Look after the pennies – and read our guide
These are tricky times for travellers. Going away is not the cheap thrill it once was, and £10 flights, once a staple, now sound like something from a fairytale. Still, you can have a holiday without taking out a second mortgage. Read on for Cheapflights.co.uk’s tips for saving money on your summer hols.
Time it right
Everyone is going on a summer holiday, especially families and their school-age children. To nab the best bargains travel outside the core school holidays – mid-July to the start of September. During school holiday time holiday prices soar by 100 per cent.
Type of travel
All-inclusive holidays are very popular. With an “all-in” everything is bundled up – flights, accommodation, car hire or transfer and meals – into one price.
Think outside the hotel room. You’ll save money by going self-catering, staying in a mobile home on a camping ground, camping (cheaper still if you bring your own gear), doing a house swap or even couch-surfing.
Cruises have also become enormously popular in recent years. Once the preserve of the wealthy, who would embark upon a year-long voyage, cruise lines have tailored their trips, creating short trips, singles and family cruises. Disney has even got in on the act, appealing to kids of all ages.
Lock in the deal as soon as you can
This is key; book as soon as you possibly can. There may be child discounts or early booking savings to be made.
At the other end of the scale, book last minute. Holiday companies will be keen to move unsold stock and sell it off at a discount. This is a great option for those who don’t really mind where they go, or couples without children who can travel at the drop of a hat.
Book extras in advance
Don’t leave it until the day of travel. Get your foreign currency far in advance. Book your airport parking in advance too (you may find best rates via the BAA airport websites although independent sites such as Holidayextras or BCP are worth checking out too).
If you’re flying
Keep an eye on all those extra costs that can make your no-frills flight a budget buster. Keep a close eye on the baggage allowance as excess charges are a nice little earner for airlines. Also, remember to keep your cabin baggage small and compact. Some airlines will check it at the gate and if it’s too big will check it into the hold, and charge you £60 (Ryanair’s charge!). If you think you will need to buy extra weight do it in advance; everything costs more at the airport.
