AS many Swindonians return back from holday today, a new survey reveals that the average family holiday costs £1,942 a figure on average that is underestimated by £214.

And the investigation by Switch/Maestro cards reveals holidaying in the UK actually costs 60 per cent less than a holiday overseas.

The average cost of a family holiday in the UK this year was £1,103, compared to £2,725 for a trip abroad a difference of £1,622.

Overall, the average cost of a family holiday including travel & accommodation, food & drink, sightseeing, souvenirs and other expenses came to £1942.

Despite this, the two thirds of us (63 per cent) that have holidays are going abroad and believe it to be cheaper.

Half (49 per cent) think it will be less expensive to hop on a plane, with only a fifth realising the UK is cheaper.

The cost of travel and accommodation abroad was the biggest factor in making a British holiday better value.

The average price in the UK for a family was £597 67 per cent less than travelling and staying abroad (£1,822).

Holidays also cost more than we think. People who'd already taken their holiday said they'd spent £214 more than the estimates of those about to go.

Almost a third of us will not have been away on holiday at all this summer the main reason being that it is too expensive.