Shark tales make bigger headlines, but water pollution is far more common—and a greater threat to humans than the creature depicted in Jaws ever was. In the United States, fouled swimming water is responsible for tens of thousands of beach closings and health advisories every year. Although there is still no uniform federal protocol for testing water quality at beaches, information on water cleanliness at most of the nation's public swimming beaches can be found on the Environmental Protection Agency's site. Outside the United States, however, travellers are largely left to fend for themselves.

Most pollution at swimming beaches is caused by bacteria associated with fecal contamination. Some of these bacteria are harmless, but they are often accompanied by more pernicious pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella, giardia, and enteroviruses that cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other extremely unpleasant symptoms for the millions of swimmers who are exposed to them every year. Though rare, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid fever are among the more serious water-borne maladies found at beaches around the world.

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50 ways to save on your holidays

Richard Browning

SCHOOLS are clamping down on parents who take their children on holiday during term time. At best, to get permission for even one extra day off at either end of a holiday requires a degree of form filling and letter writing that wouldn't be out of place in a Soviet police station. Even then, the final decision rests on the whim of the chairman of governors.

While the difference a day makes to a child's education is unquantifiable, it can add thousands of pounds to the price of a family holiday. But with this option of saving money virtually outlawed, how do you stick within the rules without breaking the bank?

Here are some examples from the article on how to save money on your holiday. Visit This is Money to read the holiday article in full.

1. Book early
It may seem obvious but the holiday industry is like any other business affected by the basic economics of supply and demand. The best time to book, according to travel agent Trailfinders, is 11 months before you're due to travel. The flights have just been released and there's plenty of cheaper seats available.

2. Book late
The rules of supply and demand also apply in last few days before the departure date. If there are unsold seats and hotel rooms, you can bag a bargain with a few clicks of the mouse, or a phone call or two.

3. Buy a package
The internet has been a godsend for people who wish to bypass the travel agent and arrange their own trips. But here's a little-known tip: if you are booking a flight and a car, or flight and accommodation, by packaging the two deals together, an agent can often offer a much better deal than if you were to book separately, even online. Call it creative accounting if you will, but it can save hundreds of pounds on a long-haul trip.

Worldwide Holiday Homes feature 1,000 holiday homes in 51 countries across the World including France, Australia and USA. Book direct with the owner and receive experienced advice about the location and holiday accommodation.

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19. Haggle for your hotel by email
One tip we like is to find accommodation recommended in guide books and on the travel websites - then email them directly to check for availability. Wait a few weeks and check again. If it's still available you're in a strong position to haggle for a deal. Email is particularly useful for people who hate haggling face to face or by phone.

20. Collect newspaper tokens
Many newspapers have a travel club or offer travel discounts that involve collecting tokens. Some of them offer a fantastic opportunity to save money on your holiday. Others don't, so always read the small print.

21. Check the latest exchange rates
Fluctuations in the value of the pound can mean the difference between being able to afford a holiday in the US and not. At current rates, America is around 20% cheaper than a couple of years ago. Also, think about visiting countries with currencies aligned to the dollar such as those in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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40. Beware the passport photo 'scam'
The rules on passport photos are now so strict that if you use a photo booth it may take three or four attempts, around £14, before you get two pictures that obey all the rules on size, reflection, smile and head size. So forget the booths and go to a photographer who specialises in passport photos. You can refuse to pay if the pictures are no good.

41. The foreign school holiday trick
When travelling abroad, check out the timings of the school holidays in the country you are visiting. In France, the school summer holidays end before they do in the UK. If you can wait a few weeks longer than normal before going away you will find that rates in holiday accommodation drop dramatically since you are no longer in their peak period. You will need to book direct with the French operator and make sure you have the school uniform laid out ready for school the morning after you return.

42. Beat the fly-drive system
When taking a fly-drive holiday in Florida many of the package deals include a 'compact' car. When collecting your car from the hire desk the staff may try to convince you to pay for an upgrade using techniques such as explaining how uncomfortable a family of five will be in a compact car, which is a little bigger than a Ford Escort. However, you may find you get the upgrade without parting with any money. Americans tend not to hire compacts so the hire companies don't have many in stock. Reject any requests for additional costs, take the keys and go to the car lot, where hopefully you will find a much larger car, which hasn't cost you a cent more.

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Coming Soon A wide variety of holiday choices in the UK and also holidays in Europe and abroad.

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Greece & Greek Islands

Sample Holiday

Villa Randiana
Greece

Comfort & luxury on Paros, the Greek island with something for everyone. A mid-size car hire included with villa.

Thank you for visiting our holiday travel site where you are sure to find the holiday of your dream whether it's family holidays in Spain or late deals to somewhere more exotic. We hope we have a package holiday to suit all your needs from scuba diving in the Red Sea to weekend breaks for UK holidays.

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