Looking to leave town this Christmas? Many UK families and individuals choose to take this opportunity to take advantage of the season of bargain holiday deals on travel. Taking holidays to southern Europe, America, or Asia can be an appealing reprieve from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays. Some of the most popular destinations for the travelling English are island getaways, such as trips to Hawaii or the Bahamas. Others go to Orlando, Florida, to enjoy the sea, sun, and occasional alligator - or the towering fantasy land of Disney's theme park.

The holiday season is a great time to save money on bargain holiday deals, although the sheer number of people travelling does make it a bit more difficult to find a clearance airfare sale. Actually, because of the number of people who take this time for holidays, many travel agencies, airlines, and resorts are competing for customers' business. This means that each tries to outdo the other with lowered prices, giving you, the consumer, the best possible deal. Many companies cut their fares lower and lower, some even offering half-price specials on certain days of the month.

Non-discounted flights can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the cost of room and board, but with bargain holiday deals through local airlines and business, you can receive a significant discount on your trip. Look for cheap fares with each separate company - your airlines, your hotel, any restaurants you expect to visit, car rental - and then take a look at travel package deals. Package bargains often include discounted airfares, as well as several amenities including hotel, food, and car rental, for a highly discounted price. Package deals run at a low of about 1,000 pounds for three days, with prices going up from there. Another good tactic is to wait and look for last-minute deals, as airlines and travel agencies will often offer incredible discounts to those willing to make a late bid.

Hawaii is absolutely one of the most popular destinations for people on holidays, especially those seeking reprieve from the grey and dreary winter months. Hawaiian Airlines go all out to meet the demands of the season, offering special holiday deals as well as air miles incentives. This is a good thing to keep in mind, since if you do visit Hawaii, you will almost certainly use Hawaiian Air for inter-island travel - international flights generally land only in Honolulu, which will probably serve as the jumping-off point to trips to other islands, beaches, jungles, and volcanoes. Maui is a beautiful place to start, with its rolling green mountains, pristine waterfalls, and the best surfing in the islands.

Another prime place for beautiful beaches and superb surfing is the Bahamas Islands, located in the Caribbean between Florida and Haiti. There are over 700 islands in this chain of tropics, including many well-serviced resorts and tourist hotspots as well as many unpopulated islands. Some of the most incredible beaches in the world are there, with fine, pale, powdery sand, and crystal blue water, not to mention palm trees and coconuts. The main holiday destination in the Bahamas is the New Provincial Island, where the island capital Nassau is located. From there, you can cross a bridge to the famous Paradise Island, a virtual wonderland of resort hotels, luxurious restaurants, and fantastic golf courses. For the more naturally ocean inclined, there are a variety of diving courses and opportunities available, from surfing lessons to snorkelling in shark-infested lagoons. (Not all lagoons offer access to these beasts of the deep, of course - sharks are actually quite rare in most places, and attacks virtually never occur.) Other activities such as hikes and nature walks, sailing, paragliding, and marine parks and aquariums are also available, not to mention the dining on incredible fresh seafood.

Just a short hop from the islands is another popular tourist destination: Orlando, Florida. Home of Disney World's famous resort, this city is an epicentre for tourist activities, complete with beaches, booze, and of course, the famous theme park. It is also an excellent cheap holiday bargain; package deals for hotel stay and two tickets to Disneyland can be found for just $99, or about 80 pounds. Flights out to Florida can also be found for cheap, and since Orlando has a major international airport, you save on the additional cost of layovers or zigzag trips. Flights from the UK to Orlando can be obtained for less than a thousand pounds. Package deals are definitely the way to go, though, if you want to save money in Orlando - many, many, businesses compete to offer the best combination of hotel, car rental, dining, and of course, passes to Disney World or Universal Passes. You will probably save the most money by finding the cheapest available airfare first, and then buying a discounted holiday package to swim, play, eat, and more. Happy Holidays!