Advertorial Feature
We all have financial necessities to make life run as smoothly as possible; from paying your rent or your mortgage, putting a savings plan in place or even paying into your stakeholder pension. But that doesn’t mean they should take over your life, you still have to do the things you enjoy doing – just be a bit more savvy when it comes to cost.
Take a look at our guide, to help you on your way to holiday heaven this year.
Book privately
Booking your accommodation privately is often a much better way to do it than through a travel agent; especially at peak times of the year. Visiting the tourist office website of the region you’re visiting is always the best place to start to find private accommodation.
Book online
Gone are the days of going in to your local travel agent to book your holiday. If you’re willing to take a little time over the booking you can find many great deals online. There are countless discount and comparison websites that offer great deals. Take your time searching and you’re likely to find a top discount.
Don’t be too fussy
If you’re really looking to save some money, don’t be too fussy. Have some loose criteria you want to fulfil, such as sun, sea and a few nice restaurants and bars. If you’re a bit too specific, say you have to go to France or Spain you’re limited yourself too much. With looser criteria you keep your options open to really find that deal.
Be different
When looking for accommodation, if you don’t go run-of-the-mill you can potentially save lots of money. Look into camping, youth hostels or even universities – there is plenty of information to be found online.
Travel times
Be flexible with when you can travel – mid-week flights at unsociable hours are often much cheaper.
Car hire
If you need to hire a car, make sure you book it well in advance and online rather than just turning up on the day.
Currency
Shop around for the best deals on currency rather than being swayed by “no commission” deals which don’t actually offer the best rates of interest. You can often get a much better deal online, so it’s worthwhile ensuring you research it fully.
Travel insurance
Don’t just buy this from your travel agent as they often offer it at extortionate prices. There are many brokers online who can offer you better cover at a cheaper price. Also consider getting annual multi-trip rather than single trip if you’re going abroad more than once.