The following guest post is contributed by Lucia Monlia, a wannabe travel writer who also works in the travel industry and mainly writes for Keycamp and Eurocamp.

In my opinion there are few better ways to see the world than on self-catering holidays. I have never been one for eating in fancy restaurants and the sight of efficient waiters with those giant pepper mills and a fixed smile on their faces gives me the creeps. Hotel buffet meals are a bit more relaxed but I find that they tie me to the hotel too much during the day when I would rather be out exploring.

Because of this I tend to look for a way to eat which is less formal, and I discovered that doing this is also a fantastic way to get a better insight into the place. The best way I can explain this is with some examples

Spanish Picnics

I had never realised that the Spanish loved their picnics so much. If you see any local holidaymakers on the beach there they will almost certainly have several pieces of Tupperware with them. The classic Spanish omelette is a surprisingly brilliant picnic dish and a small box of olives are fantastic for snacking on. A cheeky bottle of vino might even make it into my bag on occasion when I am in Spain.

Argentine Barbeques

The Argentine people are famous for being lovers of food and they are enormously carnivorous. When I was there I managed to wangle myself an invite to a family barbeque with some locals. This is a traditional way to spend a Sunday and it was a great day out. I ate cuts of meat which I had never seen anywhere else and it was all washed down with a frankly bizarre herbal infusion they call mate.

The days when I couldn’t gatecrash a family gathering I discovered that all the shops sell tasty ham and cheese sandwiches at lunch time and that the little chocolate coated alfajores would probably make all my teeth fall out if I stayed there too long.

French Rambling

France is possibly the best country in the world for a self-catering delight. If you are on family holidays, it cannot get better. The bread alone is a pleasure to eat and the markets are worth spending some time wandering around. I have always wanted to get on a bike and ride out into the countryside while carrying a huge baguette which waves about in the wind. The chance hasn’t quite arisen yet so up until now I have settled for looking for city parks and riverside walks to settle down and have a treat.

British Taste

Even when I stay in the UK I can enjoy snacks and meals I don’t normally eat. For instance, when I was on a self catering trip to Yorkshire I bought some amazing local cheese and pickle and had a top picnic on a hill with a terrific view.

One of the amazing things I find when I do this sort of thing is that loads of people talk to me. This happens everywhere I have been to and I was particularly surprised to find that even normally reserved British folk would stop and say things like, “Ooh, that looks lovely”. It definitely beats eating in a restaurant any day.

Many of us are guilty of putting off going on holiday, even if we really need the break, as we are worried about spending our hard-earned cash. This is where all-inclusive getaways come in. These are affordable deals that cover your flights, accommodation, food and drinks, so once you have paid up, there is no need to spend anything else if you don’t want to.

As a result, packages providing all-inclusive cheap holidays to Turkey, Cyprus, the Canaries and other well-known destinations have become popular with thrifty Brits – meaning we have no excuse not to escape the confines of our offices and busy lives every now and again!

Some of the top reasons why the nation is increasingly switching on to the benefits of all-inclusive holidays are listed below.

1. Spending is kept to a minimum

Once you’ve booked your break, you won’t need to do much saving when it comes to spending money. If you choose to stick to your hotel’s bars and restaurants, you won’t need to fork out a single penny on your meals and drinks. Of course, you might want to venture outside the complex on a couple of nights, and you will certainly be able to afford to with all the money you will have saved during the rest of your stay.

After booking a break, the thing I look forward to the most (aside from not having to work for a week or two, of course!) is the local food. All-inclusive deals mean I can eat and drink to my heart’s content, without watching my finances. This will be especially important for those of you who have kids, as you’ll want to enjoy family meals and treat youngsters to ice-creams.

All-inclusive packages often cover the use of the complex’s facilities, such as the spa, kids’ club, whirlpool and games room, so there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Should the sun get a bit too much for you, this gives you the freedom to enjoy a spa session, before wandering over for a game of pool.

2. Once booked, everything is sorted

Once your all-inclusive holiday is booked, all you need to do is look forward to your break. Well, you might have to treat yourself to some new clothes and decide what to pack, but the hard work is done. There is no need to worry about getting from the airport to your hotel or making sure you arrive at the hotel in time for check-in – your travel agent will have arranged everything for you. You can even throw in car hire and travel insurance if you want.

I can be a bit of a worrier when it comes to getting to and from places, so knowing I have my transport sorted for when I arrive, quite often very late at night, takes a massive weight off my mind. If I didn’t choose a package deal, I’d have to arrange everything separately – the flights, hotel, insurance, car hire. It would be really annoying to find a hotel I loved, only to discover there were no flights available for when there was space.

3. Your finances will be protected

Should your airline go into administration or your hotel has to close, you will be relieved to hear that all-inclusive package holidays are covered under the ATOL protection scheme. This means while you’ll be left disappointed, you won’t be left out of pocket. It’s not quite as clear cut if you book the different parts of your holiday separately, which is why I always go for package deals.