After weeks and weeks of dull, gloomy, freezing, snowy weather, planning the summer getaway is even more of a priority, despite the uncertain economic outlook. We might feel like we can't afford to spend as much on our holidays as in the past, but we're still going to have them somehow. There's nothing like that week or so of sunshine to keep you topped up.

Post Office Travel Money research shows that 77% of us plan to go away as much as we did last year, but eight out of ten say they'll adapt their travel plans to a tighter budget. So how do you take the same amount of holiday but spend less?

When was the last time you went on holiday? Can you even remember what it feels like to be warm? Or relaxed?

It seems we are far too busy to take a proper break.

Research commissioned on behalf of British Tourism Week has shown that UK workers take far less holiday than they are entitled to - and this is costing the British tourism industry dear.

That aside, it's clearly not good for our well-being.

Who would have thought a few years ago that one day a quarter of us would find it acceptable to pay extra just to be checked in?

Have we all been brainwashed by the budget airlines?

And do you know how these additional charges add up?

Fans travelling to the South Africa 2010 World Cup are being targeted by a range of scams and cons. So if you're considering travelling to the tournament, what should you watch for?

Tickets
Auction and small-ads websites such as Gumtree are listing many tickets to World Cup 2010 games which are either fakes or invalid. If you want a valid ticket, you must buy it from Fifa at Fifa.com or as part of a travel package sold by a Fifa-approved travel company.

Travel insurance is one of life's little annoyances. You know you need it, but having to sit down and sort it out is a bit of a chore. And unfortunately the older you get, the harder it can become to find a policy to suit you without paying extortionate premiums.

It's fair enough that insurance companies charge more to insure older travellers - you are more susceptible to many medical conditions, a lot of which make you a higher risk when travelling abroad, and particularly when you fly.

That said, as people live longer, and older generations stay more active, more over 50s are embarking on foreign adventures all the time. This means that insurance companies are starting to tailor-make policies more suited to the older age bracket. These policies aren't exactly common, but they do exist so it's just a question of knowing where to find them.

The consumer organisation Which? has scrutinised the UK's car insurance market to find out which brands offer the best policies. Instead of picking Best Buys based on specific scenarios that are only relevant in particular cases, its experts focused on the quality of policies.

Brands also had to combine a high standard of product with good customer service, as claiming on insurance is a stressful experience.

Somerville Road in Worcester (pictured) was bubble wrapped to highlight the importance of taking care on the roads, especially after a surge in insurance claims following bad weather in January. The street was named as having one of the highest numbers of car insurance claims in the UK in the last five years.

The euro is not having a great year amid the Greek debt crisis, but the pound is in a real pickle.

Even though fears of a double-dip recession are receding, sterling has been hammered again in recent days after polls suggested that Britain could get its first minority government since 1974.

So for people travelling to eurozone countries during their gap year or on holiday, or to the US, it's really important to shop around before you get your euros or dollars to make sure you get the best deal.

The worst place to exchange money is at the airport, despite all the ads for 0% commission.

Filling up the car has become something of an investment. As you pour seemingly endless gallons into the tank and watch the pounds clock up before your eyes, it's hard not to think of all the other things you could do with the money. £20, a new pair of jeans... £30, dinner out... £40, a family day out... £50, a week's groceries.

It just seems wrong to be literally burning through this money. And it is wrong, because a new report has revealed we are not only paying a fortune for our petrol, but the tax we pay on petrol is rising at twice the average rate in Europe, and up to five times as much as other countries.

So how do we compare, and what can we do about it?

The staycation is so last year. This summer Brits are jetting off to more exotic places like Egypt, South America and the Far East.

It looks like people have had their fill of holidaying at home, especially after last year's cold and wet summer.

But many don't just want to lie on the beach when they head abroad. Travellers are increasingly looking for more adventurous holidays that give them a sense of "personal fulfilment", according to the travel industry association ABTA.

So where should we go?

Drivers are increasingly swapping penalty points with partners to avoid one of them getting a ban. Up and down the country, dodgy couples are illegally colluding, but the worst offenders are in London, where 7% of drivers admitted it.

We know this from a survey by motor insurance company Direct Line, in which 2% nationally admitted talking a spouse into taking the rap for some dodgy driving. Three years ago, only 1.5% said they did it.

Drivers aged 18-35 are the most likely to go in for it, with 4% owning up.

Andy Goldby, director of motor underwriting at Direct Line, said: "Motorists are increasingly risking perverting the course of justice in order to maintain a clean licence, as well as to avoid a driving ban.However, trying to escape convictions by swapping points with another person is illegal and can lead to prosecution. Quite simply, it is not worth the risk."

But this isn't the only battle line being drawn between the authorities and motorists at the moment.