Holidays are a privilege, not a right, but still there’s satisfaction in knowing you’ve got great value for your trips at home and abroad.
Whilst we’re not averse to splashing out on a few luxuries when we travel, we like to make sure we’re not wasting any of our hard-earned savings, so we’re sharing our top tips with you.
Here are 7 ways to save money on your holiday.
Book early or book late
I know that sounds contradictory, but it all depends on what you’re looking for.
If you’re planning a flight somewhere and making your own accommodation arrangements, then book early.
Most of the big airlines issue their flight schedules about 11 months in advance, so if you’re sure of your holiday dates, getting in early should secure you a good deal.
Budget airlines usually release flight info in batches throughout the year, so keep your eyes on their websites or sign up for their newsletters.
As flights get more popular, and more online searches are done, the airlines raise the prices, and they usually stay high until the flight is full, or at least until the very last minute.
But if you’re choosing a package deal, the opposite is true. The holidays, especially all-inclusive resorts, go up at full price initially, then, as time goes by and the resorts aren’t as full as anticipated, the deals start to pop up.
Using a comparison site and signing up for alerts is a good way to stay ahead of the curve.
And, if you’re lucky enough to still have a High Street travel agent near you, keep an eye on their offers too. They often have special deals from scheduled carriers and are invaluable if you’re looking to do something a little unusual or complicated.
Timing is everything
If your holiday dates are set in stone or built around school terms, then you have much less flexibility, but there’s still something you can do to shave a few pounds off the bill.
Flights are usually cheaper if you go midweek, which can help a bit.
Avoid big holiday dates if you can, and be sure you know of any special events where you’re heading which might make the cost shoot up. For example The Greek Orthodox Easter time is different to the UK, travel around 4th July and Thanksgiving in the States are best avoided, and even Mardi Gras can see a hike in prices in carnival-happy destinations.
If you’re trying to squeeze in a half-term break in or from the UK, do your research. Half-terms aren’t fixed, and you can sometimes grab a deal when you’re on holiday and no-one else is. Prices of UK hotels and cottages drop in term-time, so you may be lucky.
And if you’re flying, check out regional airports – they may have cheaper fights if their half-term breaks are different to your area’s.
Location, location, location
Know where you’re heading? Then make sure you check where your flight or train ends up before you click that ‘confirm’ button.
Flights to regional airports in some countries may be cheaper, but if the cost of transferring from there to your final destination wipes out that saving, it’s a false economy.
That said, we saved a huge amount flying in and out of Boston on our last trip to the USA, even though our actual destination was Philadelphia. It made for an interesting road trip too!
The same applies to rail or coach travel. Saving pounds on a cheap fare is tempting, unless you wind up miles away from where you need to be, with an expensive taxi ride your only option.
Book rental cars and taxis in advance
And talking of taxis, if taking the local public transport is out of the question (we actually prefer it – it’s usually fun and miles cheaper) then do your homework and book your car rental or taxi collection in advance.
Some fly-drive deals are worth exploring, or go independently and collect from a reputable firm at your destination.
But even if you’ve booked in advance, chat to the people at the desk when you pick up – we’ve had several last-minute upgrades to better vehicles for the same price, just by being friendly and simply asking!
Do the splits
This applies mainly to long distance train travel in the UK. With so many different companies covering different routes, it does allow for some creativity in the ticketing area.
If the journey is straightforward, then buying online in advance from one company (with a railcard if you’re eligible) is quick and easy. But if you’re going a long distance, across many different carriers, then check out one of the split ticket apps.
As with all these things, do read the small print. Split ticketing isn’t available for all rail services and ticket types, and it won’t necessarily save you money.
Money Saving Expert has a guide we trust, and National Rail has a useful Ticket Validity Finder tool, so you can check.
A mistake will cost you dear, if you have to pay for a different ticket on board or at the gate on arrival.
Beware the extras
We’ve mentioned before about taking hand luggage only if you can, to avoid extra charges on airlines, but be sure you can pack light enough for budget flights and check the flight companies hand luggage size rules.
There are companies like Send My Bag and mybaggage that will courier your luggage to your destination, which might work out cheaper, but we’ve never tried them.
Food on board airlines is rarely included as standard these days, unless it’s long haul, so pack your own snacks! We always get to the airport hours before we have to, and enjoy a leisurely meal before any flight. Once on board, Pork Belly usually hunkers down and sleeps, no matter how long the flight, and I make do with a book and a few little nibbles en route.
But if you really need regular meals, then opting for a higher price ticket with food and drink included, is usually better value.
Become a loyal customer
Most airlines and companies have some sort of loyalty scheme and even if you don’t travel a lot, it can pay to register as a Frequent Flyer.
Also, some credit card companies offer points that can be used to offset travel costs. But be careful, the Ts&Cs may reveal some hidden charges.
Supermarket loyalty cards could get you a saving. When Tesco’s first released their clubcard voucher scheme, you could get up to 4 times face value with their Reward Partners. This has now dropped to 2, but a saving is a saving!
Nowadays, we mainly use our points for offsetting the cost of a few meals out while we’re on holiday, or entry to certain attractions.
It all helps stretch the budget.
What are your tips for shaving pounds off your holiday spending? Do let us know.
Where to next?
• Holiday Competitions
• Travel Shop
• The problem with passports