As the summer season continues, many of us will be looking forward to our long-awaited holidays or planning last minute getaways. However, this excitement can be overshadowed by the rising costs of flights, holiday accommodation, and other travel expenses.
Fear not! With a bit of planning and strategic thinking, you can beat the summer price hikes and enjoy a great holiday with your family and friends without having to break the bank. In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips and clever tricks to help you save money on flights, accommodation, and more, ensuring your summer trip is as budget-friendly as it is memorable. Let’s dive in and discover how to make your dream holiday a reality without the scary price tag.
1. Use flight comparison sites: Websites like Skyscanner and Kayak allow you to compare prices across multiple airlines, doing most of the leg work in helping you find the best deal. Sites like these also offer price alerts that notify you when flight prices drop for your desired destination.
2. Flexible dates for holiday: Mid-week flights are often cheaper than weekend ones, so being flexible with your travel dates can save a lot of money.
3. Incognito mode: Use your browser’s incognito mode when searching for flights to avoid price hikes based on your search history.
4. Alternative airports: Check flights to and from smaller or nearby airports, which can sometimes be cheaper than the main hubs. You could also fly from one airport in the UK but return to a different one, as long as you haven’t left your car in parking.
1. Use price comparison sites: Just like Skyscanner and Kayak for flights, websites such as Booking.com, Trivago and Tripadvisor help you compare prices and find the best deals on hotels and other accommodation.
2. Accommodation options: Consider looking into different accommodation options other than hotels such as vacation rentals, hostels, or Airbnb’s. These can often be cheaper and offer more amenities such as a kitchen and living area which can be handy if travelling as a family.
3. Last-minute deals: Hotels may offer significant discounts on last-minute bookings, so if you’re booking a last-minute trip away keep an eye out for these deals.
4. Stay outside the city centre: Hotels and other accommodation options that are outside the main tourist areas can be cheaper and even more spacious. It’s important that if you go for accommodation further out that you ensure there is good transport links for easy access to attractions and planned activities.
5. Check for package deals: Some sites may offer bundled deals on flights and hotels, which can be more cost-effective than booking separately and also save you some unneeded stress and hassle.
1. Travel during off-peak times: Traveling just before or after the peak summer months can lead to significant savings on flights and accommodation. Additionally, if you don’t have kids in school, you could always travel in term time where demand is lower so flights and accommodation are cheaper.
2. Local deals and discounts: When you know your holiday destination, make sure to research local deals, such as city passes or discounts for attractions, to save money on activities. If you’re travelling as a family then maybe family bundles or tickets can help save some extra money.
3. Public transport: Using public transportation instead of taxis or rental cars is a great way to reduce travel costs and also see and experience more of your holiday destination. Look to see if you can get family discounts or if kids go free.
4. Pack smart: Help to avoid extra baggage fees by packing efficiently and only bringing what you need. It could be cheaper to only have hand luggage instead of storing bigger bags in the hold.
5. Currency exchange: Exchange your currency before you trip to avoid high fees at airports or foreign ATMs. As well as this use cards abroad, that don’t charge extra fees such as Monzo, Revolut and Starling to name a few.
Our last holiday tip is to make sure you have travel insurance for your summer trip! While it might seem like an additional cost, travel insurance can help to save you money in case of cancellations or travel emergencies that may occur before or during your trip that can leave you out of pocket. Click here to get a quote today.
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