight departs, remaining ticket prices will go up. Airlines work on the principle that those who book last are the most desperate to get away and can pay accordingly.

A Ryanair spokesman says: To get the best prices, it helps to book at least three weeks in advance. People flying at the last minute will pay much more.

Wait too long to book a flight and it could end up costing you hundreds of pounds more. So, in short, plan ahead and next time you swap notes on prices with somebody, chances you’ll be the smug one!