Here are some things to consider when looking booking your next family holiday. Some forward planning can save you a lot of money.
Booking early. It may sound obvious, but the earlier you book, the better the deal you will get, especially if booking for popular school-break periods. As soon as you know when and where, you should look into booking. Delaying this will see prices soar, especially when compared to non-school holiday dates.
Shopping around for offers. It really is worth the extra effort to shop around for a good deal. The best bargains and up-to-date deals are now usually found online whether you’re looking for holidays, flights, hotels, or car hire.
Consider package prices instead of booking separate flights and hotel. It is worth considering if a package holiday might work better for your trip and seeing if you can create a cheaper ‘package’ yourself by combining flights and accommodation.
Be as flexible as you can with your travel dates. If possible try and leave mid-week as opposed to weekends. Flights and ferries are usually a lot cheaper during the weel.
Choose your destination wisely. With recent fluctuations in the value of the American dollar, British pound and the euro, your holiday money can go miles further by booking wisely. Portugal, Spain, Malta and Greece are currently great value resort destinations, whereas Egypt and Turkey have become more expensive.
Don’t forget holidays at home. Self-catering apartments, hotels, and holiday parks in your home country can offer the change of scenery you need at a fraction of the cost.
Look at the cost of your holiday as a whole. Beware of hidden costs that can add up when booking separate flights and hotel. Look carefully at airline charges, be mindful of baggage allowances, credit card booking fees and seat reservations. Also try and look ahead to meal costs in resort and what ‘spending money’ you will require for the trip.
Consider all-inclusive. Set your price from the start and enjoy a stress-free break with meals, drinks and many activities included in the price. Perfect for families on a budget wanting entertainment included with no nasty surprises for your wallet at the end of your holiday.
Consider self-catering. Alternatively, self-catering holidays are also a great way of keeping down costs during resort holidays. Rather than eating out in restaurants every night, picking up bargains at the local supermarket or even taking some food from home can result in big savings over the space of a week away.
Save money on extras. Don’t just focus on the big costs (flights, hotels, car hire). It is often all the little things that add up—travel insurance, airport parking, transfers and any activities you might want to do in resort. Use a price-comparison site ahead of your trip to get the best deal and get these costs tied up for peace of mind on your holiday.
A little extra planning ahead of your trip can save you money you can put back into your holidays spends, or maybe even a second well-earned break later in the year.
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