Mrs B suggested a few ideas for those who are trying to book their holiday in France but are concerned it will be too expensive next year. So here they are.

1) Shared swimming pools

For many people, a swimming pool is indispensable on holiday, even more so perhaps for those with children. Hours of entertainment, and a great way to cool down at the end of the day.

But if you usually book a gite or villa with a private pool, this year why not also take a look at those with a shared pool?

When a pool is shared between only a couple of properties you will often find you have it to yourself anyway, and our experience is that very often families strike up friendships with those in the other property. (We have a pool shared between out two gites, and it is probably completely unused for more than 75% of the time, even in mid-summer).

2) Spend less eating out

Going to French restaurants is one of the great pleasures of a holiday in France. But apparently many restaurants in France are having a hard time because the first thing people cut down on when trying to save money is eating out in restaurants. It doesn’t have to be like this!

Many restaurants have a lunch menu and an evening menu with completely different prices, and it is often possible to eat for half the cost at lunchtime – perhaps 12 euros per person instead of 25 euros.

3) Don’t spend all day in the car

Some places are, to say the least, a little remote – and some people are looking for a remote location. Good so far.

But if you like to see lots of things and do lots of things, check out the exact location of your destination before you book. There are some towns and villages where there are numerous things of interest close to hand, and others where ‘only 25 kilometres from a small 12th century village church with a fascinating recreation of a 17th century pulpit’ is the big attraction.

‘Mediterranean beaches at just 90 minutes drive’ really means ‘beaches a pretty long way away’!

If you don’t want to spend half your time in the car, and the other half in the petrol station forecourt, be sure which you are choosing.

4) Shops and markets

Being within a few kilometres of a supermarket is very useful, to avoid buying everything in small expensive local shops. Markets are usually very good for vegetables and fruit – and French markets are part of the big appeal of a holiday in France.

But be aware that whilst you can buy good quality cheap fruit and vegetables at your local market meat, cheese and bread are often more expensive in the markets than in local shops (these are usually artisan made and very tasty but at a price). It is very easy to run up a big bill in a French market!

5) Book now or wait for a last-minute bargain

Always a tough choice, and there is always the possibility that France will be awash with unbooked gites at bargain prices next summer. But possibly not, if people decide a ‘holiday in France’ is a cheap alternative to their usual more exotic wanderings. And the late-availability properties won’t necessarily be the ones you would have chosen in the first place.

I think it is better to book before, say, Easter – perhaps even before Christmas for the best choice – and to choose the best property you can find in your price range.

In previous years I’m pretty sure this has worked out better for people, who end up in a property they like the look of at a reasonable price. I also believe it will continue to hold true for 2009…but I am a bit less sure than normal!

6) Never ever buy petrol in remote outposts

Petrol stations in small towns and villages frequently charge a very high mark-up on the petrol price when compared with larger towns, supermarket chains etc. Keep an eye on prices at your destination and don’t end up paying much more than you need to.