Blog: The school holidays are around the corner, and for Shropshire families, that means just one thing – a big hike in holiday prices.

It’s traditionally the most expensive time of the year to take the kids away, but with the pound relatively weak, the cost of living once you make it abroad is also spiralling.

And yet, there are still some decent deals to be found. British travellers can expect good value for their money in Greece and the USA, for example, according to Maria Whiteman, chief executive at tour operator Directline Holidays.

She says: “With 1.6 dollars to the British pound, holiday spending money will stretch a further in the US, giving savvy holidaymakers more bang for their buck in resort. Combined with some exceptional pricing, Florida is a great choice for a family holiday in 2011.”

She adds: “In addition, hotels across Greece are cutting prices to counter negative sentiment around recent civil unrest on the mainland and reinvigorate interest in the country.

“This is great news for British holidaymakers keen to head for sun-drenched islands which remain relatively unaffected by the protests.”

Six adults staying in the Disney area of Orlando in a four-star, three-bedroom villa in mid-September will pay from as little as £633 per person for seven nights including flights from Gatwick.

At the end of August, Directline Holidays offers seven nights’ room-only at the three-star Econo Lodge Inn on International Drive – two miles from SeaWorld and Universal Orlando – from £550, including return flights.

On the Greek island of Kefalonia, Directline Holidays offers seven-night self-catering holidays based on two-star apartments in Skala from £264, including return flights and transfers.

However, Platon Loizou, at Jewel in the Crown Holidays, thinks it’s Turkey which is best placed to pick up late bookings for July and August.

“I think Turkey will appeal strongly to families who compare living costs before they go,” he says.

“I have 14-night B&B packages around Marmaris and Ovacik, from July 22 out of Manchester, from £414, which is just over £200 per week, and living costs when you get there are some way below Greece, which is becoming one of the most expensive places in Europe.

Thomas Cook identifies Turkey, Greece and Spain as the hotspots for this summer, with family deals offering particularly good value.

It offers seven nights’ B&B at a three-star hotel in Kusadasi, Turkey, from £869 for a family of three, including return flights from Birmingham on August 3, and 14 nights self-catering in Fuerteventura, in the Canaries, from £1,379, for a family of three, departing on August 20. That works out at little more than £100 per per day, for three people.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of travel money, said: “Holidaymakers will get over six per cent fewer euros for their pounds than last summer so travel cash will not stretch nearly so far. Families changing £250 now will have the equivalent of £87 fewer euros to spend.”