Autumn may well be a time of "mists and mellow fruitfulness" as far as those of us who live in Northern Europe are concerned, but as the days get shorter and the nights grow longer and darker, it is sometimes very difficult to look forward with optimism when the full force of winter weather is about to be unleashed upon us for what seems like an eternity!

If this is how you are feeling, then you are not alone... many people suffer from the "blues" at this time of year. So what better way to bring some sunshine into your life both literally and metaphorically, than to start planning your next sunshine holiday.

With the children now back at school and the cool chill of shorter autumn days now upon us, your thoughts may already be turning to next summers holiday or perhaps you are looking to get away from the damp and dreary British winter for a few days in sunnier climes.

So once you have drawn up your shortlist of suitable countries where the amount of sunshine and average daily temperature is significantly warmer than Margate or Skegness in January or July, the next most important decision is where to stay. What type of holiday accommodation will be most suitable for you and the family?

With the growth of the internet, the advent of cheap and plentiful flights especially throughout Europe, there is so much choice and flexibility when it comes to booking a holiday break whether it be a weekend in Paris to a full two week break with all the family in Spain... The world has become a much smaller place over the last 15 to 20 years and resorts which seemed almost unreachable only a few years ago due to either a lack of suitable flights or the prohibitive costs, are now well within the reach of many of us ordinary travellers!

Your choice really is without limit! Fancy a holiday villa in Majorca, Menorca or Ibiza, a stunning apartment in Tenerife, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, a vacation rental in one of the many states in America, even South Africa or Australia. Wherever you want to go, you are sure to find the right type of accommodation to suit your needs!

However despite all of these wonderful choices of destinations, the wrong choice of holiday accommodation can put a real dampener on what should be a time of carefree relaxation under foreign skies, a time to relax and distress from the daily grind in the UK.

For families of more than the typical 2 parents and 2 children, and for those who may consider extended winter breaks for example, the typical hotel offering can be very restrictive not to mention the expense!

This is a trend which is gathering real pace and momentum as more and more people are discovering the joys and pleasures and freedom which comes from renting a private holiday villa or self catering accommodation.

With the advent of holiday home ownership, many owners are looking to create a regular stream of rental income from their investment in the sun and or the ski slopes and so the choice of property available to rent is undoubtedly greater than ever before.

Renting your own holiday apartment in Tenerife or Lanzarote, a holiday villa in Majorca or Menorica or a holiday cottage in Scotland or Wales, gives you so much more flexibility in terms of privacy, sleeping arrangements, and quite simply, being able to do what you want when you want! No more rushing down 6 flights of hotel stairs each morning to make sure you don't miss breakfast!

It has never been easier to locate holiday apartments and holiday villas to rent and all manner of self catering holiday accommodation anywhere in the world!

The advent of the Internet has given rise to many holiday property rental websites where you can choose in the comfort of your own home, the resort, the time and the type of accommodation which suits you best.

The choice of accommodation and the countries where these self catering rental accommodations can be found, is limitless. There are villas or apartments to rent in Florida, Spain or even the Caribbean, with private or shared pools on or near golf courses, quaint country cottages in France, England or Ireland, townhouses in Tenerife, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura with shared gardens and pool complexes, mountain chalets in the French, Italian, Austrian and Swiss Alps, suitable for self catering, walking , skiing and adventure holidays.

So whatever your budget, you will find a good quality and reputable holiday property rental website can provide you with rental holiday and self catering accommodation to suit your every need whether its a golf holiday, a weekend city break or some form of exciting activity holiday or that relaxing beach holiday.

Renting self -catering accommodation including holiday villas allows you to make the most of what each country has to offer.

From coastal villas, apartments, townhouses, studios or rustic fincas you can take advantage of wonderful sun drenched beaches, fabulous golfing resorts, or if it's rural tranquillity which you seek, then accommodation set against a backdrop of soaring mountain peaks, lush green valleys and quiet rural retreats will be just for you.