More people are turning to winter sun breaks to shake off the blues and banish cost of living worries. According to latest Brittany Ferries data, demand for one, two or three-month holidays has risen by 54 percent in the last two years.

In total, 510 sail-and-stay holidays in locations like the Algarve, Costa del Sol and Costa del Azahar have been booked for winter this year. That compares with just 331 for the same period two years ago. The company says the search for sunnier climes and cost of living factors at home, like rising gas and electricity bills, are driving the surge.

“Why spend winter in the UK, when you can enjoy a break of one, two or three months in locations like the Algarve or Costas, at a price that can be offset by savings at home,” said Paul Acheson, group director of sales and marketing Brittany Ferries. “That’s a question many customers are answering with a long-stay in Spain or Portugal.”

Winter sun packages in Spanish resorts start from just £678. In Portugal, the lead-in price is £708 per person. Self-catering accommodation includes leisure facilities like swimming pools and tennis courts on site, while the return cruise-ferry to Spain is included in the price.

Soaring utility prices are one reason for soaring demand, say the ferry company. For a three bedroom house in the UK, the average monthly gas and electricity bill is reported to be around £262^1,  more than a third of the cost of a winter sun break in Spain.

Some customers are even offsetting the cost of their holiday entirely by renting-out their property at home. According to Air B&B figures, the average two-bedroom home in Portsmouth commands a weekly rental of £714. That means a couple could offset the cost of a three-month winter sun break by renting their house back home for just six weeks.

“It involves a little bit of admin, but it’s very do-able,” added Acheson. “The most savvy travellers could actually make a winter sun break pay them. Rent received for your home in the UK, could actually be paying for another cocktail by the pool in the Algarve.”