Irish women spend nearly as much getting themselves preened for the beach as they do on the actual holiday itself.

According to research carried out by department store Debenhams, women spend an average of 600 euro – almost double the cost of a seven night trip to the Costa del Sol – on beauty treatments to make sure they’re beach ready.

Topping a lady’s pre-holiday pampering list before jetting off are a spray tan, pedicures and waxing.