We’re into the summer term and if you haven’t already thoughts could be turning to a well-earned summer break. For some that might be staying at home and making the most of the local surroundings. For others it might be getting away whether that is in the UK or abroad. In this blog we are going to look at some ways that you can save on your holidays and days out.
We do recognise that in these hard economic times that not everyone can go on holiday and if you are in debt and feel like you need help then please visit our website – thedebtadviceservice.co.uk
Be flexible on your dates:
If you Google how to save money on holiday you will quickly find websites that will tell you to be flexible with your dates. Or to avoid peak times, like the school holidays. Of course, this is great if you can do that but many of us are tied into when we can take holidays and so we are going to look at other more practical options.
Plan your holiday in advance:
There are many websites that will promote the benefits of last-minute bookings and while this sometimes can be the case more and more it would appear that planning in advance is the way to go.
Plan the destination:
By looking in advance you can choose your destination and go where you want to go rather than where the deals are. This means that you can think about your holiday in more detail, for example once you are at the destination what are the costs like, for example the three most expensive places to buy beer is, Dubai, Sydney and Puerto del Carmen.
Other things to consider:
- How expensive is it to get there?
- What are the prices like once you are there?
- How much is the accommodation.
Shop around
Whether going somewhere in the UK or abroad there are numerous comparison and cheap deal websites. Go on several of these websites, whether it is booking.com, Trivago, Airbnb etc. As you look at all these websites you will get a feel for how expensive hotels, cottages, etc. are. This means that you can get a benchmark of what is good value for money and what isn’t.
Budget
We have written a few blogs about the importance of budgeting and going on holiday is no different. Save up before hand and go on holiday knowing what you can afford to spend and don’t go over it. Prioritise what you want to do. For example, eating out is simpler but more expensive that cooking meals yourself but it could leave money to do other things like visiting a local attraction instead. If you really don’t think you can budget while you are abroad then it might be worth considering an all-inclusive holiday so that you know what you have spent before you go.
Plan your food:
We mentioned not eating out above. Here are a few more practical suggestions on how you can manage this.
If you are in the UK life is simpler you can plan your food and snacks beforehand. If there is going to be a long car drive, make sure your packed lunch and road-trip snacks are all easily accessible. Stopping off at a service station and buying food can very quickly start to add up.
If you are going abroad or have limited car space, then try to find a local supermarket and buy your holiday food in advance and on your first day. This is of course easier in self-catering but even if you are staying at a hotel, you can at least buy food for packed lunches and drinks or snacks for the room.
Choose free attractions
Whether in the UK or abroad there are free attractions that you and your family can go to. It can be as simple as going to a beach or visiting art galleries or museums. Depending on the country you are in nature reserves and country walks can also be extremely enjoyable. Going beyond this, if you are on a city break you can sign up for a free city tour there are often a wide range of providers. Please note that although it is called free it is expected that you will pay a tip and the end of the tour. However, this is a great way to cheaply view a city and to get to know more about it.
Collect vouchers for cheap days out
If you are staying in the UK use vouchers for a cheap day out. Using Tesco Clubcard points are one of the best ways to get trips to various attractions including Sealife centers, Lego land, theme parks and much more. However, Tesco are not the only people doing vouchers and we would advise to keep a close eye on the cheap days out page on money saving expert that regularly updates with new deals on how to get vouchers or codes for many of the UK’s top attractions.
Finding tips on how to reduce holiday costs are a hot topic and there is no shortage of websites to look through. We have only touched on a few ideas here. But the key thing is, if you are planning on going away think about what you are going to do and how you are going to do it.