Many British owners of overseas holiday homes have spent the past 18 months watching their properties endure price drops, no doubt much to their discomfort.

Or at least that is the received wisdom. But research released today reveals that,  instead, the weakening pound has increased rather than diminished the value of their overseas investments.

Figures from foreign exchange specialist Close Treasury show that, despite falling prices in France, Spain, Portugal and the USA, and weak price growth in Italy, the dominance of the euro and dollar have – on paper – helped increase the  value of British-owned properties overseas.

A British-owned villa in Portugal which, despite local price drops, may still be worth more today than 18 months ago following recent pound/euro fluctuations

Close Treasury says the collective value of our places in the sun increased by £2.6 billion between July 2008 and December last year – during the lows of the general economic and banking crisis.

For example, during this period prices in France dropped on average by 6.6% but because of the euro’s increased strength against the pound, British owners saw an average rise in value of £10,400 per property. Close Treasury says there are 98,000 properties in France owned by Brits.

In Spain, where some 144,500 properties are owned by British citizens, house prices fell by 8.35% between 2008 and 2009, but the euro difference gave owners a collective gain of £1.1 billion or £7,700 a property.

And even in the US, where the property market has endured the darkest days most Americans can remember, Brits saw the cash-in value of their properties in the land of the free jump by £1,750.

If you saw in 2010 in the same old city, with the same old faces, perhaps you should be thinking about doing something different next year. Ok, so we know we’re 11 and a half months early, but there’s no harm in being organised…

If your resolution for 2010 is to travel more, discover other cultures, or just party around the globe, then spending New Year’s Eve in another city could be just the thing for you.  Here are our top five destinations:

5. Bangkok, Thailand: If you fancy festivities, parades and costumes, this city should be on the top of your list. And if you can’t make it for traditional New Year, you can still catch up with two others during the year: the Chinese New Year mid-January and the Songrank festival in April.

4. Barcelona, Spain: Apparently it’s tradition to eat a grape at each of the 12 strokes of midnight -  it symbolises good luck for the year to come.

3. Paris, France: Paris’ label of the City of Lights suits it well - just don’t get me started on the Christmas decorations. The place to be on New Year’s Eve is the Champs Elysees. Don’t be surprised if people start kissing strangers in the throngs around them when the clock strikes midnight – and don’t forget to shout ‘Bonne Année!’ to one and all.

2. Niagara Falls, Canada: Every year the ‘Party in Niagara’ is organised by the Niagara Parks Commission, with amazing fireworks over the falls at both 9 pm and midnight. Therefore, if the kids can’t stay awake until midnight, they can enjoy an early show.

1. Las Vegas, United States: You can be sure that the city that knows how to party all year long will throw an amazing New Year’s Eve party. If you can make your way through the crowd, join the massive party downtown. It’s got a wine toast, concerts by big-name rockers, and a five-block-long illuminated canopy 90 feet overhead, on which state-of-the-art sound and light shows are shown.

It’s true that slick digs in desirable cities often come at a price, but some more than others. Most people are concerned with where you can pick up international property for reasonable prices, but to help you discover where your money won’t stretch quite so far, Global Property Guide have revealed which cities in the world are the most expensive to buy property.

Top of the list of the most expensive cities to buy property in 2009 is Monte Carlo, in Monaco. According to Global Property Guide, the average price per square metre, based on a 120sqm apartment in good condition in the city centre (priced in US dollars), is $47,578 (approx. £33,521). Second on the list – but only just – is Moscow, in Russia, where the cost per square metre averages at $20,853 (approx. £14,676). Closely following on its heels and despite of the global economic effects, is good old London, where the average price was found to be $20,756 (approx. £14,611).

The rest of their top ten is made up of:

4. Tokyo, Japan – $17,998 (approx. £12,670).
5. Hong Kong, Hong Kong – $16,125 (approx. £11,352).
6. New York, USA – $14,898 (approx. £10,484).
7. Paris, France – $12,122 (approx. £8,530).
8. Singapore, Singapore – $9,701 (approx. £6,826).
9. Rome, Italy – $9,166 (approx. £6,450).
10. Mumbai, India – $9,163 (approx. £6448).