Sunshine holidays, including those to Portugal property, are not being sacrificed by Brits counting the recession-time pennies, it has been claimed.

Travel agents Thomson and First Choice state that short-haul holidays to Portugal property are as popular as ever with sun-seeking Brits, as are staple long-haul holidays to US destinations such as Florida property vacations.

A spokesperson for the company commented: "Our own research in November […] showed a staggering 88 per cent […] would cut back in other ‘luxuries’ such as eating out and home improvement, rather than cutting back on their holidays.

"Fifty nine per cent said that even if they had to cut back on spending, their main annual holiday would be the last thing they would give up."

The British love affair with the guaranteed sunshine offered by Portugal property is further reinforced by a 2008 PricewatwerhouseCoopers survey, where the majority of consumers ranked holidays and short breaks as their top two spending priorities.

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