Where do the French go on their summer holidays ?

WELL, this year they're staying put. Consumer confidence is at a record low in France. According to a survey carried out by the Sud Ouest Dimanche newspaper, 51% of french households have tightened the belt on holiday spending this year.

All other recent studies carried out since the original poll on May 11th have confirmed the trend and since then rising fuel prices have had an even greater impact.

One hotel owner in Biarritz commented that "we have seen a drop in the numbers of people from Bordeaux and Toulouse taking weekend breaks here over the last year but there has been an even sharper fall in numbers taking their cars in recent months."

A recent survey commissioned by the Regional Committee of Tourism of Poitou-Charentes revealed that "french holidaymakers were are tending to reduce the length of their stay on holiday and also increasingly attempt to haggle accomodation rates."

The Ipsos institute, which conducts an annual holiday barometer for Europ Assistance, has even ventured to quantify the decline.

They estimate an average holiday spend of 1,934 euros per household in France in 2008, which marks a drop of 72 euros compared to the previous year.

According to another study by LH2, the number of people who have decided not to take holidays in France this year rose to 8% from 4% last year.

The Ipsos surveys a number of different European countries. The only other country in Europe showing a similar downward trend is Spain.

The rising cost of fuel is the single biggest reason for the Spanish and French deciding to stay at home.

Ipsos say that 34% of European holidaymakers think it will have an impact on the mode of transport, 29% on the destination and 23% over the length of stay.

Although the stay at home French will be more frugal than normal this year it should still mean a modest income boost for local hotels and restaurants.

Of course, it's hard to feel sorry for the French and Spanish having to stay at home this summer.

I'm sure we can all think of much worse places to holiday.