10 Ways To Save Money On Your Next Holiday

With the Christmas season behind us, it’s time to start dreaming about that summer sun. To help you get more bang for your buck, we’ve put together a list of 10 ways to save money on your next holiday, from handy flight tips to shipping your luggage direct to your destination, read below to learn how to make your money go further this summer.

Use comparison websites to book your flights

Comparison websites help us save money on day to day expenditures, so why wouldn’t you consult them when looking at flights? Websites such as Kayak, Skyscanner, Google Flights and Momondo offer you flight comparison so that you can get the best deal. You can save flights you wish to purchase or watch a particular flight, which means when the price drops or increases you’ll receive a notification. These sites will also show you the cheapest price available for that flight, even if it is outside of the dates you plan to travel. This is a great way for you to see the difference and determine whether you can be flexible with your dates. 

Be flexible with your dates

As mentioned above, the most important thing to consider when keeping costs down is to be flexible when you go on your holiday. Specific dates or seasons can increase costs or impact the availability of flights and accommodation. Start your search with a month in mind and use comparison websites to see when the cheapest flights are available, you can then work around these dates. It’s important to note that flying on the weekend is often more expensive than flying during the week, so if you want to keep costs down then you will have to allow for wiggle room when it comes to your departure date.

Look into an Air BnB or self-catering

Explore your new destination like a local by staying in an Air BnB. Not only will you get to enjoy an authentic experience of everyday life, but you will save money on accommodation and will also be able to cook and prepare all your own meals. This will mean you don’t have to eat out every night and can save one money that otherwise would have been spent on expensive restaurant meals. You will also be able to prepare and make packed lunches for any road trips and will have access to a washing machine, so you won’t need to worry about paying for a laundry service. By staying in this type of accommodation you can experience a home away from home, all whilst saving you money.

Use a prepaid travel card

Prepaid travel cards are starting to become more popular and for good reason. They work similar to a debit card and prior to leaving you top up your card with your desired balance. You can use this card to pay for items or to withdraw cash from an ATM whilst on holiday. Unlike a traditional debit or credit card, you do not have to pay hefty withdrawal or currency conversion fees. Each comes with a mobile app so you can check conversation rates, top up your card on the go and most importantly keep an eye on your spending. There a variety available from the Post Office, Revolut and Caxton to name a few.

Travel off-season

A simple way to save is to travel during shoulder season. The only downside is that the weather might not be as warm as the summer season, but you will skip the crowds and high costs that high season tourists will bring. If you are planning to visit Italy or Greece, then shoulder season is preferable, as not only will you be able to enjoy sites without throngs of tourists, you will avoid the overbearing heat of the summer months, that can make exploring exhausting. If you really want to save big look into travelling in January. This is the month that offers the least number of tourists as many people don’t have the money to travel after the holiday season. January is one of the cheapest months to visit popular cities such as Paris, Rome or Venice.

Explore lesser-known regions

Instead of travelling to the most popular option, why not visit a cheaper alternative? Give the crowds and high costs of visiting Barcelona a miss and instead opt for the nearby city of Tarragona. Located on the coast, an hour’s drive south of Barcelona, Tarragona offers art, culture, sea and sunshine, all without the price tag. The city was once a strategic capital in the Roman Empire and boasts ruins which were declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Not only that, but the city has access to five beaches, which you can travel to by public transport.

By looking into alternative cities, you can save a bundle, explore somewhere off the beaten track and experience a more authentic way of life, often lost in cities popular with tourists. 

Travel to countries were your currency goes further

Currency rates will always fluctuate, so why not choose a holiday destination where your money will go further? With the rate of British Pound seeing better days, there are a few locations where you can still get more bang for your buck. Turkey is a good bet, with £1 getting you on average 7.86 Turkish Lira. Poland is another popular choice with £1 getting you 4.98 Polish Zloty. If you fancy venturing somewhere tropical then Thailand is a firm favourite. This low-cost destination offers great value for money with £1 getting you on average 39.63 Thai Baht. 

Ship your luggage straight to your destination

Are you tired of paying excessive fees to put your luggage in the hold? Why not ship your suitcases direct to your destination. Luggage shipping services like My Baggage ship to most worldwide and provide online tracking taking a lot of the hassle out of travelling. 

Join a frequent flyer programme

Many airlines offer a frequent flyer programme which rewards customers who regularly fly with a specific airline. If you travel often for work, this would be a good thing to investigate as you could build up points which can go towards discounted flights, free flights or flight upgrades. Some airlines also do credit card schemes, such as British Airways and American Express. This card allows you to collect air mile points whilst using your credit card day to day.

Read travel blogs

The travel industry is always changing. New offers, discounts and saver schemes are constantly being launched, so in order to stay up to date with the latest trends, you can read travel blogs. There are so many out there, with every traveller in mind. From family-based blogs, solo travel, solo female travel and blogs that just focus on travel hacks. There’s no better way to learn how to travel cheaply than from bloggers who spend their days doing just that!