Holiday lets are very much back in the headlines.
I have seen a number of articles about people using their pension money to invest in them, come pension reform in 2015.
British tourism is also on the rise and self-catering breaks are the biggest growth sector.
The credit card advert about providing medical help for "over 12,000 people struck down with tummy bugs abroad each year" also helps paint a compelling picture for holidaying at home. 
Not to mention social unrest abroad.
And holiday companies going into administration - just as Villa Parade did a few days ago - meaning around10,000 Brits lost their summer holiday.
All these factors - and more - are persuading people to re-discover the U.K. as a holiday destination.
When deciding where to buy a holiday let, the single most important factor to consider is ...
How long does it take to get there from major population centres?
This will have a huge impact on your occupancy as within 1 - 2 hours of a major population area, you will be able to increase your occupancy through the growing phenomenon of the "stay-cation" or long weekend break.
Devon and Cornwall are popular ANNUAL holiday destinations and are crammed during June/July/August ... but struggle outside of the high season.
Taking inspiration from the RightMove "Draw a search" tool, you could draw a search area 100 miles around a major population area or city and then identify locations within that search area.
Make sure that all transport links - road, rail, bus, air - can deliver your guests quickly and efficiently to your doorstep.
Other important things to add to the mix:
Coastal locations with good beaches always feature very highly on the wish list of holiday makers, so sandy beaches with shallow clean water for little ones are a big driver for occupancy and will allow you to tap into the family market.
Fine dining is also very important to guests now. Is there a choice of restaurants in the area from family eateries to gourmet options? Is there a dining option within walking distance of the property? Is takeaway available? Do supermarkets deliver in the area?
A YEAR ROUND programme of events and activities are also big drivers for holiday lets occupancy.
What is there to see and do in the area that will attract holiday makers?
Now drilling down onto the actual property ...
Is it easy to access with parking?
Guests will not want to arrive on a Friday night and find that they have to unload their luggage on a busy main road!
Is the property in a clean and well cared for area?
Does the property photograph well? Remember, 98% of people search for a holiday let on line and will be hugely influenced by the photographs as they "buy with their eyes".
A pretty weatherboarded cottage is going to get many more eyeballs than a bog standard semi-detached house.
I asked Dan Whiting, holiday let owner and Founder of Coponis, for his views on this topic:
"I think there are a number of factors to consider when buying a property to Holiday Let and perhaps more so with your first due to it being a venture into the unknown in many respects.
Location is key, not just of the property but in terms of local area and attractions, most the time guests will decide on an area before looking for somewhere to sleep. So make sure you chose a popular destination that appeals to holiday makers all year round.
Think about reviews, they can make or break.
In the first few months of running your new Holiday Let getting as many good reviews as possible will be key to making it a success, so when buying try and consider the factors outside your control- accessibility, parking, noise, local transport etc, which will effect your review score.
You maybe buying a Holiday Let as an investment but I think its still important to consider if you would be happy to stay/live there. Other things, checkout the current competition it'll give you a good idea of how health the market is in that area, especially look at availability calendars and how many booking people have.
And insure people can get to your Holiday Let easily and cheaply, so checkout local train stations and airports. With airports see which airlines fly there, most Holiday Let guests are more cost conscious than most".
Holiday Lets for Sale has some further helpful pointers:
THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A HOLIDAY HOME
Local national and regional laws and other wrinkles will be considered in a new page to come shortly.
Location is key
Off road, secure parking
Garden, fenced so it is child and pet proof, preferably
Views, dual aspect rooms even better
Privacy
Proximity to beach, pubs, shops, public footpaths, etc:
Ensuites?
Quality bathrooms
Quality kitchens
Showers. (Bath users often put up with showers, but shower users often refuse to use a bath)
The number a let can sleep and the permutations
Relative size of lounge
Woodburner
Heating
Air conditioning
Ease of access
Mobile phone reception
Hot tub? Swimming pool?
Lodge / House / Cottage / old or new /
Supply of local help for changeovers
A good booking agent to assist, if required
A managing agent, if required
D.I.Y. marketing including a web site
Potential income and projected running costs fixed and variable
The seasonal nature of demand
Any special considerations, such as the position on inheritance tax
Planning and other regulations.
How much you wish to send, if required, to convert / update / maintain the holiday let. (Including your time).
Estimate income and costs for the proposed property with a profit and loss account.
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So to answer the original question:
The South Coast ticks all the boxes for me. Close proximity to the wealth of London means year round occupancy potential, capital growth potential, and a chance of better weather than some other regions of the U.K.
Another consideration for holiday lets, if you are not going down the coastal route, is spa towns. They are always very popular with tourists and have out-performed the rest of the U.K. property market. They may attract an older demographic and lots of shorter stays rather than long annual breaks.
It's important too that you feel enthusiastic about the property and the area. If you wouldn't want to go on holiday there, why would your guests want to?
Buy with your ideal guest in mind and that will guide you - see the property through their eyes.
Of course, there is demand elsewhere, and creating a "niche" and high standard product will be the overall key to success with any holiday let.
Related content:
10 tips to get more bookings for your holiday let in 2014
HomeAway Owner Summit 2013 Video Highlights
Holiday lets vs. standard BTL