Now is the time to buy a holiday home abroad.  Because of the global financial crisis the cost of property worldwide has plummeted, so if you do have a nest egg and have always fancied that place of your own on the shores of a blue ocean, don’t hesitate.

What makes a holiday home your very own holiday home?  It may sound irrelevant, but I believe it’s important that the home truly reflects your personality and is not just one of many others ready for rental.  Why not transport some of your much loved furniture to the new place overseas by turning to a reliable international firm such as say Alliance Shipping Companies or another similar international removal firm?  When you finally arrive for the first time at your new home in Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia or the Czech Republic, you’ll immediately feel you belong.  Eastern European properties are particularly in demand of late and there are many bargains to be had.

Properties in Florida – especially around the Orlando Disney area have become extremely affordable.  Unbelievable to think you can purchase a home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a pool and spa all at the cost of around £120,000!  Before the global economy collapsed the same home would have cost around £190,000.  Even cheaper bargains are available, again many with a pool and spa.  These homes are in perfect condition and usually on what are called “Gated communities” with a guard on duty 24/7.  Now is definitely the time to consider purchasing a holiday home abroad.

If you’re not tied in to school holiday times to take your annual break, you’d do far worse than to consider taking advantage of low cost winter holidays in the sun.  From Spain to Egypt, Morocco to Mexico, the sun shines, the sangria tastes just as good and the cost of accommodation is a far cry from what it will be in the summer months.

One of the most popular destinations for American or Canadian vacationers is Florida during the winter months.  New Yorkers, aged over 55 who are usually retired and well-pensioned, look to avoid the freezing temperatures and enjoy a balmy time in around 70 degrees of warmth “Down South”.  These so-called “Snow birds” are usually better off financially and healthier than indigenous Floridians, mostly white and can book to stay anything from two to five months.  It would seem that almost a million temporary residents (or Snowbirds) call Florida their home during the winter months – usually including December and January.

The accommodation is so reasonably priced during this time; it’s possible to pay say $5,000 (or £3,335) for say, three months.  A fraction of what a hotel would cost and you can fit a family of 8 into a family villa with own private pool and spa.  Other reasons why Snowbirds flock to Florida – especially Orlando and the Disney area – is that the theme parks are not so full.  It’s busy over Christmas in Orlando, but the rest of the time you’ll find the Malls, International Drive and the theme parks comfortable to visit.  Just imagine – minutes away from attractions, miles away from stress!

Fancy getting seriously Far Flung?  After a year slogging behind a desk 9-5 anyone might be forgiven the desire to let it all hang out on an adventure and exploration holiday.  Adrenaline is free all over the globe.  Your air fare won’t be free, but with a little judicious research and planning you can find great deals all over the world to satisfy any adrenaline junky’s wildest dreams.

So what’s available?  You might fancy abseiling Table Mountain, in Cape Town, South Africa or heli-rafting in Queenstown.  How about Sky Diving on the Gold Coast or Base jumping the Perrine Bridge in the ISA?  Hit the trail diving and mountain biking in Vietnam, swim with humpback whales in Tonga or go on an expedition to watch Saami reindeer migrate in Norway.  The choice is yours.

If you want to take the family along and the budget won’t stretch to trekking in the Gokyo region of Northeast Nepal, try Wales.  You can book into a fantastic so-called “Eco-Lodge” and spend days adventuring.  Try the Sea-Kayaking and the kite boarding and on days’ off walk through bluebell woods and paddle in rock pools.  It’s all there for the taking whatever age, whatever your fitness and wherever you want to find adventure!

Before you say “No, you’re alright – I’ll just stay here on this lounger with my mag!” consider this: an adventure or exploration holiday can offer you more than the same view from the same beach each day.  You’ll avoid those tacky souvenirs, get fit and feel a real sense of achievement and fulfilment.

“It’s Monday – it must be Madagascar!”  Yes, you can become travel weary if you’ve a mind when traversing the globe, but why would you?  It’s going to be the best time in your life, sharing a fantastic ship with anything from two hundred to five thousand other lucky people, depending on your cruise line.

Arriving on board, you will unpack just the once before settling into your cabin for a world cruise.  These days you can choose a cruise that suits your age, life style and interests.  Onboard activities range from napkin folding to wine tasting, surfing to skittles.  Jogging tracks, boutiques, spas and lectures during the day, fantastic shows by night.

Of course “the world” means different things to different people.  Your itinerary can include time in the Med, the Caribbean, Hawaii, South America, northern Europe or Australia.  If you were to include so many destinations on a flying trip, you’d soon be exhausted, dispirited and desperate to go home.  On a global cruise, the world is your oyster and there’ll be a different destination awaiting you almost every day as you wake up in your luxury, ocean front cabin.

A fabulous cruise ship has all the advantages of a five star resort!  The food is to die for and you’ve already paid for meals, snacks, onboard activities, night time attractions and the incredible destinations.

Believe it or not a world cruise may just be the start of your wonderful relationship with cruise liners.  Once you get a taste for it you’ll want to return again and again.  Apparently there are a higher percentage of satisfied customers who return to cruise again, than on any other type of holiday!

They still exist apparently: the happily retired on a good pension.  Although, in the future, there will be less of us able to do as we please from the age of 60-65, some retirees who got there before the financial downturn can enjoy good, long holidays abroad – whenever they wish.

They’re not the only ones who can take time out to explore our world though!  Teachers enjoy a good six weeks of holiday each year, including Christmas and Easter holidays that add up to a fair amount of freedom.  Students on a gap year can grasp a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to see what’s out there, grow in maturity and experience different cultures as well.  Then there are the people enjoying a “sabbatical”.  After a long time of employment with some companies – say 25 years – employees are offered a gift of money and some time off to travel the world.  This, highly prized reward, is something that is dying out these days, but some businesses still uphold the tradition.

Of course travel writers, broadcasters and authors researching for their next novel may well enjoy time abroad finding inspiration and peace and quiet to complete their work.  Speaking personally, I look forward to joining the ranks of “Snowbirds” who flock to Florida from colder climes, in the early months of each year.  They’re called “Snowbirds” because they’re usually retired, have grey hair and “fly,” or migrate, from the cold to the warmth for two or three months, enjoying low cost (out of season) accommodation and freedom to relax. Can’t be bad.