In times of economic hardship there has been another good sign that consumer confidence isn't as low as many expected.

According to research by Sainsbury's Travel Insurance, nearly 30% of British adults are on course to book a holiday before February, which is “encouraging” news says the insurer. The research found that 28% are planning on booking between December and February, with 13% in January and 11% in February.

“It's really encouraging to see that people are still planning to get away despite the credit crunch, which just shows the importance of a holiday to the British public.” Commented Sam Marrs, from the Insurer.

“When booking a break though, it’s imperative that people don’t see travel insurance as merely an add-on – they need to ensure that they have comprehensive cover so that if the worst does happen, they will be looked after properly and not out of pocket,” he added.