The Best Ways to Save Money on Your Holiday
As the cost of living increases in the UK and around the world, many people are having to think of ways they can save money on their everyday purchases and expenses. For many, this means fewer meals out and less money to spend on leisure activities in general, and for others it means having to cut back on spending for things like holidays. With saving money and reducing costs becoming increasingly important, you might be thinking about ways you can still enjoy a family holiday without breaking the bank.
Luckily, there are quite a few things you can do to cut the costs of your holiday while still being able to enjoy a much needed break. If you are still able to go ahead and plan your holiday this year, you are sure to appreciate that it’s something that not every family can afford to do in this current economic climate, but it’s always nice to be able to reduce costs and save money where possible.
Consider last minute bookings
If you are able to be flexible about when and where you will go on holiday you can take advantage of some heavily discounted fares by booking last minute trips. There are several websites that are dedicated to offering discounted hotels and flights to people who don’t mind booking at the last minute, and these are often a source of some surprisingly good bargains.
It can be challenging to arrange everything such as flights, transfers and accommodation at the last minute, so you might like to look into choosing a package holiday that has everything included. By choosing a package holiday you can make your booking and then take it easy, safe in the knowledge that everything will be taken care of and will be managed by an experienced company.
Do as much as possible in advance
You can save money by pre-booking certain services, such as your transport to the airport, your transfers, and even choosing your seats on the plane. Look out for early bird deals, and if you have some flexibility you should check whether the days before or after your planned travel date are cheaper. You can look online for deals on cheap Stansted Airport parking (or cheap parking for whichever airport you’re flying from) in advance, and save yourself a lot of money compared to on the day parking charges.
Avoid unnecessary extras
You might be tempted by the add ons available at the airport and while you’re away, such as airport lounge access and excursion packages, but these can add a lot of extra expense to your trip. It’s not just extras at the airport that can bulk up your holiday bill either. The average person will spend £40 at the airport, and this expense usually covers a meal, a coffee or beer, last minute purchases of books and magazines, something from duty free, and often a meal deal to take on the plane. These costs quickly add up, so to avoid this you should consider taking a packed lunch and plenty of snacks with you to the airport.
Excursions booked through your travel provider can be very expensive and you may find cheaper alternatives by shopping around. While you can usually find excursions once you reach your destination, you should consider using sites like Tripadvisor to find independently run excursions that have good reviews. The listings on sites like these will usually indicate the prices you can expect to pay, but always check whether the provider has their own website as prices can be cheaper when you book directly.
Consider self-catering
All-inclusive packages can be a tempting option; you don’t have to cook and deal with dishes throughout your trip, and it’s nice to have a little extra time to yourself. The thing is, they are only really a good way to save money if you plan on staying close to your hotel and will be eating all of your meals there. Most people find that they are unable to make full use of their inclusive package because they are away from the hotel, sightseeing or lounging on the beach and end up spending more at restaurants. Consider a self-catering holiday and get your groceries from the local supermarket as this can save you a lot of money on meals and can make packed lunches to take out on day trips.