Holiday-Rentals.co.uk report that enquiries per property increased dramatically during the run-up to the competition and continued to be high throughout June. Dubai was hot on Germany's heels, with an average number of enquiries per property double the site average and a dramatic 236% increase in the number of properties since 2005.

Perennial Brit favourite, Tenerife remained popular too, with a healthy 20% rise in the average number of enquiries per property per month compared to 2005, despite a 66% growth in the number of properties available to rent on the site.

Renter interest in Italy went up 13.2%, backing up recent press reports that the country is growing in popularity, particularly its cities, with enquiries in both the Rome and Venice regions up around 25% on last year. Other regions that performed particularly well were Sicily (up 30.9%), Lombardy (up 28.5%), Campania (23.6%), Tuscany and Marche (both up 10.4%).

The final destination in the top five performing regions was the island of Malta, showing its efforts to reduce dependence on tour operators and attract more independent travellers are paying off. Despite an increase of 69% in the number of properties available to rent, the average number of enquiries per property per month increased by 4% in the first quarter of 2006, compared to quarter one of 2005.

Ross McGowan, Sales Director, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk commented, "The fact that Germany has been a top choice with renters is perhaps not surprising, given the World Cup.  However what is remarkable is the increase in properties: 38% since last year. Thanks to the availability of relatively cheap property, decreasing unemployment and growing interest from tourists, canny investors are realising Germany could be the next hot property market in Europe."

He continued, "The number of properties in Dubai registered on Holiday-Rentals.co.uk has shot up by a staggering 236% in the last year, clearly highlighting a phenomenal increase in the number of people buying in this investment hot-spot. Plus, demand has continued to match supply on the site too, indicating its popularity with tourists continues to grow, unabated."

Holiday-Rentals.co.uk Top 5 rental performers

Each quarter, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk reports on the site's best-performing regions, based on the average number of enquiries per property per month, the change in this figure since last year and the increase in the total number of properties. At the end of June 2006, the following countries were the site's top five performers:

1. Germany

• Average number of enquiries per property per month: 2.05 times the site average
• Increase in properties since June 2005: 38%
• Rise in average number of enquiries per property per month v. 2005: 18.2%

2. Dubai

• Average number of enquiries per property per month: 2.02 times the site average
• Increase in properties since June 2005: 236%
• Rise in average number of enquiries per property per month v. 2005: 6.9%

3. Tenerife

• Average number of enquiries per property per month: 1.95 times the site average
• Increase in properties since June 2005: 66%
• Rise in average number of enquiries per property per month v. 2005: 20%

4. Italy

• Average number of enquiries per property per month: 1.79 times the site average
• Increase in properties since June 2005: 43%
• Rise in average number of enquiries per property per month v. 2005: 13.2%

5. Malta

• Average number of enquiries per property per month: 1.64 times the site average
• Increase in properties since June 2005: 69%
• Rise in average number of enquiries per property per month v. 2005: 4%