Because of the recession skiing occupancies fell last snowboarding season.

This is even with excellent early season sales along with brilliant snow fall.

These falls in holidaymakers follows on from 7 years of continuous growth in the ski industry, and the number of snowboarders came down from 1.1 million in 2008 to 950000 last year.

Partly due to skiers giving the season a miss, whilst additional vacationers who would normally take two snowboarding breaks, merely took the one.

A fall of 15% was experienced by the independent travel sector with several budget airlines reducing the number of their routes to several airports.

Tour operators witnessed the numbers reducing by a similar 15%.

Notwithstanding, the leading tour operators market share stayed at a healthy 73% and the Alps in France continued to remain the most popular destination with around 37% of ski holidays.

Due to this several ski operators slashed the amount of catered chalets they rent this coming winter.

The luxury ski holiday market will see a drop in skiers due to the fact that a catered chalet costs the operator more with regards to chefs and hosts and rental if it is not sold.

It is unlikely therefore we will benefit from the deals that were on the market this winter.

Prices are in all likelihood to go up, they are unlikely to go up considerably.

As much as it is a British delight to jet away for two weeks in the sun every year, it isn’t always practical. What with colleagues battling for the same days off and the gloom of the credit crunch causing us to hold back on unnecessary spending, it can be stressful to attempt to plan a holiday that is both doable and affordable.

Sometimes all that we really need is a few days away from it all. That’s why weekend breaks can be so spectacular. You might think that just two or three days away won’t be enough, but the truth is that when you transport yourself away to a fresh new location – even if it’s just the next city across – the holiday feeling kicks in and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you stop thinking about the stresses of daily life and start relaxing.

In fact, weekend breaks are fast becoming one of the most popular types of holidays in the UK. They let people escape the daily drill for just enough time to clear their heads and don’t cost the earth. They’re also fantastic ways of letting you explore nearby cities you may never have dreamed of visiting before, despite them only being a short car journey away. As a way of exploring the different characteristics of British culture, city breaks are second to none. You arrive at your destination just long enough to get a true flavour of the local culture and will find yourself learning a great deal about the country you probably thought you knew inside out.

Although there’s something to be said about booking a flight into the sun, there’s so much going for weekend breaks within the UK that once you get a taste for them, you may find yourself wondering why you haven’t holidayed at home before. Every town and city in the UK has its very own personality and purpose, with local cuisines and social environments indigenous to that location alone – so get exploring and discover a whole new side to Britain.

As a way of getting away for a break from work and everyday stress, weekend breaks can really make all the difference. So for your next trip away, why not consider picking a UK destination and discover what’s on offer at home instead of away?