Hard times put holidays on hold

Four in ten Scots have ruled out taking a holiday this year because of rising costs, according to research.

Most of those who won't be going away for a holiday say they can't afford it, a survey by Glasgow Credit Union (GCU) found, with cost the biggest factor dictating holiday plans for half of Scots.

And as households feel the impact of rising household bills and fuel prices, continued difficulties in getting affordable credit and a rise in flight surcharges, those heading overseas are having to make cutbacks elsewhere. Two-thirds of Scots planning a holiday intend to go abroad, with half believing it is cheaper than a UK-based break.

Paul McFarlane, head of operations at GCU, said: "Many of our members have booked their time off work but are waiting to book last-minute deals. There are some great deals to be snapped up if you are flexible about where you travel to."